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Pallet pursuit nets plentiful return BAGRAM AIR BASE, Afghanistan -- Airman Carlos Reyes secures nets for pallets after they were recovered by Airmen from the 455th Expeditionary Logistics Readiness Squadron. The Airmen collected and returned 2,417 pallets and 4,489 net sets in three months. (U.S. Air Force photo by Capt. Mark D. Gibson)

Pallet pursuit nets plentiful return

by Capt. Mark D. Gibson 455th Air Expeditionary Wing Public Affairs

5/23/2005 - BAGRAM AIR BASE, Afghanistan (AFPN) -- It is “mission accomplished” for the Airmen of the 455th Expeditionary Logistics Readiness Squadron’s pallet and net team. They have returned more than $3.7 million in pallets, nets and other airlift assets to the transportation system in three months.

While these assets are supposed to be returned to the airlift system within three days, many units thought it was OK to leave their cargo sitting on pallets during their entire deployment -- four months to a year.

“Once we explained to units how easy it would be to get their pallets back when it was time to redeploy, they had no problem returning them to the system right away,” said Capt. Jason Kalin, the squadron’s operations officer who was designated to head up pallet and net recovery for all of Afghanistan.

The Airmen on pallet pursuit tracked down pallets lying around the base, often to the puzzlement of those they belonged to.

“Most people were surprised we were retrieving them,” said Tech. Sgt. Milton Spivey, an air transportation craftsman with the squadron. “But they need to be put back into the system and reutilized, otherwise, you have to buy more.”

It was not only the cost, but the critical inventory shortage of pallets and nets -- as little as one week’s supply at some key aerial ports -- that prompted Air Mobility Command officials to issue a call for better pallet accountability.

Over time, the team’s efforts shifted more from pursuing to educating organizations on the process of returning the airlift assets. The squadron’s Airmen told units that contract transportation services were available to return pallets to the Army’s cargo yard, and that it only took a phone call to have them picked up.

“Things got easier when the word started getting out to people,” said Senior Airman Tyler Parenteau, an air transportation journeyman. “Instead of us hunting for pallets, people started looking for us.”

“It’s much better now that they’re coming in on their own,” Captain Kalin said. “The process is in place for the next rotation to simply take over and manage.”

A side benefit was improving the base’s appearance by removing unsightly piles of nets and pallets stuck in the mud or propped up against buildings.

“We’ve pulled pallets from the tops of bunkers, inside Conexes, and even the occasional ‘pallet porch,’” Captain Kalin said. “Basically the only empty pallets still lying around Bagram doing nothing are in minefields, so we won’t be getting to those anytime soon.”

In three months, 2,417 pallets and 4,489 net sets were collected and returned, representing more than $3.7 million in savings.

Airmen discover illegal aliens aboard aircraft

by Keith Pannell 27th Fighter Wing Public Affairs

5/23/2005 - CANNON AIR FORCE BASE, N.M. (AFPN) -- Attention to detail and great military-civilian cooperation helped local and state officials nab six illegal aliens here May 16.

Air traffic controllers received an emergency call from a civilian pilot who said he was in danger of running out of fuel. The military controllers offered the pilot a choice of landing here or at Clovis Municipal Airport, and the pilot chose to land here.

“A civilian aircraft landing unannounced at a military installation is always cause for concern,” said Special Agent Robert LoMurro, of the Office of Special Investigation here. “Everyone reacted exactly as they should.”

The plane landed safely, and security forces Airmen responded. After making sure the aircraft was secured and the passengers were all alright, security forces Airmen escorted them to the law enforcement center.

There were two adult males, two adult females and two 12 year-old twin sisters, Agent LoMurro said.

The flight plan showed the flight originated in Fullerton, Calif., and was to end in Atlanta.

Once at the law enforcement center, officials learned that only the pilot spoke some broken English. The other five people were questioned through the pilot. While that was happening, other investigators searched the aircraft several times and found nothing out of the ordinary.

However, that was not the case back at the law enforcement center. Security forces investigators said the stories they were getting did not match and called OSI. One of the first things the OSI agents noticed was the Brazilian passports the group had did not look “exactly right.”

“The passports looked sketchy, so we called both (Immigration Customs Enforcement) and the Border Patrol to come check these folks out,” Agent LoMurro said.

Through continuous questioning and the examination of the documents, the Border Patrol concluded everyone on the plane was an illegal alien.

The Border Patrol then took them into custody and brought them to the Border Patrol Detention Facility in Carlsbad, N.M., where the investigation continued.

Agent LoMurro said the pilot could face charges from the Federal Aviation Administration, if he is not deported.

“This was a textbook example of the great cooperation between Cannon personnel and outside agencies,” he said. “From the controllers offering help, to the security forces securing the aircraft and the Border Patrol and INS agents, everything was flawless.”