APS and LRS offer learning experience to Army logisticians

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman Zachary Cacicia
  • 436th Airlift Wing Public Affairs
DOVER AIR FORCE BASE, Del. --  The 436th Aerial Port Squadron and the 436th Logistics Readiness Squadron have partnered up with the Department of the Army's Logistics Management Intern Program to provide aspiring Army Civilian Logistics Management Specialists a hands-on learning environment to give them insight on Air Force logistics and transportation over an eight-week long immersion.

"They will see how Air Force logistics at the base level operates," said 2nd Lt. Tucker Sears, 436th LRS Material Management Flight commander. "When they work with the Air Force down the road, they will know the processes we follow and be able to better communicate across services."

This eight-week immersion is part of a much longer 18 to 24 month program, comprised of classroom training at Fort Lee, Virginia, and on-the-job training at locations throughout the U.S., including Dover AFB. This training emphasizes transportation, supply, maintenance, financial management, contract negotiations and leadership development. This program ensures the availability of well-trained and experienced employees with the right skills to support the Army civilian work force.

Currently, two Army civilians are going through an immersion at Dover AFB, Joe Baron and Admyer Fell. Their eight weeks at Dover has been split up into two components. They spent their first four weeks immersed in the 436th APS and their second four week period in the 436th LRS, maximizing their learning experience.

"Any time we can provide training to somebody and make them a better logistician, it'll help us in the long run," said Steve Minard, 436th APS Combat Readiness and Resources Flight chief. "It's going to help Dover, it's going to help the entire supply chain; these are the same people that will be at deployed locations or at major commands or at headquarters making the decisions that will affect our folks out in the field."

According to Sears, these civilians have been shadowing aerial port and logistics readiness Airmen throughout their day-to-day operations.

"Just a few of the things they will be part of is supplying parts for aircraft maintenance, refueling operations, managing the vehicle fleet and transporting people and cargo around the base," Sears said.

These interns learn how cargo and people are moved, packaged and how Team Dover Airmen do their jobs. Both interns are pleased with the learning experience they have been afforded from Team Dover.

"It's been a good experience so far, they've kept us busy," said Baron. "They started us off in the aerial port and we've gone through the different functions and we see how it all comes together. Dover is a really great spot for us to be sent to."

Fell elaborated on Baron's statement.

"Here at Dover, being a key hub for the Air Force, we come in and see what the logistics process is and how all of it links together, both from the fleet side and from the supply side," Fell said. "The program is really a plus. We see how the services are interwoven together."