Aerial port squadrons depart on joint Annual Tour Published March 14, 2013 By SMSgt Minnie Jones 433rd Airlift Wing Joint-Base San Antonio - Lackland -- Two Aerial Port Squadrons here from the 433rd Airlift Wing, Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland departed to the East Coast, March 9 for the first time in the wing's history that both Aerial Port Squadrons performed an annual tour in unison, making it the largest training mission ever between the two APS squadrons. Approximately 93 members, 34 from the 26th APS and 59 from the 74th APS boarded a C-17 from Joint Base Charleston to assist active duty at the 437th APS, Joint Base Charleston and the 436th APS at Dover Air Force base. Aerial Port responsibilities include cargo processing, aircraft loading/unloading, joint inspection, mobility functions, load-team supervision, engine running on-loads/off-loads, manning home-station and deployed air terminal operations centers, airlift control element, transportation control unit and air departure arrival control group operations. "This training will improve our Airmen' effectiveness; this annual tour gives us an opportunity to accomplish training at a different location that we are not able to accomplish here at Lackland," said, Commander Lt. Col. J.D. Scott, 26th APS.