27 APS wins two events at Port Dawg Challenge

  • Published
  • By Staff Sgt. Samantha Wagner
  • 934th Airlift Wing Public Affairs
MINNEAPOLIS - ST. PAUL AIR RESERVE STATION, Minn. --  The 934th Airlift Wing's 27th Aerial Port Squadron took first place in two events but was unable to repeat bringing home the hardware from the Air Force Reserve Command's biennial Port Dawg Challenge held June 18-25 at Dobbins Air Reserve Base, Ga.

The 96th Aerial Port Squadron from the 403rd Airlift Wing, Little Rock Air Force Base, Ark., outscored the field of 17 teams to be crowned the 2012 Port Dawg Challenge champions.

The 27th APS, which won the challenge in 2010, was represented by Master Sgt. Roger Hauch, Tech. Sgt. Josh Warbiany, Staff Sgts. Gravis Alger and Daniel Sanchez, and Senior Airmen Emily Erickson and Zach Allen.

The six member team, led by Warbiany, spent many hours, including time outside of unit training assemblies, preparing for the competition's categories, that included mission capabilities, job knowledge and fitness.

"We were in the books all the time looking up regulations," said Warbiany. "We practiced every weekend of the UTA(s) and sometimes came in extra time to prepare. We got on computers to learn different sections and even had help from the members of previous teams."

The hard work paid off as Erickson won the load planning event and the air terminal operations center event along with teammate Warbiany.

Aerial port units perform military logistics functions that include passenger and cargo processing, equipment loading, air cargo preparation and load plans, and supervising units engaged in aircraft loading and unloading operations.

According to Warbiany, defending the title was a challenge and while the 27th APS may not have brought back the trophy, they did bring home new skills, knowledge and camaraderie.

"Everyone knows you won last year, and they wanted it this year," said Warbiany. "We heard a lot of talk from other teams that they wanted the trophy."

Warbiany said he was pleased with his team's performance and hopes that they will be involved with the next challenge.

"If they don't compete next time, I'm going to make sure they help train the next team so we can be sure to bring back the trophy," said Warbiany.