76th APS hosts the 76er Skills Challenge

The 76th Aerial Port Squadron hosted their annual 76er Skills Challenge, August 4-5, inside and outside the 76th APS building at Youngstown Air Reserve Station.

Five teams competed in six timed challenges, a hundred question test, a pallet build up, a 10K forklift obstacle course, a 25K Halverson cargo loading vehicle obstacle course, a team physical training course, and an simulated Engine Running Onload/Offload of a C-130H Hercules.

Four of the five “Port Dawg” teams were made up of Reserve Citizen Airmen assigned to the 910th Airlift Wing’s 76th APS. The fifth team was made up of Reserve Citizen Airmen assigned to the 911th Airlift Wing’s 32nd Aerial Port Squadron, based at Pittsburgh Air Reserve Station, Pennsylvania.

Each team won at least one challenge, and there seemed to be a correlation between what each team leaders' jobs are and the events their team won.

Team 1 lead by Tech. Sgt. Dane Morningstar, a cargo services flight supervisor with the 76th APS, won the pallet build up. Team 4 placed second in the event and Team 2 placed third.

Team 2 lead by Tech. Sgt. Samuel Holbrook, a passenger services flight supervisor with the 76th APS, won the team PT course by one second. Team 1 placed second in the course and Team 4 place third

Team 3 lead by Tech. Sgt. Link Maynard, a special handling section representative with the 76th APS, won the ERO.  Team 2 placed second in the event and Team 5 placed third, with only 37 seconds separation.

Team 4 lead by Tech. Sgt. Tiffany Ihnot, a fleet services section supervisor with the 76th APS, won the 10K forklift obstacle course and 25k Halverson obstacle course. In the forklift course Team 5 placed second and Team 3 placed third. In the Halverson course, Team 1 placed second and Team 3 placed third.

Team 5, PARS’s 32nd APS, won the hundred question test. Team 2 placed second in the event and Team 4 placed third.

After all the scores were added up, there was only a 54 point difference between first place and last. Team 5 took third, Team 4 took second, and Team 1 took first.

“If I may, that’s two years in a row for me,” said Morningstar, smiling ear to ear, holding back laughter. “Draft me next year.”

After squadron leadership shared words with the participating Airmen, the 76er Skills Challenge came to an end with a barbeque.