48th APS Deployment

HONOLULU INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT, Hawaii -- U.S. Air Force Reserve Master Sgt. Sean Concepcion, 48th Aerial Port Sqaudron, 624th Regional Support Group, spends time with his son, Ryder, before boarding a plane here Jan. 24. Sergeant Concepcion is joining other 48 APS servicemembers stationed at Hickam Air Force Base, Hawaii, for an extended deployment to Southwest Asia in support of contingency operations. They will be working alongside other Air Force APS Airmen in conducting ramp operations, processing cargo and passengers. (U.S. Air Force photo/Tech. Sgt. Steve Lewis)

48th APS Deployment

HONOLULU INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT, Hawaii -- U.S. Air Force Reserve Tech. Sgt. Sean Warnet, 48th Aerial Port Sqaudron, 624th Regional Support Group, goes over his orders with Master Sgt. Felemon Torres, 48 APS, before boarding a plane here Jan. 24. Sergeant Warnet is joining other 48 APS servicemembers stationed at Hickam Air Force Base, Hawaii, for an extended deployment to Southwest Asia in support of contingency operations. They will be working alongside other Air Force APS Airmen in conducting ramp operations, processing cargo and passengers. (U.S. Air Force photo/Tech. Sgt. Steve Lewis)

48th APS Deployment

HONOLULU INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT, Hawaii -- U.S. Air Force Reserve Col. Robert A. Huston, 624th Force Support Group commander, 624th Regional Support Group, speaks with Airmen from the 48th Aerial Port Squadron, before they boarding a plane here Jan. 24. 48 APS servicemembers stationed at Hickam Air Force Base, Hawaii, are headed to Southwest Asia for an extended deployment in support of contingency operations. They will be working alongside other Air Force APS Airmen in conducting ramp operations, processing cargo and passengers. (U.S. Air Force photo/Tech. Sgt. Steve Lewis)

Hawaii's Aerial Port Reservists deploy

Published Feb. 9, 2011
By Capt. Ashley Conner
624th Regional Support Group Public Affairs

JOINT BASE PEARL HARBOR HICKAM, Hawaii -- More than fifty aerial port Reservists from the 48th Aerial Port Squadron assigned to Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam, Hawaii have recently left for deployments in Southwest Asia.

Aerial Port Airmen, also known as "Port Dogs", are trained to manage in-transit passenger and cargo movements for contingency missions, deployments, redeployments, and exercises.

In addition to the personnel deployed to Southwest Asia, a group of Reservists from the 48th APS will deploy to Iraq as well.

"We currently have about half of our unit deployed," said Lt. Col. Eric Peebles, 48th APS commander. "When we received the taskings for these three deployments I had a line of folks outside my door ready to volunteer. I am continually impressed of the quality of our people and their level of enthusiasm, volunteerism and commitment to the Air Force mission."

All of the personnel deployed are Traditional Reservists, meaning most hold full time civilian jobs but work as a minimum one weekend a month and two weeks a year in military status. The police officers, nurses and college students are just a few of the full time jobs held by these Reservists who have to maintain proficiency in the Air Terminal Operations Center, Load Planning, Ramp Services, Cargo Processing, Special Handling, Fleet Services and Passenger Services sections of the Aerial Port Squadron.

"The unique challenge with our Reservists is making sure they stay proficient," said Colonel Peebles. "We take advantage of their monthly drill weekends and their two week annual training to keep current, but there is no experience like doing the job for 12 hours a day, six days a week for four months."

In October of 2010 a six member team from the 48th APS took second place at the Air Force Reserve Command's Port Dawg Challenge at Dobbins ARB, Ga. Five of the six members from that team are currently deployed. All of the deployers from the 48th APS are scheduled to return by this Fall.

The 48th APS is a Reserve squadron under the 624th Regional Support Group also at JBPH-H, responsible for civil engineer, aerial port and medical combat support for contingencies around the globe and to help promote peace and stability in the Asia-Pacific region. The 624th also has units located at Andersen AB, Guam.