Pen One, Copy Published July 18, 2007 By Technical Sgt. Mary Beth Bemis 349th Public Affairs TRAVIS AIR FORCE BASE - Calif. -- "Pen Three now departing 402," Technical Sgt. Charles Torio advises through his handheld walkie-talkie. "Pen One, copy," squawks back the answer among a chorus of walkie-talkie beeps and bleeps. And thus begins a typical weekend morning for the fly-in reservist. For the bus driver, it is just one of a series of events that happen over a standard UTA weekend. For most of the drivers, their Unit Training Assembly weekend begins on the Friday prior, around 5:00 p.m. The weekend crew of usually four drivers show up to check-out the vehicles and do a safety inspection on each of the buses, then stand by for the arrival of aircraft carrying fly-in reservists. The UTA bus drivers are all members of the 45th Aerial Port Squadron here, at Travis. This assignment is a collateral duty for each trained driver. Master Sgt. Paul Ikeda is in charge of the weekend bus duty. Recently assuming the role of "Pen One" Sergeant Ikeda usually works all three UTA weekends. "I'm the Assistant NCOIC of cargo and my specialty is load planning," said Sergeant Ikeda. On 'A' flight he works for his squadron doing his job, and on 'B' and 'C' flights he runs the base's bus transportation, he said. "I've got some really good people working with me," said Sergeant Ikeda of his bus team. His regular team currently consists of Master Sgt. Randall Schroeder, Tech. Sgt. Steve Moore, Staff Sgt. Robert Zumel and Senior Airman Mary Kay Olaes. They are professional, with great customer service aptitude and attitude, and are proficient as air transportation specialists, he said. It is important that the service provided is seamless - a driver must always think two or three steps ahead," said Sergeant Ikeda. "A bus may break down, or something out of the ordinary may happen like a reservist leaving luggage on the bus or getting on the wrong plane," he said. The main job concern Ikeda expressed was safety of the passengers, the drivers and the vehicles. Each driver must know their way around the base, understand passenger service procedures and flight line safety is paramount, he said. Training each driver is very important. Not all job assignments consist of on base transportation. Each driver must also be comfortable in driving the bus outside of the gate in normal city and traffic conditions. On Thursday before each UTA, Sergeant Ikeda receives the assignments from the wing vehicle control officer. Assignments can include everything from squadron exercises, reservist fly-ins, civic leader tours, and employer appreciation days, just to name a few. Every weekend is different, said Sergeant Ikeda. One time they had to move 125 people for a squadron picture, he said. Other times they may be taking reservists to David Grant Medical Facility for appointments or from billeting to work, Sergeant Ikeda said. Drivers also receive last minute requests throughout the normal duty day from Wing Control. The days are long, said Sergeant Ikeda. Sometimes on a Friday night the plane with the fly-in reservists may not land until really late at night or sometimes after midnight, he said, and our first run on Saturday morning is 6:00 a.m. Usually Saturday is a regular day, but the length of time worked on Sunday is mostly unknown, Sergeant Ikeda said. They remain on duty until the last plane of reservists leaves the ground, then the buses are checked and returned. "Pen Three to Pen One, last run completed," the walkie-talkie squawks and beeps. "Pen One, copy," Sergeant Ikeda says, and smiles.