USMC engineers, logisticians visit DAFB

DOVER AIR FORCE BASE, Del. -- Thirteen Marine Corps engineers and logisticians met with Dover loadmasters here Sept. 5, 2018, to learn how mobility aircraft transport USMC equipment.

Located in Quantico, Virginia, Marine Corps Systems Command land systems defense acquisition engineers and logisticians acquire equipment that increases Marine Corps lethality. The unit designs utility tactical vehicles and light tactical vehicles used in operations around the world.

Their visit to Dover AFB was intended to help them better understand aircraft size constraints, ask questions, and get a better understanding of loadmaster duties.

“As experts in loading the aircraft, we rely upon the designers of equipment so that we can get their cargo where it needs to go,” said Master Sgt. Terry Langston, 3rd Airlift Squadron readiness flight chief. “Without all of these players directly involved as a team, there are possibilities for delays or damage to equipment or the aircraft.”

To showcase Team Dover’s mission of rapid global mobility, the engineers and logisticians were given tours of the aircraft assigned to the 436th Airlift Wing. Master Sgt. John Crowe, a C-17 loadmaster assigned to the 9th Airlift Squadron, and Langston, a C-5M loadmaster, led the tour groups, discussed load patterns and answered questions.

“They were the guys taking the notes, asking us what we needed,” Crowe said. “You know it’s a good partnership when they want to know how they can make the cargo movement easier.”

During their stay, the engineers and logisticians had the opportunity to gain a better understanding of how their job impacts Air Force mobility operations by interacting with both airframes, said Crowe. The time spent together provided great insight on both sides – improving communications and gaining a wider depth of knowledge – in order to create more viable resources for Marines.

“The team from MARCORSYSCOM came here to talk to our loadmasters and see how mobility Airmen move their equipment to where it’s needed,” Langston said. “We hope we can continue building this partnership with them. As we work to standardize mobility procedures across all branches, we’ll be able to better support the warfighter.”

The guests observed loading procedures and learned how aircrews restrain cargo in order to work toward improving loading and offloading procedures, Crowe said.

Langston said MARCORSYSCOM land systems defense acquisition engineers and logisticians knew aircraft specifications, but actually seeing these aircraft in person enhanced the impact.

“Members from the two services brainstormed different ideas on how to improve and standardize the process of uploading and downloading cargo from each airframe,” Crowe said. “Dover AFB looks forward to working with members from MARCORSYSCOM to foster a stronger relationship to develop more combat-ready military vehicles.”