MARTINSBURG, W.Va. – The West Virginia Air National Guard's 167th Airlift Wing hosted seven air transportation specialists from the 123rd Airlift Wing, Kentucky National Guard, for predeployment training July 9-16.
The training consisted of planning and palletizing cargo, multiple cargo loading exercises and joint inspection scenarios – all part of the cargo transportation process the Airmen will experience in a deployed environment.
The Airmen from the 123rd specialize in loading and transporting cargo on C-130H aircraft. During this training in West Virginia, they became more familiar with the 167th's C-17 Globemaster III aircraft, which they will often see while deployed.
"They were able to set us up with some really good scenarios," said Master Sgt. Kevin Freese, noncommissioned officer in charge of load planning at the 123rd. "The effort and the work they put into making this happen is phenomenal."
The eight-day training marked the first time the 167th Wing hosted an air transportation training for another unit.
Tech. Sgt. Charles Higgins, an air transportation specialist with the 167th, said the training serves as a model for the future. It will also allow the small air terminal's training program to grow.
"One thing we do well here is training," said Higgins. "And we were able to offer that to the 123rd."