11/9/2012 - Senior Airman Christopher Brandenburgh, 8th Expeditionary Air Mobility Squadron aerial port expeditor, marshals a mine resistant ambush protected vehicle off a C-17 Globemaster III onto the ramp Nov. 6, 2012. Similar to how an air traffic controller directs plane movement, the aerial port expeditor has to direct the ramp services team as they load or unload cargo to ensure it is done safely and meets all requirements for the flight. Brandenburgh is deployed from the 721st Aerial Port Squadron at Ramstein Air Base, Germany, and is a native of Dunedin, Fla. (U.S. Air Force photo/Senior Airman Bryan Swink)

11/9/2012 - Staff Sgt. Ryan Stoks, 8th Expeditionary Air Mobility Squadron aerial port expeditor, leads the ramp services team in loading cargo onto a C-17 Globemaster III Nov. 7, 2012. In order to be certified as an aerial port expediter, Airmen are required to attend a three-week school at Charleston Air Force Base, S.C., or Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Wash. After attending the school, Airmen are evaluated at home station before they can supervise a ramp services crew as aerial port expediters. Stoks is deployed from the 62nd Aerial Port Squadron at Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Wash., and is a native of Porter, Minn. (U.S. Air Force photo/Senior Airman Bryan Swink)

11/9/2012 - Staff Sgt. Ryan Stoks, 8th Expeditionary Air Mobility Squadron aerial port expeditor, leads the ramp services team in loading cargo onto a C-17 Globemaster III Nov. 7, 2012. Stoks is one of only four aerial port expeditors for the 8th Expeditionary Aerial Maintenance Squadron stationed at the 379th Air Expeditionary Wing. Expeditors are on call 24/7 when not working and provide aircrew member with more crew rest time and the ability to focus on missions. Stoks is deployed from the 62nd Aerial Port Squadron at Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Wash., and is a native of Porter, Minn. (U.S. Air Force photo/Senior Airman Bryan Swink)

11/9/2012 - Tech. Sgt. Christopher Messer, 8th Expeditionary Air Mobility Squadron aerial port expeditor, leads the ramp services team in loading cargo onto a C-17 Globemaster III Nov. 7, 2012. Each expeditor is responsible for all ramp services and cargo movement performed by the team of dedicated Ocho’s during their 12 hour shift. Messer is deployed from the 60th Aerial Port Squadron at Travis AFB, Calif. (U.S. Air Force photo/Senior Airman Bryan Swink)

11/9/2012 - Staff Sgt. Jesse Foor, 8th Expeditionary Air Mobility Squadron aerial port expeditor, goes over the details of a load plan with his ramp services crew Nov. 9, 2012. The aerial port expeditor is responsible for the proper delivery of cargo on the aircraft along with the day-to-day supervisory roles of the ramp services crew. As part of those duties, the expeditor has to translate and communicate the load plan to his ramp services team and have a comprehensive understanding of a proper load balance. Foor is deployed from the 436th Aerial Port Squadron at Dover Air Force Base, Del., and is a native of Bedford, Pa. (U.S. Air Force photo/Senior Airman Joel Mease)

11/9/2012 - Tech. Sgt. Christopher Messer, Staff Sgt. Ryan Stoks, Staff Sgt. Jesse Foor and Senior Airman Christopher Brandenburg, all assigned to the 8th Expeditionary Air Mobility Squadron, are the only aerial port expeditors in the area of responsibility. They have directed more than 200 loads in their six-month tour, having a direct impact on daily operations resulting in facilitating more missions to take place across the AOR. Due to their performance, these APEX Airmen helped the 8th EAMS achieve the 521st Air Mobility Operations Group 2012 Air Freight Flight of the Year. (U.S. Air Force photo/Senior Airman Joel Mease)

11/9/2012 - Senior Airman Christopher Brandenburgh (right), 8th Expeditionary Air Mobility Squadron aerial port expeditor, and Airman 1st Class Manuel Espino, 8th EAMS ramp services technician, unload a pallet off a C-17 Globemaster III onto a K-loader Nov. 6, 2012. The aerial port expeditor program, known as APEX, provides aircrew members with more crew rest time and the ability to focus on missions. Because of this extra time off for the aircrew, the 8th EAMS APEX program has facilitated an average of two and half more missions each month across the area of responsibility. Brandenburgh is deployed from the 721st Aerial Port Squadron at Ramstein Air Base, Germany, and is a native of Dunedin, Fla. Espino is deployed from Charleston AFB, S.C and is a native of Plainfield, Ind. (U.S. Air Force photo/Senior Airman Bryan Swink)

11/9/2012 - Senior Airman Christopher Brandenburgh, 8th Expeditionary Air Mobility Squadron aerial port expeditor, prepares to unload a mine resistant ambush protected vehicle from a C-17 Globemaster III Nov. 6, 2012. Similar to a loadmaster, the aerial port expeditor must know every detail on how to load, properly tie-down and remove cargo from the aircraft. Failure to perform the procedures correctly could result in an injury or compromise the safety of the aircrew during flight. Brandenburgh is deployed from the 721st Aerial Port Squadron at Ramstein Air Base, Germany, and is a native of Dunedin, Fla. (U.S. Air Force photo/Senior Airman Bryan Swink)