Prepare for take off: 724th AMS best in AF

  • Published
  • By Staff Sgt. Colleen Wieman
  • 31st Fighter Wing Public Affairs
Aviano Air Base, Italy --  They may be small but they've left a big impact throughout the world. 

The 724th Air Mobility Squadron left such a large impact that it was awarded the Air Force Small Air Terminal Unit of the Year for fiscal year 2006. 

"This is very exciting," said Lt. Col. Christine Erlewine, 724th AMS commander. "We're a small terminal here and sometimes not very busy, but when we are called upon here or off station, we have done an exceptional job." 

The 69 squadron members not only handled Aviano missions, but they were called out of the area to augment sister squadrons at Incirlik Air Base, Turkey, and Rota Naval Station, Spain. 

Locally the squadron redeployed the 173rd Airborne Brigade and deployed Bailey Bridges to Afghanistan for Army personnel in Livorno. The 230-foot bridge in eastern Afghanistan is the longest Bailey Bridge built during combat since World War II. Colonel Erlewine said the Army normally sends the bridges through sea lift, but since it had to send the bridges through the air, the squadron helped them build pallet trains, totaling 389 tons, moved on 12 C-17 aircraft. 

Not only did the squadron help American military operations, it also helped Italians get downrange. Squadron members went TDY to the Villa Franca and Milan airports to deploy Italian forces so they could take the helm of the International Security and Assistance Force in Afghanistan. Supporting this effort, the squadron was TDY for 293 days and handled 67 aircraft, more than 2,000 passengers and 822 tons of cargo. 

Despite the potential for experiencing safety mishaps, the squadron did not have any reportable on duty mishaps for FY 2006. It also received an excellent rating in the Logistics Standardization and Evaluation Program as well as the 2005 Air Mobility Command Best En Route Safety Award, the Air Force Chief of Safety Outstanding Achievement Award for Ground Safety in Category V, and the President's Safety Citation.
Not only is it safe to fly with the 724th AMS, the squadron also sustain a 99 percent aircraft on time departure rate. 

Because of these accomplishments, Colonel Erlewine and Tech. Sgt. Miguel Rodriguez, Air Terminal Operations Center NCOIC, will attend the Logistics Readiness Awards luncheon May 3 at Andrews Air Force Base, Md. The two will accept the award with four other award winning Aviano members who PCS during FY 2006 to Andrews AFB. 

"I am very proud of my Airmen," Colonel Erlewine said. "It's nice to be recognized. We're the smallest terminal in the European theater. It's nice to know we are trusted to take care of the AMC mission and we get great support from our host, the 31st Fighter Wing."