732nd AMS provides support to more than 7,000 aircraft, passengers a year

  • Published
  • By Staff Sgt. Olenda Peña-Perez
  • 3rd Wing Public Affairs
Elmendorf Air Force Base --  How do more than 3,500 Army Soldiers deploy from Alaska? It's all in a day's work for the members of the 732nd Air Mobility Squadron. 

"It's not as simple as loading people and luggage on a plane and sending them on their way," said Tech. Sgt. Rafael Peña-Perez, 732nd AMS Aerospace Maintenance Technician Crew Chief. "It takes teamwork from people in each section of our squadron to make it possible for us to send the biggest group ever to deploy from Alaska off in only 8 days." 

"I am extremely proud of the Husky Family for their extraordinary efforts supporting the war fighter over the last week and a half," said Lt. Col. Michael Oberbroeckling, 732nd AMS commander. 

The 732 AMS is an Air Mobility Command asset assigned to this Pacific Air Forces base and is part of AMC's en route system for providing support to mobility transport aircraft around the world. 

AMS is divided into three flights, including the Air Mobility Command and Control Flight, Maintenance Flight and the Aerial Port Flight. 

Each of these sections provide support to aircraft and have very important roles in making sure each aircraft that comes through Elmendorf has what it needs to complete the mission, Sergeant Peña-Perez said. 

The Air Mobility Command and Control Center is the focal point for aircrews transiting through Elmendorf. AMCC is broken down into three sections: Operations, Maintenance and Air Terminal Operations Center controllers. Between the three of them, they are responsible for 24-hour coverage of day-to-day management and coordination of all strategic airlift operations and aerial port operations for AMC. 

The Operations controllers are in charge of the mission and aircrew management and track everything from the departure of aircraft from their previous station until its departure from here, according to Staff Sgt. Daphne Rippy, AMCC Senior Duty Controller.
"During my shift, I control every aspect that goes on with the mission from the ATOC guys making sure they stay on time with their sequence of events to the maintenance personnel to make sure their aircraft are fully mission capable," Sergeant Rippy said. "We also set the crews up for their billeting and transportation." 

The ATOC is responsible for coordinating all aerial port functions in conjunction with the Air Mobility Control Center, host wing agencies and the Tanker Airlift Control Center. Between the 26 people in ATOC, they work nearly 600 aircraft a month. 

"We serve as the aerial port focal point by controlling and directing all ground servicing and ensuring all tasks are carried out within required time constraints. ATOC collects and disseminates all necessary information to and from the respective aerial port work centers, allowing all missions to depart safely and on-time," said Tech. Sgt. Raymond Madrid, ATOC shift supervisor. 

The Maintenance Operations Center coordinates transient aircraft maintenance with squadron transportation, command and control personnel and with local base agencies. They work with AMC personnel to coordinate maintenance on non-mission capable aircraft to coordinate maintenance repair teams, said Master Sgt. Charles Ellerby, Maintenance Operations Center Controller. 

The Maintenance Flight provides safe, reliable en route air mobility supply and maintenance support for all AMC and theater airlift transiting through here. Approximately 90 members from the maintenance flight work about 600 planes a month. Some of the aircraft that come here include the B-747, C-5, C-17, DC-6, DC-8, DC-10, KC-10, KC-135 and the L-1011. 

"On military jets, we perform all the ground handling operations including maintenance, refueling and inspections," said Master Sgt. Daniel Schneider, production supervisor. "On civilian aircraft we perform safety inspections to make sure the aircraft is capable of safely transporting troops. We also ensure the contractors are meeting our standards for maintenance and servicing operations." 

Sergeant Schneider said most planes stay on the ground for about 4-5 hours and there are usually 2-3 maintainers with the plane from the time it lands until it's airborne.
"Our job is very important because we are responsible for not only the aircraft but also the people. We make it happen, we are the heart of the Air Force to make sure the aircraft is worthy for service members," said Staff Sgt. Brian Taffin, Aerospace Maintenance Technician Crew Chief. 

The Aerial Port Flight processes passengers and cargo, performs fleet services on all Department of Defense airlift and air refueling missions transiting, originating or terminating here. 

In the passenger service section, they process and manifest duty passengers and Space Available passengers traveling within the Alaskan Theater, CONUS and overseas AOR. They also provide ground servicing to more than 600 aircraft and nearly 5,000 passengers who land here every month. 

"As the sole manifesting agency on Elmendorf, we are tasked with accountability for each and every person who flies out of Elmendorf on military and commercial aircraft," said Staff Sgt. Chris Dye, passenger service supervisor. "We ensure war fighting troops get to their destination with the equipment they need safely, by the book and on time. We also have the responsibility to ensure the passenger's comforts are met with in flight meals and clean aircraft." 

The Aircraft Services Section has 52 military and civilians who take part in aircraft loading and offloading, cargo build-up, Joint Inspection of deploying assets, cargo warehouse operations and hazardous material inspections. 

"We support 17 Long Range Radar Sites within Alaska, with vital supplies, equipment and food. We are responsible for servicing aircraft that are in-transit from Asia, CONUS and other parts of the world," said Master Sgt. Brent Consbruck, NCO in charge of Freight Distribution. "We also provide support to deploying units from Ft. Richardson and the 3rd Wing. In a nutshell, units cannot deploy cargo or equipment via aircraft without us." 

Sergeant Consbruck said his section loads approximately 2.4 million pounds of cargo on about 600 aircraft each month. 

The 26 people in the Fleet Section are there to make sure everyone on board has a comfortable flight. 

"We provide lavatory, comfort items and meals ensuring accurate service is provided to 7,000 originating, terminating and transiting aircraft annually," said Tech. Sgt. Anelies Marroquin, Fleet Service shift supervisor. "We are responsible for coordinating with various agencies to include aircrew, base operations, in-flight kitchen, passenger services and the air terminal operations center to ensure maximum mission accomplishment." 

It's not nearly as simple as loading people and luggage on a plane and sending them on their way. To get the mission done, it takes more than 270 people in AMS working 24 hours day, 365 days a year servicing the more than 7,000 aircraft every year.
"If you're on a plane coming through Elmendorf, we are here for you," Sergeant Peña-Perez said. "It might be snowing and -20, but AMS will see to it that you receive the support you need to complete your mission." 

"All of our key agencies come together to support the warfighter. This past week epitomized the reason for our mission," said Lt. Col. Neil Fox, 732nd AMS Operations Officer. "The Husky team with integration from the 3rd Wing support agencies moved 3,417 soldiers and 484,500 pounds of baggage on 15 commercial aircraft and 483 tons of cargo on four C-5A's and three B747's culminating the largest single unit deployment in Alaskan history. These soldiers are our true customers, and it's a privilege for the 732nd Air Mobility Squadron to be the ones to deliver them to the fight. We salute their efforts and pray for their safe return."