Up and away

Members of the 94th Logistics Readiness Squadron Traffic Management Office and 701st Airlift Squadron load a C-130 aircraft engine onto a C-17 aircraft heading to the Maple Flag exercise, May 22, 2014, Dobbins Air Reserve Base, Ga. In the event that an engine fails during the exercise, the engine will be available for maintenance. (U.S. Air Force photo/Senior Airman Miles Wilson)

Safety first

Reynante Rivera, of the 94th Logistics Readiness Squadron Transportation and Management Office, checks measurements during a cargo inspection, May 21, 2014, Dobbins Air Reserve Base, Ga. During these inspections, the TMO ensures that the cargo is airworthy, clean, contraband free, and that all of the figures match. If not done properly, the safety of the aircraft may be compromised. (U.S. Air Force photo/Senior Airman Miles Wilson)

Behind the scenes

Published May 24, 2014
By Senior Airman Miles Wilson
94th Airlift Wing Public Affairs

DOBBINS AIR RESERVE BASE, Ga. -- The 94th Logistics Readiness Squadron implemented several processing functions over the course of a week in order to process and deploy 70 reservists at Dobbins Air Reserve Base, along with 19 short tons of cargo.

"We do a lot to support and plan these deployments," said Senior Master Sgt. Clarence Hester, 94th LRS logistics plans superintendent. "There are many people who never even see the work that goes into them behind the scenes."

The 94th LRS is the mediator between all of the other squadrons that are involved in missions. They coordinate to schedule every aspect of a deployment. Determining the number of aircraft, when to load cargo, when to process personnel, all of it falls onto their shoulders.

"You could think of us as the conductor for an orchestra," said Hester. "We have the different sections that do different things, but we direct when they play."

The 94th LRS is what makes deployments at Dobbins possible. Without the necessary coordination that it provides, these missions would not get carried out.

"We are the backbone of these deployments," said Hester. "These missions, especially joint missions like this, are made possible because of us."

The deployment process is made up of two main processes: the Personnel Deployment Function and the Cargo Deployment Function.

"The Installation Personnel Readiness office works with us to process the PDF line," said Hester. "This is where all of the personnel deploying process to make sure that they are qualified, and that they have all of the necessary records."

The CDF line is similar to the PDF line, except instead of personnel, it involves Cargo. Before any form of cargo can be loaded onto an aircraft, it must go through thorough inspections, and be approved on several different levels.

"We inspect these pallets very thoroughly," said Reynante Rivera, of the 94th LRS Traffic Management Office. "We have to make sure that every pallet that boards an aircraft is airworthy, and also to make sure that all of our figures match. If any cargo doesn't weigh what it should, and it is loaded, it could compromise the aircraft's safety."

Along with safety, the cargo is inspected to ensure that there is no contraband or unauthorized items.

"We check for anything that is out of the ordinary," said Rivera. "We ensure that everything is legal and within regulation."

Without the coordination of the 94th LRS, missions at Dobbins would be almost impossible. Through their work, Dobbins is able to support itself and its mission partners.