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8th EAMS takes care of homebound service members

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman Bryan Swink
  • 379th Air Expeditionary Wing Public Affairs
SOUTHWEST ASIA --  The members of the 8th Expeditionary Air Mobility Squadron Aerial Port Flight conduct business as if they work at a state-side international airport. Their main focus is customer satisfaction while ensuring the mission stays on course and adheres to the Transportation Security Administration guidelines.

The 'Port Dawgs,' also known as 'The Ocho's,' support approximately 9,000 transient service members each month. They check passengers in, issue boarding passes, move every piece of luggage and ensure the safe departure of each service member as they head home following a successful tour here in Southwest Asia.

"We understand most people who come through here are on their way home after a long deployment," said Airman 1st Class Patricia Sloan, 8th EAMS passenger service representative, deployed from the 305th Air Mobility Wing, Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst, N.J. "We want their post-deployment relaxation to start here before they even begin heading home."

Travelers must immigrate out of the local country once they are checked in and head to the security checkpoint where the team strictly follows TSA standards and guidelines. The Ochos X-ray every piece of carry-on luggage and scan every passenger with a metal detector.

"Our commitment to our passengers going home is to streamline their processing here in the area of responsibility so they can have a smooth transition onto a commercial aircraft to head back to the United States," said Capt. Katheryn Plummer, 8th Aerial Port Flight commander. "To do this, we follow strict TSA passenger and baggage screening policies. Not only does this keep the passengers and crews of the aircraft safe, it results in zero delays meeting connecting flights - getting our travelers home as soon as possible."

Another 8th EAMS team is hard at work while passengers are making their way through the immigration and boarding process.

"The baggage team is some of the muscle of our squadron," said Master Sgt. Hector Cartagena, 8th EAMS operations noncommissioned officer, deployed from the 514th AMW, JB MDL, N.J. "Every passenger has at least two bags they check and each one weighs between 50 and 70 pounds. These guys are tossing around thousands of pounds of luggage for every out-bound or in-bound flight."

This team ensures all passengers' checked bags are sorted correctly and reach their final destination.

"I am very proud of what 'The Ocho' does on a daily basis to give our warfighters the best first and last impression of this installation," said Plummer, deployed from the Air National Guard's 161st Air Refueling Wing, Ariz. "We are the first people travelers see when arriving here, and the last to say goodbye when they go home - that's an honor."