TOP STORY >> 96th APS celebrates 33rd year

By Airman First Class Nathan Allen
314th Airlift Wing public affairs


Tracing its origins back to 1975, the 96th Aerial Port Squadron has been operating on Little Rock Air Force Base for nearly 28 years, but you may have never known it.

“A lot of people get out of their units all over the air base and don’t know where they’re going to go, but this is a great place to go, and not a lot of people know we’re here,” said Capt. Joseph Terry, 96th Aerial Port Squadron officer in charge cargo section and passenger terminal.

In addition to supplementing the 314th Logistics Readiness squadron with deployments and backfilling with man days when needed, the primary function of the 96th APS is to train combat ready world class aerial transporters.

“We get the war fighters where they need to be,” said Captain Terry. “The 96th Aerial Port Squadron functions within the Air Force Reserve. We do a lot of AEF rotations. We rotate out just like our active duty counterparts here on base. We function just like any other Aerial Port Squadron. We don’t deviate in any way. We train the same ways they do.”

“Basically the two things that we do are move people and cargo,” Captain Terry said. “We don’t fly with the airplanes but we work around them. Cargo, pallets, rolling stock, it could be anything as far as equipment, supply or passengers. We put them on the airplane. We have the same requirements as far as loading airplanes as the 314th LRS does, we’re just reservists.”

“We have approximately 126 people here. They come from all walks of life. We have schoolteachers, government workers, and farmers who all come here and do the mission that is required of us.”

According to Senior Master Sgt. Cynthia Underwood, 96th Aerial Port Squadron superintendent, members of the squadron have to undergo the same training and be ready to do the same jobs as their active duty counterparts, but in a fraction of the time.
“We have to get the training done and be ready to go 24 days out of the year and be ready to go do the same job.”

Sergeant Underwood says that there is a certain pride that comes with wearing the uniform part time.

“When a reservist gets off of their civilian job Friday afternoon at 4 p.m., and pack their bag on Saturday morning, get up and put on their uniform and come in to do this mission, I think it makes it a little bit more special,” she said. “That is a big difference from putting on the uniform every day.”