Little Rock’s “port dawgs”

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Harry Brexel
  • 19th Airlift Wing Public Affairs
LITTLE ROCK AIR FORCE BASE, Ark. --  Performing combat airlift at Little Rock Air Force Base would be impossible without cargo. C-130s are designed to deliver supplies and personnel worldwide. The Airmen responsible for safely and quickly loading cargo are called aerial porters. Along with loading cargo onto planes, the aerial porters also palletize loads, weigh cargo, review travel documentation for passengers and perform fleet service functions. Food, water, medical supplies, Humvees, training pallets and passengers are all skillfully loaded onto cargo planes by aerial porters, or "port dawgs."  A team of approximately 50 "port dawgs" from the 19th Logistics Readiness Squadron air transportation aircraft services flight contributes in executing C-130 airlift daily. Last year, the aerial port team moved more than 1,500 passengers and approximately 750 tons of cargo.