Photo By Marnee Losurdo | The 53rd Weather Reconnaissance Squadron provided an aircraft for aerial porters to...... read more read more
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KEESLER AIR FORCE BASE, Miss. -- Six Airmen from the 41st Aerial Port Squadron here competed in the Air Force Reserve Command’s Port Dawg Challenge Monday to Thursday.
The 96th Aerial Port Squadron from Little Rock Air Force Base, Arkansas, may have claimed the title of “Top Dawg” or best aerial port team in AFRC, but the 41st APS team didn’t walk away empty handed.
“We had an amazing time and have a bunch of great take-ways to bring back to our unit,” said Master Sgt. Alexander Cruz, 41st APS Port Dawg Challenge team chief.
Twenty-three units competed in the bi-annual event. Aerial porters, nicknamed “Port Dawgs,” process personnel and cargo, prepare and load cargo and equipment onto aircraft, pack parachutes and rig cargo for airdrop missions.
“We gather here to see who is the ‘Top Dawg’—the best of the best,” said Cruz, pointing to a bronze statue of a bull dog on a stage inside a Dobbins ARB maintenance hangar. “Whoever wins gets that bull dog up front and gets bragging rights for two years.”
To win the competition, the teams compete in 12 events such as engines running off and on load, a 10K forklift course, 25K Halvorsen driving and loading course, passenger and cargo processing and pallet build up. They also take a written examination and fit to fight assessment.
The team said the event was challenging and a learning experience. Their commander agrees.
“We spend a lot of time training during (unit training assembly) weekends,” said Maj. Eli Ouder, 41st APS commander. “Events such as this, as well as our own Port Dawg Challenge in October, are great training opportunities. These events give us a picture of how well our guys are performing aerial port functions. It shows us areas we may need to focus on, which improves mission efficiency at home and in a deployed environment.”
In addition to gaining professional knowledge and experience, Cruz added that it’s a great event for camaraderie.
“I’ve seen a lot of old friends, reconnected with people from deployments, previous units and schools,” he said. “It’s was a great time.”
The APS team is already looking towards the next challenge.
“We will be ready to take the ‘dog’ home in 2019,” said Cruz.
| Date Taken: | 04.28.2017 |
| Date Posted: | 05.01.2017 15:31 |
| Story ID: | 232162 |
| Location: | KEESLER AIR FORCE BASE, MISSISSIPPI, US |
| Web Views: | 111 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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