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(Editor’s note: This is the last article in a three-part series on 721st APS operations.)
From processing, building and handling cargo, to ensuring passengers are taken care of with in-flight meals, pillows and blankets to keeping the lavatories cleaned and serviced; the 721st Aerial Port Squadron Airmen provide full air transportation services at Ramstein and sustains three combatant commands.
The data records and reports section and readiness flight plays a vital role in keeping the Airmen of the 721st APS mission ready.
The readiness flight is responsible for managing and monitoring plans and programs; they handle all facets of unit deployment manager duties and responsibilities, said Senior Master Sgt. Rich Rizzo, 721st APS squadron operations superintendent. Some of their duties also include being the unit security managers and airfield driving program managers.
“We are the unit health monitors,” said Tech. Sgt. Boyd Shurett, 721st APS NCOIC of combat readiness and resources. “We make sure everyone is up-to-date with dental work, physical fitness and any training that needs to be done.”
They hold self-aid and buddy care classes, ensure all Airmen are current on their chemical, biological, radiological, and nuclear training, and weapons firing as well as conduct 10 physical training sessions a week.
Having a pulse on all the training in the squadron might sound mundane but there are moments that make it worth it, said Shurett.
Being the largest APS outside of the continental U.S., someone needs to keep track of all the paperwork and numbers, that’s where data records and reports comes in.
Data records and reports is responsible for reconciling billing for
reimbursement into AMC’s Transportation Capital Working Fund, said Rizzo.
“We check entries into the system to make sure passengers and cargo are properly manifested,” said Klaus Clemens, 721st APS superintendant of records reports and analysis office. “We take all the work load numbers from each section and add them together to give to AMC headquarters.”
Keeping track of 17,000 passengers a month and 16,000 aircraft a year are just some of the things the data records and reports section is responsible for.
“Outside of the states, Ramstein is the busiest aerial port,” said Clemens. “We are the anchor of Europe and the Middle East.”
The many flights that make up the 721st APS all play a part in the
mission. Though they are their own entity, all flights work together and each one is an essential piece to the puzzle.
“With everything the 500 plus Airmen, U.S. civilians and local national personnel of the 721st APS do, they always impress me with how dedicated they are to the job and the mission,” said Lt. Col. Melvin Maxwell, 721st APS commander.
