JOINT BASE SAN ANTONIO-LACKLAND, Texas -- Reserve Citizen Airmen with the 433rd Airlift Wing’s Logistic Readiness Squadron, were called to duty to assist with transportation efforts impacted by the current coronavirus pandemic in and around Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland.
Master Sgt. Juan J. Guerra, 433rd Logistics Readiness Squadron, ground transportation section chief/quality assurance, has been filling in with scheduling, assigning personnel, and driving duties. These duties keep the base running, after Airmen, and civilian employees, who are considered to be at high risk of contracting COVID-19, were asked to stay home.
Social distancing guidance requires additional vehicles to accommodate base transportation needs. Alamo Wing Reserve Citizen Airmen were activated to help operate these vehicles.
“I love the Air Force. So when the opportunity came to help out in the efforts here at home, I jumped right on it,” said Guerra.
Staff Sgt. Aaron Antu, 433rd LRS, ground transportation operator, has been helping with transportation as well by shuttling personnel on and off base. The training squadrons on JBSA-Lackland are one of the factors that require utilizing more shuttles to transport fewer people in each bus, due to practicing proper social distancing.
“It’s satisfying to know that when duty calls, I’m able to come out here and help out,” said Antu.
The Alamo Wing Airmen came in to help and alleviate the shortage of transportation drivers and operators for Lackland. They took on the workload of about 26 individuals that were deemed to be at high-risk of contracting COVID-19. Their duties have been taking them all around the JBSA areas, to include on and off base.
Other Airmen assisting the mission are Tech. Sgt. Yoland Reyes-Molina, 433rd LRS; Tech. Sgt. Roland Hairston and Staff Sgt. Michelle Grazier, 26th Aerial Port Squadron; and Master Sgt. William Bonner, 74th Aerial Port Squadron.
As of May 22, their combined efforts have accumulated 6,182 miles of driving, of which an estimated 800 miles was off base. So far, they have transported 1,351 passengers on and off base in 456 trips.