TRAVIS AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. (AFNS) -- An aircrew of 13 Airmen assigned to the 22nd Airlift Squadron and the 60th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron from Travis Air Force Base, California, delivered more than 56,000 pounds of humanitarian cargo to the Dominican Republic, as part of the Denton Program, Oct. 28.
The cargo, comprised of firefighting equipment and a fire truck, will modernize fire response and rescue capabilities for the Dominican community of Vicente Noble, Barahona.
The Denton Program, a Department of Defense-led transportation program which moves humanitarian cargo donated by non-governmental organizations, remains a significant resource for developing nations.
Every month, the 22nd AS conducts a Major Command Service Tail Trainer exercise, and the Denton mission provided an opportunity to apply the lessons learned during the training to a real-world operation.
“The training from an MSTT impacts every crew member,” said Capt. Adam Stoll, 22nd AS pilot and aircraft commander. “The training our unqualified loadmasters, flight engineers and pilots receive from this accelerates their upgrade training to become qualified.”
With operational efficacy being a priority for the Air Force, the need to familiarize new aircrew with high-weight movements is of the utmost importance to mission accomplishment.
“In just a few months, the students I am currently training will fill the role of a fully-qualified mission loadmaster and continue to provide strategic cargo airlift around the globe at any time,” said Tech. Sgt. Kierre Vance, 22nd AS loadmaster instructor.
From the forward-loading complex of a C-5M Super Galaxy to the aft-loading complex (front and back of the C-5), the student loadmasters received training by moving the cargo onto and off of the aircraft, learning correct procedure and protocol throughout the course of the mission.
“The humanitarian aid I was able to provide today made me see this job in a completely new light,” said Airman 1st Class Daniel Taylor, 22nd AS loadmaster apprentice. “It made me realize how fortunate I am and how my job can help so many people.”
The aircrew concluded their training at Fort Campbell, Kentucky, where they continued refining loading and off-loading procedures.