The 724th AMS is recognized for excellence

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Thomas Calopedis
  • 31st Fighter Wing Public Affairs
AVIANO AIR BASE, Italy --  

The 724th Air Mobility Squadron, an Air Mobility Command tenant unit at Aviano Air Base, Italy, was recently awarded the 2022 Outstanding Logistics Readiness Unit Small Air Terminal of the Year.

The AMS supports the 31st Fighter Wing and all its movements, transporting everything from aircraft parts and personnel to vehicles or helicopters. The squadron also supports the 173rd North African Response Force’s mission to respond to crises at a moment’s notice.

The squadron had a busy year in 2022. They were recognized for multiple accomplishments including their 24-hour support of NATO Alliance missions that involved numerous logistical movements and a multitude of agencies coming together to ensure success.

“It can be a lot of long hours, but we have a great team of a lot of motivated people that make it easier,” said Tech. Sgt. Joshua Correa, 724th AMS noncommissioned officer in charge of the air terminal operations center. “Through hard work, planning and coordination, we get the mission done.”

Missions like those made in support of Ukraine, as well as smaller ones, require complex legal and diplomatic clearance coordination. The team works with the 31st Logistics Readiness Squadron and the Tanker Airlift Control Center at Scott Air Force Base, Illinois, to ensure cargo and personnel get to where they need to go.

“During these movements, we have to flex, both to move the cargo and people, but also logistically,” said Correa. “We might have a mission late at night or over the weekend, but we make sure everything happens seamlessly.”

The team also communicates extensively with receiving stations to make sure they have all the requirements and information they need to process the cargo being transported.

Correa said the award reflects a team that went above and beyond through open communication, flexibility, and motivation.

“From our commander down to our newest Airmen we all played a part,” Correa said.