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302nd Airlift Wing demobilization draws near

By Tech. Sgt. David D. Morton , 302nd Airlift Wing Public Affairs / Published October 23, 2006

PETERSON AIR FORCE BASE, Colo. (AFRC) -- Maj. Stephen Stelly, 731st Airlift Squadron flight commander, proudly displays the American flag as a 302nd Airlift Wing C-130 taxis past Pikes Peak during a recent homecoming. On Oct. 4, wing members ended 14 months of deployments in support of U.S. Central Command operations in Southwest Asia. (U.S. Air Force photo by Master Sgt. Mark Clark)
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Maj. Stephen Stelly, 731st Airlift Squadron flight commander, proudly displays the American flag as a 302nd Airlift Wing C-130 taxis past Pikes Peak during a recent homecoming. On Oct. 4, 2006, wing members ended 14 months of deployments in support of U.S. Central Command operations in Southwest Asia. (U.S. Air Force photo/by Master Sgt. Mark Clark)

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PETERSON AIR FORCE BASE, Colo. (AFRC) -- With an impending demobilization celebration scheduled for December, time has come for reflection on the 302nd Airlift Wing's many achievements and accomplishments during the past 14 months. 

Many reservists from the unit deployed overseas to serve and support ongoing U.S. Central Command operations in Southwest Asia. 

A wave of deployments actually began last August when nearly 120 members of the 302nd Maintenance Group and 302nd Operations Group left for the Middle East to conduct and support flying operations in Iraq, Afghanistan and the Horn of Africa. 

"On an average we had six to seven aircrews flying every other day," said Master Sgt. Miltiadis Drakopoulos, 731st Airlift Squadron loadmaster. "We were transporting mostly cargo and personnel. I also heard we had transported nearly 35 million pounds of cargo while we were there during the year." 

The number of aircrews would eventually grow to 14 with eight of the wing's aircraft flying in and out of the theater of operations. 

"We were flying side by side with the active-duty," said Chief Master Sgt. Rick Kite, 731st AS chief flight engineer. "We were in and out of Iraq and Afghanistan flying intra-theater operations. Our numbers spoke for themselves. We proved we're a legitimate part of the total force. This had to be the highlight of my career." 

The nearly 18 million pounds of cargo transported by the 731st AS translated from 8,976 tons of cargo transported on 4,682 pallets. The 731st AS combined with the 913th AW, Willow Grove Naval Air Station Pa., and the 914th AW, Niagara Falls International Airport, N.Y., to move 73,972 passengers, 17,864 tons of cargo on 9,500 pallets. The complete allotment accounted an accumulated 35 million pounds of cargo transported by the three wings. 

"Typically, if you look at it, there is estimated to be 21 vehicles to a convoy with 100 personnel each including security, drivers and escorts," said Col. Karl A. Schmitkons, 302nd OG commander. "As a group, we could have potentially saved up to 113 convoys. Individually our wing might have saved as many as 56 convoys from prevalent threat. That's a total estimate of 2,363 tractor-trailers. Of course, we had our own risks due to small-arms fire and surface to air missiles while traveling from point to point." 

The threat was minimized by having aircraft perform up to and above the standard operating procedures. That could not have been accomplished without the support of the wing's maintenance personnel. 

"A lot of the successes we had were directly attributed to daily communication and team playership between aircrews and maintenance personal," said Chief Master Sgt. Ron Bebow, 302nd Maintenance Squadron superintendent. "Our mission capable rate was up to as much as 92 or 93 percent. The Air Force standard is 75 percent." 

The 90-percent mission capable rate was maintained up until the last rotation of 302nd maintenance personnel left the theater of operations. 

"Our scorecard is we were able to perform roll-up operations, load all our cargo we had over 14 months and still maintain the flying tempo at 90.7 percent," said Chief Master Sgt. Michael Sands, 302nd Maintenance Squadron superintendent of operations for the last rotation overseas. "That accomplishment is directly attributed to the maintenance crews of all three wings." 

However, setting a high mission capable rate was not the only thing accomplished while in the theater of operations. 

Chief Bebow indicated he had some concerns on the way traveling overseas, but those quickly dissipated. 

"Getting over there and back we had few if any problems. We put as many flying hours on our aircraft in one year as we normally do in three or four years. That's an awesome accomplishment to complete in 60 to 90 days. Our planes have been treated well and taken care of since 1993. We feel they're practically brand new. That can only be attributed to our young troops. They never waiver from the maintenance standards they've been taught from day one. 

"I went over there not knowing the capability of our young troops. They set the standard and excelled everyday. They matured a million-fold," said the chief. "We would have never been able to do that if we stayed at home. I haven't had a feeling like this about this group of people since I returned from Vietnam in 1973." 

The 302nd AW will celebrate the demobilization Dec. 2, in Bldg. 210, Bay 1. 

Before the celebration the first 302nd AW Honorary Commanders Group will be inducted, at 10 a.m., followed by a brief wing commander's call at 11 a.m. - and then the celebration. Members will be dismissed at 2:30 p.m. to attend unit activities. 

"It took a total team effort from every member of this wing to accomplish what we have during the past 14 months," said Col. James J. Muscatell Jr., 302nd AW commander. "This celebration is being held to honor the efforts and sacrifices made by the entire wing during that time." 

Reservists are encouraged to bring their families.