727th AMS Air Freight handlers keep cargo, mission moving

  • Published
  • By Karen Abeyasekere
  • 100th Air Refueling Wing Public Affairs
RAF MILDENHALL, England --  Transient aircraft are a daily occurrence on RAF Mildenhall, many of which arrive carrying cargo destined for England. Carefully looking after that valuable cargo, and uploading more onto waiting aircraft, are 727th Air Mobility Squadron Air Freight section personnel.

Falling under the 521st Air Mobility Operations Wing from Ramstein Air Base, Germany, the 727th AMS Air Freight section serves as the single hub for England for inbound and outbound cargo movement, according to Tech. Sgt. Robert Hernandez, 727th AMS NCO in charge of air freight.

"This includes signature service - cargo that's deemed classified or really expensive, such as pieces of radio transmitters or parts for a Trident submarine system - so it needs a hand-to-hand receipt; it's for highly-pilferable items," Hernandez said. "We also move household goods (for members stationed in England) and some general goods, such as equipment, which go to supply."

Equipment shipped in and handled by air freight personnel also includes booms for the KC-135 Stratotankers and stabilizers for other aircraft - vital to ensure Team Mildenhall's fleet of aircraft can continue its mission.

The air freight section consists of special handlers (who deal with signature and special services), general cargo, ramp services (who physically download aircraft) and load planners (who plan theoutbound load of aircraft to efficiently utilize cargo space in aircraft), with a total of six military, 36 Ministry of Defence civilians and one Department of Defense civilian.

The cohesive union of both military and civilian workers, and the team effort they provide in supporting transient Air Mobility Command and NATO aircraft, in addition to home station Air Force Special Operations Command and U.S. Air Forces in Europe aircraft, enhances Team Mildenhall and its ability to complete the mission 24/7.

"What's unique about us is the type of cargo we move and being partnered with the different tenant units on base," Hernandez said. "We do joint inspections for them and get their cargo out."

His team also inspects cargo, ensures the safety of flight issues for both the crews and planes, provides forklift support and stores cargo in its yard when required.

Approximately three aircraft, usually C-17 Globemaster III, per week are onloaded and offloaded. Small cargo missions on C-21s, often uploaded with mail, and KC-135 Stratotankers will also transport cargo when necessary.

The C-17s come from McGuire Air Force Base, N.J., stop at RAF Mildenhall, upload and download, then head to Ramstein before returning to the United States.

"We'll also put cargo on KC-135s that originate from here and go out to (forward operating locations) to help out with the 100th ARW's mission out there," the NCO in charge said.

Their day starts with checking the mission requirements and making sure the vehicles are ready to go. When inbound and outbound aircraft are scheduled, loads are prepared for download and upload.

"A big portion of our job is with trucks," Hernandez said, explaining that now that there are not quite as many aircraft transiting through here, they had to find alternate methods of moving shipments. "We do land-bridge trucks - cargo is sent on a truck to RAF Mildenhall, then the truck is uploaded with cargo, usually household goods, from here and sent back to Germany."

Once personnel download and store cargo appropriately, customs personnel inspect it. The 727th AMS has two people who are trusted agents and responsible for completing all required paperwork for U.K. customs. Once customs has "blessed" the cargo, the section contacts the receiver before transferring the cargo to either the RAF Mildenhall or RAF Lakenheath Traffic Management Office and shipping companies. Supplies go to TMO, while movers pick up household goods and then deliver the items to the customer.

During 2013, the air freight section was responsible for the movement of 3,900 tons of cargo from 4,000 missions (aircraft and trucks). They also moved 16 human remains and 280 tons of explosives. The section is responsible for a $14 million vehicle fleet, with a 95 percent vehicle-in-commission rate; with the amount of cargo these personnel deal with on a regular basis, it's vital that vehicles are working and ready to go at a moment's notice.

Their accomplishments for 2013 also include handling 95 tons of cargo in support of the National Airborne Operations Center visit here, and partnering with the 100th ARW in support of presidential operations, providing joint inspections and uploading 76.2 tons of cargo.

"The air freight section are true 'Port Professionals,'" said Capt. Amanda Shumaker, 727th AMS operations officer from Bowling Green, Ohio. "Their level of expertise and experience is unheard of in the air transportation community. Most of our MoD civilians have been with the unit for 15 years or more - we even have second and third generation employees!

"The 727th AMS Air Freight section enables AMCs global enroute mobility machine by providing critical cargo support to the Northern European infrastructure," said Shumaker.