JOINT BASE CHARLESTON, S.C. –
Joint Base Charleston recently served as an Aerial Port of Embarkation, for recent deployments between March 24 and April 18, 2025.
During that time, the 437th Aerial Port Squadron Passenger Terminal processed nearly 900,000 pounds of equipment and baggage, as well as 5,017 originating, terminating, and transiting personnel bound for five different locations in the U.S. Central Command area of responsibility, meeting an operational milestone for the installation.
“2025 is the inaugural year of the Terminal taking over Air Force Force Generation rotations,” said Tech. Sgt. Tyler Herz, 437th Aerial Port Squadron noncommissioned officer in charge. “Our Port Dawgs and fleet teams truly rose to the occasion. It’s something our team had temporarily done when Norfolk was down for runway repairs, but never to this scale.”
Passenger terminals play a critical role in the ground and air interface for military and civilian personnel. Handling both arrivals and departures, creating that first and last impression of the base for the traveler.
“I was really impressed at how smoothly everything worked. With the high volume of passengers, I was expecting some issues, but the entire process was well planned and efficient,” said Senior Airman Jose Palacios, 437th Aerial Port Squadron passenger service agent. “Our crew felt prepared and able to handle every task that came our way."
Deploying troops from across the country completed their final preparations at Joint Base Charleston, including equipment checks, briefings and final orders prior to heading downrange.
Tech. Sgt. Christopher Wood, 157th Air Refueling Wing vehicle maintenance technician who was traveling through the port, said, “We arrived and settled in easily. It was a seamless experience from start to finish making the stay a whole lot more comfortable.”
The passenger terminal’s success this spring signals the beginning of a new operational cadence at the base, with AFFORGEN personnel rotations expected twice a year, spring and fall, moving forward.
“This mission gave our newer personnel, reservists, and support from other units, including five from Pope Army Airfield, the chance to get hands-on training under real deployment conditions,” Herz said. “We identified some communication chokepoints and are already working to streamline those for future rotations.”
With global threats evolving and a continuous requirement for quick, responsive deployment capabilities, Joint Base Charleston is at the forefront, ready to carry out mission-essential movements across the globe.