’Proud Pelicans’ carry the fight

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Matthew Hubby
  • 436th AW Public Affairs
DOVER AIR FORCE BASE, Del. --  The large doors of a C-5 Galaxy slam shut and engines wind up. The C-5 taxis to the runway where it quickly gains the speed required to get it in the air. Flying high and heavy with cargo, the C-5 makes it way to operational bases all over the world.

The efforts of many different squadrons at Dover Air Force Base are required to get a C-5 in the air to deliver the cargo in its vast hold. One of these groups is the 9th Airlift Squadron, the 'Proud Pelicans,' who support the global airlift mission through the direct delivery of time-critical cargo.

"The 9th AS is great, I love it here," said Senior Airman Tenzing Norsang, 9th AS aviation resource management specialist. "I've been here for a year and a half now and I've really enjoyed working at the 9th AS. I feel that our mission here is really helping out downrange."

Airman Norsang's mission is to assist in the tracking of aircrew training and currency as well as their badges and flight hours.

"It's been a really great experience," said Airman Norsang. "We have meetings every morning, and at least once a week we go over safety. We keep our focus on the critical parts of the mission."

One of those critical parts of the mission is safety protocols, which Staff Sgt. Matthew Tener, 9th AS loadmaster instructor, said he feels is one of the most important parts of Dover's airlift mission.

"Safety is everything that we do," said Sergeant Tener. "In aviation operations in general, safety is the keystone to keeping things moving. We're talking about an aircraft that is one of the largest aircraft in the world, and we're loading it with thousands of pounds of cargo, and we're moving them all over the world. We have to do that safely, so it can get where it needs to go."

Sergeant Tener's mission is to not only load and balance cargo on the aircraft, but also to teach new Airmen how to properly and safely perform the task.

"We're constantly moving cargo out of here," said Sergeant Tener. "If safety isn't followed someone can get hurt and that stops the mission. This is probably the busiest places on the East Coast for cargo; some of the work we do here is unbelievable. I'm proud to be part of the 9th AS."

Dover's airlift mission is driven by the needs of current operations, said Senior Master Sgt. Lance Conley, 9th AS flight engineer superintendant.

"We take everything from point A to point B," said Sergeant Conley. "If there is a requirement, they create the mission and we move it."

Sergeant Conley has served at five other bases prior to coming to Dover and has been with the 9th AS since 1997. His mission is overseeing the operations of the 9th AS flight engineers, but he also flies on missions when he can, he said.

"We make sure the aircraft can take off and land, we do pre- and post-flight inspections as well as monitor the systems while in flight," said Sergeant Conley. "We even track the flight paths and input from the pilots since the upgrade to the C-5M Super Galaxy, it really helps increase our situational awareness."

Having good situational awareness helps keep the planes from getting damaged as well as other mishaps, said Sergeant Conley.

"This is my fifth base and there probably isn't a squadron out there that takes care of its members like the 9th AS," said Sergeant Conley. "It's like we are a family. The 9th AS is a great squadron. We work hard, but when the work is over we make sure our people get time to spend with their families. We want to keep them safe so they can do that."

There are many missions for the 9th AS, and the squadron is used to having to work at a high operations tempo. At the scheduling desk, Capt. Eric Pounds, 9th AS pilot, works hard at keeping missions organized.

"As a scheduler, I'm tasked with keeping the missions that come down on the operational level organized," said Captain Pounds. "The 9th is a great squadron to be a part of. We're doing great things around the world and supporting our nation's interests. The whole wingman concept is alive here. When my wife and I had our baby last year, I don't think we cooked for a month with all the people who stopped by to give food."

But the family-oriented atmosphere is not the only thing that Captain Pounds said he likes about the 9th AS.

"We have a lot of things going on, but they get done, and they get done safely," said Captain Pounds. "There is a sense of pride once you leave the squadron on a mission, or when you come back from a mission. There is a strong sense of honor in being a 'Proud Pelican'. When I go home at night I feel like I've done something for the country. This is the best squadron to be a part of."
At the end of the day, the brave men and women of the 9th AS 'Proud Pelicans' can definitely be said to be hard working Airman.