Skip to main content (Press Enter).
 News
    
        Photos

    Week in Photos

    Air Force TV

    Commentaries

    Features

    Art

    About Us
    
        Air Force Senior Leaders
    
        SECAF

    CSAF

    CMSAF

    Biographies

    Fact Sheets

    SECAF Reading List

    CSAF Leadership Library
    
        CSAF Leadership Library 2022

    CSAF Leadership Library 2021

    CSAF Reading List Pre-2020 Archive
    
        2018 CSAF Reading List

    2017 CSAF Reading List

    2016 CSAF Reading List

    CSAF Leadership Library 2023

    CMSAF Leadership Library

    50 Years of the CMSAF

    Adjunct Professors

    Air Force Strategic Documents

    Arctic Strategy

    Empowered Airmen

    State Licensure Portability

    Careers

    AF Federal Advisory Committees

    AF 75th Anniversary

    Policy Updates

    AF Content Management

    Contact Us

    AF Sites
    
        Site RegistrationU.S. Air Force LogoAir Force

        Policy UpdatesNewsroomReoptimizationBIOGRAPHIESAF Senior Leaders      Aircraft services technicians from the 724th Air Mobility Squadron load a Humvee onto a C-17 Globemaster III, May 12, 2014, at Aviano Air Base, Italy. The Aviano Airmen assisted in loading cargo and U.S. Army paratroopers onto the aircraft in support of U.S. Army Europe’s Land Forces Assurance Exercises.  (U.S. Air Force photo/Airman 1st Class Deana Heitzman)140512-F-FK724-171
                        
                        
                        Aircraft services technicians from the 724th Air Mobility Squadron load a Humvee onto a C-17 Globemaster III, May 12, 2014, at Aviano Air Base, Italy. The Aviano Airmen assisted in loading cargo and U.S. Army paratroopers onto the aircraft in support of U.S. Army Europe’s Land Forces Assurance Exercises.  (U.S. Air Force photo/Airman 1st Class Deana Heitzman)
                
                Photo Details /
                        Download Hi-Res
        


        A platoon of approximately 30 airborne field artillery paratroopers from Bravo Battery, 4th Battalion, 319th Airborne Field Artillery Regiment, wait to depart from Aviano Air Base, Italy, May 12, 2014, on a C-17 Globemaster III. The platoon deployed to Poland in support of U.S. Army Europe’s Land Forces Assurance exercises. (U.S. Air Force photo/Airman 1st Class Deana Heitzman)140512-F-FK724-215
                        
                        
                        A platoon of approximately 30 airborne field artillery paratroopers from Bravo Battery, 4th Battalion, 319th Airborne Field Artillery Regiment, wait to depart from Aviano Air Base, Italy, May 12, 2014, on a C-17 Globemaster III. The platoon deployed to Poland in support of U.S. Army Europe’s Land Forces Assurance exercises. (U.S. Air Force photo/Airman 1st Class Deana Heitzman)
                
                Photo Details /
                        Download Hi-Res

Aviano AB Airmen support Army mission to PolandPublished May 15, 2014
                    
                    By Staff Sgt. R.J. Biermann
                    
                    
                    31st Fighter Wing Public Affairs
            **AVIANO AIR BASE, Italy (AFNS) --**Airmen from Aviano Air Base recently supported a series of troop movements in partnership with U.S. Army Europe's Land Forces Assurance exercises.
Aircraft services technicians assigned to 724th Air Mobility Squadron here, worked around the clock to provide air mobility operations and support to the 173rd Infantry Brigade Combat Team from Vicenza, Italy. 
"We support every movement with the 173rd [IBCT] in one way, shape or form; whether it's doing a joint inspection to manifesting passengers to loading the plane," said Maj. David Magoc, 724th AMS director of operations. "This is a great opportunity for our Airmen. They're learning and practicing skillsets that will be in their tool bags for the rest of their careers."
Serving as a tenant unit here, the 724th AMS, assigned to the 521st Air Mobility Operations Wing at Ramstein Air Base, Germany, enables rapid mobility for joint operating environments in support of such operations and exercises. 
On May 12, a platoon of approximately 30 airborne field artillery paratroopers from Bravo Battery, 4th Battalion, 319th Airborne Field Artillery Regiment, deployed to Poland with two howitzer cannons that first had to be secured to special platforms that were prepared for air-drop by the aircraft services technicians. 
"We can't move the howitzer over long distances without the Air Force's help," said Capt. Erich Murray, Bravo Battery commander. "It's integral that we work with the Air Force or we can't accomplish the mission."
One of the squadron's biggest responsibilities is to verify cargo is prepared for and loaded on the aircraft properly to ensure flight safety. According to Magoc, the seemingly simple task of loading an aircraft with people or cargo could end tragically if not completed properly. 
"These movements give our guys the opportunity to stay proficient," Magoc said. "When you're talking about safety of flight you're talking about keeping a million dollar aircraft in the air without an incident." 
In late April the Air Force and 31st Fighter Wing partnered to support the 173rd IBCT's 1-503rd Infantry Regiment deployments from Aviano AB to Poland and the Baltic states. Facilitating the movements has proved both challenging and rewarding. 
"We're not a 24 hour operation and we're not manned for 24 hour operations; but when we have these missions it creates opportunities for our Airmen to excel," Magoc said. "It creates scheduling conflicts but our schedulers manage their people well. And we do all this while fulfilling our daily-to-day operations." 
The Land Forces Assurance Exercises are aimed at demonstrating the United States' commitment to NATO and the collective defense responsibilities through increased ground, air, and naval force presence.
"Having deployed to Iraq and Afghanistan, I understand the importance of working with multinational militaries," Murray said. "It's a great opportunity, especially for the younger guys who haven't deployed. It's important to work with another country's military to directly strengthen our NATO alliances."operations 



Poland 



Army field artillery 



Aviano Air Base 



air mobility Featured News
        Senior Leader Priorities
                SecAF, CSAF, CMSAF begin Indo-Pacific trip focused on ACE
                    
                    DAF leaders talk budget, reoptimizing the force
                    
                    DAF leaders speak at National Character and Leadership Symposium
                    
                    DAF members recognized during BEYA STEM awards
                    
                    DAF senior enlisted advisors discuss Airmen, Guardians in the fightInnovation
                F-16s arrive to be modified for autonomous testing
                    
                    AFWERX director discusses role of tech startups, quick innovation in Great Power Competition
                    
                    DAF delivers lethality at the speed of data during Project Convergence Capstone 4
                    
                    DAF welcomes industry partners to HQ development program
                    
                    DAF announces Spark Tank 2024 finalistsMAJCOM News
                Safety enterprise announces new mission, vision, goals in 2024 strategic plan
                    
                    Air Combat Command welcomes new commander
                    
                    USAFE-AFAFRICA commander discusses Integrated Air, Missile Defense during Munich Security Conference
                    
                    Flosi to AFMC family: Embrace change, make every day count
                    
                    AMC rises to increasing global tension
 Quick Links
AccessibilityContact UsEqual OpportunityFOIA | Privacy | Section 508Information QualityInspector GeneralJAG Court-Martial DocketLink DisclaimerNo FEAR ActOpen GovernmentOSI Tip LinePlain LanguageQuestionsResilienceRSSSite MapVeterans Crisis LineCareers
Join the Air ForceAir Force BenefitsAir Force CareersAir Force ReserveAir National GuardCivilian ServiceConnect
            Get Social with Us
            
            Official United States Air Force Website
    Hosted by Defense Media Activity - WEB.mil