During his recent deployment to a major air transportation hub in Southwest Asia, Tech. Sgt. Ron Rendorio got a stark reminder of the importance of the mission he worked so hard daily to keep going.

While moving a transfer case containing the body of a U. S. servicemember from one aircraft to another, the Reservist with the 86th Aerial Port Squadron came across a picture of the deceased attached to the case.

"I actually saw who we were sending home," said the 37-year-old Lynwood resident, who also deployed to Balad Air Base, Iraq, in 2008.

In addition to helping transport fallen servicemembers, Rendorio and a host of other 86th APS Reservists from McChord Field worked to help transport nearly 156,000 gallons of fuel, 392 tanks, 58,000 units of blood and plenty of other materials bound for forward operating bases in the area of responsibility. The Reservists' hard work help their deployed unit earn Air Mobility Command's 2010 Large Air Terminal Quality Award.

Aerial port Airmen must maintain mandatory job knowledge in passenger and cargo movement functions, which includes 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. The group of Reservists returned home last week from the four-month deployment.

"It's great knowing that we're supplying the warfighter out there on the front lines," said Master Sgt. Jerry Fernandez, a 36-year-old resident of Tualatin, Ore. "It was the first time I was able to experience shipping something really tangible downrange."

Working at one of the biggest transportation hubs in the area of responsibility was a real eye-opening experience for 20-year-old Eatonville native Senior Airman James Harris.

"You get to see how all the parts of the mission come together," said Harris, who deployed for the first time in his career. "We never deal with customers on our Reserve weekends. When you deploy you see the whole picture."

And although a supervisor stressed the fact that there is a chance servicemembers could die if they go without the goods Harris' team was transporting, it didn't faze him one bit.

"It makes you feel like your work is important," he said.

The deployment also gave 22-year-old Senior Airman Cassie Osuna, a Tacoma native on her first deployment, a chance to learn other parts of the aerial port job on the fly.

"Once you learn it, it becomes second nature out there," she said.

Osuna also got the chance to see the humanitarian piece to the Air Force's mission, as pallets of supplies were moved out of the hub for the continuing flood relief effort in Pakistan.

But the movement of the transport cases and the experience of attending a ceremony for each fallen warrior transported home really put the Reservists' job in perspective.

"I wasn't expecting it ... it kind of freaked me out," Osuna said. "It was real emotional. It makes you realize the sacrifices others are making."

And that's one more thing that helps keep 86th APS Airmen focused.

"It just motivates us more," Fernandez said.