87th APS captures Air Transportation Activity of Year award

The 87th Aerial Port Squadron won the 2018 Air Force Reserve Command Logistics Readiness Unit Award, Air Reserve Component Air Transportation Activity of the Year category. The announcement was made Feb.15, 2018. The unit award recognizes squadron, depot units and any other major command organizations that have excelled in performance and made outstanding contributions to the Air Force and/or Department of Defense Logistics Readiness mission.

The 87th APS deployed 67 Airmen to nine U.S. Central Command bases, moving more than 229,000 passengers, 99,000 tons of cargo and supporting more than 18,000 missions. The squadron led a joint planning team with 20 DoD agencies where they aligned a multi-modal movement for $516 combat requirements from 19 countries.

The unit retrograded seven aircraft and two ships with 210 personal protective equipment of early to need items, freeing up critically low Area of Responsibility ammunition storage space by 12 percent. The 87th APS organized 84 intra-theater missions, moving 29.2 million critical items needed by the special operations joint task force in support of Operation Inherent Resolve. They executed 12 rotator missions, deploying more than 3,000 passengers and 8,000 tons of cargo.

The 87th APS executed a Syrian forward operating base water well project and oversaw the building of a 5,000 gallon water tank, resulting in fresh water for more than 500 U.S. forces. The unit coordinated with the United States Agency for International Development, delivering 198 tons of Denton Program cargo.

The Port Dawgs executed their 27th Annual Dayton Children’s Medical Center toy drive, distributing toys and providing smiles to more than 500 children. They adopted a local 5th grade classroom, donating $565 of school supplies to 80 students, thus strengthening Air Force and community ties. Airmen from the 87th APS volunteered at the House of Bread food bank, volunteering more than 20 hours of time and distributing more than 800 pounds of perishables for the less fortunate.