Team Travis trains with Army Reserve - highlights Aerial Porter mission

  • Published
  • By Patti Schwab-Holloway
  • 349 AMW Public Affairs
TRAVIS AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. --  Members from the 45th and 55th Aerial Port Squadrons, along with loadmasters from the 21st Airlift Squadron, took the unique opportunity to train here with the 390th Transportation Company, U.S. Army Reserve, Puerto Rico, July 31 - August 1.

"The goal of this event was to train the U.S. Army on what we aerial porters bring to the fight daily to keep the U.S. military operating globally," stated Senior Master Sgt. James B. Childs, 45th APS, air transportation manager. "This training focused on the preparation of the user's vehicles to make them 'air worthy' and also train on off/on loading of the vehicles on a C-17."

Before class began, Childs surveyed the class and asked how many of the members have ever deployed and/or know what an aerial porter does. Less than two percent knew what aerial porters do, and only four of the 25 have ever deployed.

"The experience level and knowledge of what we do only solidifies with this type of inter-service training," said Childs. "The end result hopefully is to have 25 soldiers leave with a better understanding of what we do, and have them share that knowledge with their comrades, securing better relations downrange while performing "real-world" troop movements."

Childs said he felt the training was successful for all involved, and is looking forward to future opportunities to educate other military professionals on the importance of the contributions of Team Travis, and specifically, aerial porters to the military mission.

"I want to give a special thanks to CW3 Eugene Peters for giving us this opportunity to inform and train with the U.S. Army, and share what we do," said Childs. "Peters is actually a former '605 Portdawg' (aerial porter) before he crossed over to the Army, and, in my opinion, once a Portdawg - always a Portdawg - '605 till I die'!"

Editor's note: Team Travis members participating in this training were Master Sgt. Paul Ikeda, 45 APS; Tech. Sgt. Emilio J. Maldonado, 55 APS; Tech. Sgt. Keith A. Childs, 55 APS; Senior Airman Roberto R. Recella, 45 APS; Senior Airman Cody J. Nunez, 21 AS; Senior Airman Kevin A. Knerr, 21 AS; Airman 1st Class Nathaniel D. Earl, 21 AS; Airman 1st Class Austin L. Whisler, 21 AS; Airman 1st Class Richard M. Prokop, 21 AS; Airman 1st Class Joshua A. Moore, 21 AS, and Airman 1st Class Maranda M. Trujillo.