The logistics airmen at Balad AB, Iraq, have turned the base into a hub-and-spoke system that has streamlined the cargo delivery process within the theater. There are 96 aerial porters that are central to the endeavor because they essentially do the work of 500 similar airmen at major aerial ports in the states, according to their boss Capt. Karen Rupp. Their incentive comes from keeping ground convoys off the road and getting supplies directly to the warfighters.
Air Force depots are not typically meant for quick repair jobs, but during Operation Epic Fury, the service moved some of its stateside heavy maintenance capability forward to fix battle-damaged aircraft closer to the fight.
