436th APS Super Port lives up to name

  • Published
  • By Staff Sgt. Chad Padgett
  • 436th Airlift Wing Public Affairs
To passersby, the 436th Aerial Port Squadron looks like a normal warehouse found on nearly any Air Force base.

In the past year however, the 436th APS moved 170,492 tons of cargo, downloaded 269,301 pieces from trucks, provided travel for 30,164 Space-A/Space-R passengers, and handled 7,652 aircraft, according to Capt. Stephanie Tillman, 436th APS air freight flight commander.

"This is the largest Aerial Port in the Department of Defense," said Lieutenant Colonel William Peterson, 436th APS Commander. "All of the sustainment cargo for Iraq and Afghanistan comes through Dover. We are the primary cargo hub for all support into theater war. Not only are we one of the largest cargo hubs, we are one of the biggest suppliers of troops into the theater for aerial port troops as well."

The type of cargo varies widely, from giant squids for the Smithsonian and household goods for permanent change of station moves, to parts for the Mine Resistant Ambush Protected vehicle, and add-on armor kits for Humvees.

"Our goal is to reduce the wait time for customers receiving goods," said Col. Peterson. "As we try to support the
warfighters, we really want to make that process as seamless and quick as possible so we're not a hinderance, but a help to the folks who need those supplies. The objects going through here today are going to be used down range in offensive actions."

While the 436th APS has had an impressive year, they have also been cleaning up when it comes to awards.
Some of their recent awards include:

Individual Award Winners at Air Force Level:
Maj. Peter Abercrombie - AF Logistics CGO of the Year
Senior Master Sgt. Paul Hughes- 12 Outstanding Airmen of the Year (one of three Air Force finalists)

Individual Award Winners at MAJCOM Level:
Mrs. Kim Green - AMC Transportation Civilian Supervisor/Leader of the Year
Tech. Sgt. Paul Schuster - AMC Air Transportation NCO of the Year
Senior Airman Luke Pretulak - AMC Aerial Port Fleet Services Professional of the Year

Air Force Level Awards 2009
AF 2009 Large Air Terminal Unit of the Year
AF National Defense Transportation Association Military Unit of the Year

MAJCOM Level Awards in 2009
AMC Traffic Management Flight of the Year
AMC Fleet Service Flight of the Year
AMC Air Terminal Operations Flight of the Year
AMC Combat Readiness and Resources Flight of the Year
AMC Air Freight Flight of the Year

"We won every major unit award possible for our unit to win at the Air Force level," said Col. Peterson. "Winning the Large Terminal Unit of the Year award and the National Defense Transportation Association Military Unit of the year, for us, is like winning the Super Bowl and the World Series in the same year. We had a great year."