SCOTT AIR FORCE BASE, Ill. - In the air transportation business for the U.S. Air Force, every airman involved in the process has an important role. On deployment, the importance of that role increases even more when you are directly supporting warfighters on the front lines - or getting them to the front lines.

For Senior Airman John Malubag, an air transportation journeyman deployed with the 376th Expeditionary Logistics Readiness Squadron as a logistics planner at the Transit Center at Manas, Kyrgyzstan, he's proud to be part of a "great team" that supports Operation Enduring Freedom.

"I enjoy being able to work with a great team here at Manas," Malubag said in a news report from 376th Air Expeditionary Wing Public Affairs in December.

Malubag, who is deployed from the 62nd Aerial Port Squadron at McChord Field, said his daily work involves the movement of people.

"I manifest Air Force personnel going down range as well as members returning home," he said in the news report. "I make sure they get to their destination in a timely manner."

In addition to preparing manifests for deployed personnel, Malubag, whose hometown is Virginia Beach, Va., is trained in much more. Air transportation airmen like Malubag must maintain mandatory job knowledge in passenger and cargo movement functions to include transport aircraft types, capabilities and configuration. They must also know weight and balance factors, airlift transportation directives and documentation, cargo securing techniques, border clearance requirements, operation of materials handling and other types of loading equipment or devices, fleet service functions.

"I feel great about my contributions to the Manas mission," the airman said. "It is a pleasure making sure the troops get downrange and back home in a timely manner."

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