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Hawaii aerial porters garner Air Force-level award

  • Published
  • By 624th Regional Support Group
  • Public Affairs
HICKAM AIR FORCE BASE, Hawaii --  The 48th Aerial Port Squadron was named the Air Reserve Component Air Transportation Activity of the Year for 2008 at an award ceremony in Washington, D.C. May 29. 

Lt. Col. Randall Honke, 48th APS commander, Chief Master Sgt. Leland How, 48th APS air freight superintendent, and Col. Robert "Randy" Huston, 624th Regional Support Group commander, traveled to the nation's capital to receive the award from Maj. Gen. Robert H. McMahon, Director of Logistics, Headquarters U.S. Air Force, Washington, D.C. 

"This award is a result of the accomplishments of the squadron as a whole as well as each individual member," said Colonel Honke. "It is their dedicated service to our nation, willingness to voluntarily deploy, and always giving their best efforts that won us this award and the recognition that comes with it." 

Members of the 48th APS have routinely volunteered for missions around the world including contingency operations in Iraq and Afghanistan and exercises such as Pacific Lifeline. More than 20 percent of the squadron is currently deployed to Joint Base Balad, Iraq. 

In order to foster this volunteer mindset, the 48th APS is always looking for better ways to get their members fully trained and equipped. One success story is the Seasoning Training Program, which allows their Airmen to work 90 active-duty days with the 735th Air Mobility Squadron at Hickam. The program essentially gives Airmen the opportunity to achieve job proficiency sooner than they would through the traditional Reserve process of one weekend a month and two weeks a year. 

"Training is critical to mission success and we will continue to provide opportunities for our Airmen to excel," said Chief How. "I am very proud of the level of dedication we have in this unit and volunteerism is at an all-time high. Being recognized for this accomplishment reenergized every member's commitment to excellence and puts us on the road towards earning even more awards in the future," Chief How said.