News>Steel City Wingman compete at Port Dawg Challenge
Photos
Master Sgt. Robert Steckmeyer and Tech. Sgt. Todd Losch Jr., 32nd Aerial Port Squadron air transportation specialists, receive the first place trophy for the cargo processing event during the closing ceremony of the Port Dawg Challenge competition at Dobbins Air Reserve Base, Ga., June 21, 2012. In order to win the event, Steckmeyer and Losch had to ensure three pieces of cargo were airlift ready and build a pallet of the cargo within the Global Automated Transportation Execution System (GATES) constrained by a 15-minute deadline. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Joshua J. Seybert/Released)
Senior Airman Jonathan Hogan, Master Sgt. Robert Steckmeyer and Senior Airman Lance Cooper, 32nd Aerial Port Squadron air transportation specialists, run the Fit-to-Fight portion of the Port Dawg Challenge event held at Dobbins Air Reserve Base, Ga., June 21, 2012. The fitness event was divided into five portions, where team members had to run five complete laps around a track totaling 300 meters and perform as many burpees, a full body exercise used in strength training, as possible within a two-minute time period between laps. (U.S. Air Force photo by Tech. Sgt. Jamie L. Perry/Released)
Master Sgt. Robert Steckmeyer, 32nd Aerial Port Squadron air transportation specialist, spots a forklift operated by Senior Airman Michael Smith, 32 APS air transportation specialist, as part of the cargo pallet build-up event during the Port Dawg Challenge at Dobbins Air Reserve Base, Ga., June 21, 2012. This event is designed to evaluate teams on the correct usage of restraints, weight limits on pallets to be shipped and accurate usage of spotters when using forklifts to load cargo pallets for transportation. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Joshua J. Seybert/Released)
Master Sgt. Robert Steckmeyer, 32nd Aerial Port Squadron air transportation specialist, spots a 25K Halvorsen aircraft loader as part of the 25k obstacle course event during the Port Dawg Challenge competition at Dobbins Air Reserve Base, Ga., June 20, 2012. The obstacle course is designed to simulate the transportation of pallets to and from aircraft using the 25K Halvorsen. Teams were given 30 minutes to complete the course and were judged on correct usage of spotting signs, safe driving and timeliness on the simulated on-loading and off-loading of pallets to the aircraft. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Joshua J. Seybert/Released)
Tech. Sgt. Todd Losch Jr., 32nd Aerial Port Squadron air transportation specialist, delicately picks up a pitcher of water with a forklift after given the go ahead by his fellow teammate, Senior Airman Jonathan Hogan, during the three-day Port Dawg challenge held at Dobbins Air Reserve Base, Ga. The 10k relay race tested each unit on their skills to maneuver cargo in tight spaces and the correct use of “spotters” to give the driver accurate hand signals to help them complete the obstacle course. (U.S. Air Force photo by Tech. Sgt. Jamie L. Perry/Released)
Senior Airmen Michael Smith and Jonathan Hogan, 32nd Aerial Port Squadron air transportation specialists, secure a Humvee to the floor of a C-5 Galaxy static as part of a cargo restraint exercise during the second day of the Port Dawg Challenge competition held at Dobbins Air Reserve Base, Ga., June 20, 2012. The cargo restraint exercise requires teams to calculate the restraints required when equipment is shipped on cargo aircraft. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Joshua J. Seybert/Released)
Tech. Sgt. Todd Losch Jr., 32nd Aerial Port Squadron air transportation specialist, tightens a chain that will secure a Humvee to the floor of a C-5 Galaxy static during the third phase of the cargo restraint event, which is part of the Port Dawg Challenge competition at Dobbins Air Reserve Base, Ga., June 20, 2012. The cargo restraint event judges “Port Dawgs” abilities to properly calculate the restraints required for transporting cargo and applying the restraints on the load to be shipped. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Joshua J. Seybert/Released)
by 911th Airlift Wing Public Affairs
911th Airlift Wing Public Affairs
7/13/2012 - DOBBINS ARB -- The stage was set in Georgia for 19 units within the Air Force Reserve Command to test their combat proficiency over the course of three days and eleven events in the spirit of competition known as the biannual Port Dawg Challenge held at Dobbins Air Reserve Base June 19-21, 2012.
This year, the 911th Airlift Wings' own 32nd Aerial Port Squadron assembled a team of new competitors with a vast aerial port background, ranging from prior active duty Air Force service to eleven years with the 32nd APS, who were ready to face the challenge.
"I wanted to go out and be as competitive as possible," said Senior Airman Jonathan Hogan, air transportation specialist, 32 APS. "We did everything we could to prepare for the challenge, from doing extra physical training to preforming the alternate unit training assemblies to practice the events."
32 APS, the most deployed unit at the 911th Airlift Wing, brought valuable experience to the challenge from their deployments. Senior Airman Lance Cooper arrived home a month before the challenge and just in time to bring some fresh knowledge from the field to the competition.
"Just getting back from my most recent deployment helped me with the events I competed in," said Senior Airman Lance Cooper, air transportation specialist, 32nd APS. "A lot of what we do in the Port Dawg Challenge is exactly the way we would have to do it in the field."
The Steel City Port Dawgs brought home first place for the cargo processing event, which required the team to ensure three pieces of cargo were airlift ready and build a pallet of the cargo within the Global Automated Transportation Execution System (GATES) while meeting a 15-minute deadline. With hard work and dedication, Master Sgt. Robert Steckmeyer and Tech. Sgt. Todd Losch, 32nd APS, air transportation specialists, surpassed the 19 other represented squadrons with their performance.
"Our guys did a tremendous job out here representing the wing and bringing home the award for cargo processing, they have a lot to be proud of," said Col. Craig C. Peters, commander, 911th Airlift Wing.
Since 2009, AFRC has filled approximately 9,000 deployed positions within the aerial port community, ranging from Kirkuk and Balad in Iraq to Ali al Salem in Kuwait, all with the help of the Steel City Port Dawgs.
"The purpose of this event is to really showcase our Aerospace Expeditionary Force capabilities," said Lt. Col. Diana Echols, Commander of the Port Dawg challenge. "Most of the people who are out here today have deployed multiple times and this gives them an opportunity to show off their talents and what they bring to the fight."
