27 APS proves they are top DAWGs

  • Published
  • By Staff Sgt. Kimberly Hickey
  • 934th Airlift Wing Public Affairs
Minneapolis, St. Paul --  The 27th Aerial Port Squadron won the first Air Force Reserve Command Port Dawg Challenge held at Dobbins Air Reserve Base in Georgia, Oct. 25-29.
Twenty-two teams from across the Air Force Reserve competed in the event.
"We took a team comprised of mostly senior airmen, 3 levels, and won the entire competition," said Master Sgt. Mathew Weber, an air transportation specialist with the 27th APS.

Sergeant Weber, the team's coordinator, began the team selection process in May. He evaluated potential team members on their Fit to Fight test scores, job proficiency assessments, training records and peer review.

"There were 11 total events so I had specific technical requirements I needed," said Weber. The final team consisted of the following Airmen: Sergeant Weber, Tech. Sgt. Matthew Russell, Senior Airman Emily Erickson, Senior Airman Erica Mathison,

Senior Airman Todd Danielson and, the team's alternate, Staff Sgt. Dan Sanchez.
The team started training hard in July.
Sergeant Weber commended the winning team members, who only had a combined total of 4 years of aerial port experience.

"There were very few senior airmen and below that were competing on the other teams," said Weber. "It's a testament to their dedication and just capacity to pick up and learn because a lot of them had just come out of transportation proficiency schools. This was an overall event that required that they know all of the duties of an aerial porter."
The entire event was marked by good sportsmanship and humor.

"The competition was great," Sergeant Weber said. "People definitely sent their best, which made it both nerve racking and pretty awesome at the same time."
The competition was also stiff with the top three teams were separated by only 100 points, he said.

"It was nice to see that level of intensity. It was lots of work," said Tech. Sgt Matthew Russell, an air transportation specialist with 27th APS, who also competed on the team.
All 11 events were timed. Most events were to be completed in 30 minutes or less.
The competition required the aerial porters to work through all weather conditions quickly and under pressure, said Sergeant Russell.

One of his most memorable moments was competing in the joint inspection event in the pouring rain, Sergeant Russell said. The event required pen and paper documentation.

"The documentation I turned in, I was holding with both hands because you could see through it. It was so wet," he said. "All I could say was, 'Here, don't rip it.'"
The joint inspection event required aerial porters to bring in equipment, inspect that equipment for aircraft load readiness and potential safety issues, like leaking or explosiveness, in less than 30 minutes, Russell said.

Despite some inclement weather along the way, the support the team received from the 934th AW was outstanding.

"Whatever we decide to put our minds to, as this wing, we come back number one," Sergeant Weber said. "It's a testament to the support that they give here. It's just our leadership, and that goes across the board."
The team was equally impressed with the competence of the other competing teams.

"It was nail biting," said Sergeant Russell. "I mean there are other units out there that are on par, absolutely, with us, which makes it better because it drives us a little harder."
But in the end, the team felt they competed to the best of their abilities and deserved to win.

"We are definitely the best aerial port in the Air Force Reserve Command, so it's a huge deal," said Sergeant Weber.

The bronze Port Dawg Challenge trophy, a 75-pound English bulldog named Bruno, will remain with the 27th APS team until they return to compete next year.