Airman 1st Class Daniel Werth's face lit up with youthful enthusiasm as he started talking about the prospect of helping those in need.

On the eve of his first deployment, the 20-year-old Michigan native wasn't quite sure what he was going to face, but he was sure going to tackle the challenge head-on.

Werth was one of 15 airmen from the 62nd Aerial Port Squadron who departed early Friday morning for Haiti to bring specialized airfield operation skills and equipment to the humanitarian relief effort at Port-au-Prince's Toussaint L'Ouventure International Airport.

"I've visited Nicaragua, so I've seen living conditions of people in third world countries," Werth said just hours before boarding the C-17 Globemaster III headed for Haiti. "I know it's going to be rough, I know it's going to be ugly, but I have a feeling that I'll be prepared for it."

The team of aerial port airmen - as well as two 25,000-pound pallet Halvorsen loaders and three all-terrain forklifts - will provide the airport with some much needed support in unloading cargo from aircraft, allowing faster ground times for all aircraft bring in relief supplies and departing with evacuees.

"Putting our guys on the ground is going to definitely ease a lot of stress the airfield is feeling and get things moving a lot quicker," said Master Sgt. Jason Aven, the team's leader.

Prior to the earthquake, Haiti's single runway airport averaged three takeoffs and landings a day; under current U.S. Air Force operation, the airfield is averaging more than 170 takeoffs and landings daily in support of ongoing humanitarian efforts.

"(There's) a lack of folks and lack of equipment," said Aven, a veteran with 14 deployments under his belt. "They have enough equipment to handle normal means of what the airport normally goes through, but this one is that and even more. This is an enormous task at hand."

Despite the size of the job, the squadron received nearly double the amount of volunteers required for the assignment. The McChord team's arrival in Haiti will double the capacity of the workforce on the ground, in both equipment and people, Aven said.

"Once you have the people and the equipment to move the pallets, things are going to start happening pretty quick," the sergeant said. "I've been telling these guys, give us 24 hours on the ground and we will see a lot more of the humanitarian equipment and cargo packs, water, medicine moving out the gate a lot quicker."

The airmen will sleep on cots in tents during the 45-day assignment, and must only drink bottled water.

"No running water ... we might be able to get a shower once a week, so hygiene is going to be huge," Werth said.

But the prospect of not having a hot shower after a hard days work did nothing to dampen the young airman's spirit. He was getting the opportunity to play a hands-on role in the humanitarian effort. 

"Download cargo ... that's what we do," he said with a grin.