I am currently a 2T2 Air Trans with the AF Reserve, and I have just received orders that I will be deploying to Balad in January. I have heard from guys on active duty that Balad is in shambles mainly because of the reservists working the port. I'm not trying to start a reservist bashing here, I just want to hear from active duty and reservists who have been in Balad what the problems with the aerial port are. How can they be fixed?
I just got home last month. I am a loadmaster with SOF, but I can say that all my dealings with the exception of one was perfect. The only black mark was the pax terminal the day we left. They were civilians building the baggage pallet and were totally clueless to C-130 pallet limitations. First they allowed others to join which put our plane that had two pallet positions needing three for all the bags. When they accepted the pax, they only looked at seats available and not the fact they were redeploying and had max baggage. Then when they called me out for advice, they didn't believe me about the pallet restrictions for a C-130. They ask me for help then don't trust what I say. The civilians that were working the pax terminal were the only problem I had with port operations for the two months I was there.
Bob... I'm a 2T2 in Al Udeid... Wanna know how bad Balad is in shambles?
They "Accidently" loaded a pallet of 1.1 on a plane that was supposed to get 1.4... The aircraft was never cleared with that cargo on board and when it landed here in the Deid, we found out it was an Unexploded bomb that required EOD's approval to move.
2nd event... They sent us an entire C17 on a manual manifest under 1 TCN split 18 times because they were to lazy to write each TCN / Pallet ID out.
3rd Event... They failed to split an 11 pallet TCN that was ammo... so I see in GATES a 41000 pound pallet with 2500 KGS NEW of 1.2...
Then what can I expect from the place? I'm leaving in January for a 4 or 5 month deployment. I am going to be thrown in Ramp when I'm there. You guys got any stories, experience, advice for me?
Its not that bad anymore. Not too many incoming, and the traffic isn't even that bad since the convoys have gone way down in quantitiy. It will be butt cold when you get there and hot when you leave. Take the cold weather stuff and mail it home when the weahter changes. May will start getting real warm. Have someone mail you the warm weather gear.
