2nd AIRPS Det. 1 keeps mail moving

by Senior Airman Aaron-Forrest Wainwright
86th Airlift Wing Public Affairs

Photo8bWhen someone sends off their mail it embarks on a great journey ensuing on the unknown; the parcel may know where it’s going, but not how it will get there. That’s where 2nd Air Postal Squadron staff steps in to help.

The 2nd AIRPS is a 24/7 operation service, supporting U.S. Air Forces in Europe and Air Forces Africa during peacetime and wartime contingencies.

The Airmen at Detachment 1, 2nd AIRPS, working at Frankfurt International Airport work behind the scenes to make sure every delivery reaches its final destination.

“One nice perk about working at Det. 1 is having the privilege to work closely with the German local nationals on a day-to-day basis,” said Staff Sgt. Amanda Medley, 2nd AIRPS Det. 1 mail control activity assistant.

The detachment manages mail transportation, including monitoring hundreds of flight segments, and various trucking segments.

Det. 1, 2nd AIRPS, services more than 350,000 military and Department of Defense civilians, distributing more than 35 million pounds of mail last year.

“Being a geographically separated unit we have limited base support to handle personnel issues with our designated support wing, (which is) 86th Airlift Wing at Ramstein Air Base being over an hour away,” Medley said. “To help overcome some hurdles, we have built a great partnership with our sister service at Wiesbaden Army Airfield
Garrison. They provide medical care, limited housing and legal assistance.”

Facilitating mail movement to and from 28 military installations and Department of State locations in Germany, they also support three other combatant commands and serve as the transfer point of mail that flows in and out of Southwest Asia and the Pacific.