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More in a day than most in a month

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Jacob Morgan
  • 436th Airlift Wing Public Affairs
Seventy percent of all normal cargo headed for contingency operations overseas originates from Dover Air Force Base, Del. When met by disaster, such as Hurricane Irene, Dover AFB can load and unload 1.2 million pounds of cargo in three days; more cargo than most bases process in a month.

This cargo consists of items such as 7,500-pound pallets, CH-47 Chinook helicopters, Patriot missiles and even a cab of a C-5 Galaxy. One shop of more than 100 Team Dover members is responsible for loading and unloading all of this cargo, and cleaning the planes - the 436th Aerial Port Squadron ramp services shop.

While the ramp services career field is not unique to Dover AFB, the mission here is often one of a kind.

"The amount of cargo and the number of missions is beyond comparison to other aerial ports," said Master Sgt. Patrick Voyce, the NCO in charge of the 436 APS ramp services shop. "The professionalism and mission focus of our Airmen and NCOs is phenomenal."

Ramp services is divided into five teams on most occasions. Two load teams, a dock team, a fleet services team and a dispatch office work four 12-hour shifts a week.

Each loading operation originates from the air terminal operations center in the command post. ATOC sends orders to the 436 APS load planning shop to create a load-sequence-breakdown sheet for the ramp services shop.

Once the load sequence breakdown sheet reaches the dispatcher at ramp services, he radios down to the dock team and has them get the cargo ready on 60,000 ton loaders, or attached to tow vehicles, said Senior Airman Adelbert Brown, a ramp specialist with the 436 APS ramp services shop. Sometimes the cargo is especially dangerous, explosive even.

"We are very careful and vigilant when handling explosive materials," said Brown. "We are trained specifically for anything volatile being loaded on the plane."

The 60K loaders and tow vehicles are operated by one of the two load teams. They are driven out to different air frames including the C-5 Galaxy, C-17 Globemaster III, and civilian aircraft such as the Boeing 747. To completely upload or unload most aircraft takes ramp services only a couple of hours.

"Each plane has its own center of balance," said Brown. "We have to execute the load plan so the exact weight and position of each item we place on the aircraft can maximize its performance."

The fifth section, fleet services, is responsible for cleaning and replenishing all outgoing planes to create a sanitary and comfortable environment for the crew.

"It's a major operation to load a plane at the right time and in the right way," said Brown. "All the way from capability forecasting on a broad scale to the Airmen pushing the cargo on the plane, we do it well."