"Airborne!" is the cry of paratroopers as they brave the open skies to accomplish the mission that America has appointed to them.
Before any mission can begin, however, equipment and personnel must be moved and put into place. That is where the 88N, or transportation management coordinator, comes into play.
Staff Sgt. Ralph C. Boyd Jr., a seasoned 88N from Chicago, Ill., readily accepts his mission with the 1st Brigade Combat Team, 82nd Airborne Division, based at Fort Bragg, N.C. During the unit's Joint Readiness Training Center rotation in January at Fort Polk, La., Boyd was responsible for coordinating the movement of approximately 2,500 paratroopers by air and land, and more than 400 pieces of equipment by railroad and 250 pieces of equipment by truck.
"We have successfully transported and received the equipment," said Boyd in the early stages of the exercise. "We're getting back to the basics of unit-led deployment and redeployment operations."
Boyd learned his basics at Fort Eustis, Va., with the 7th Transportation Group, where he was positioned as the training room clerk.
"We deployed to Kuwait in 2004 to 2005," said Boyd. "I was a movement specialist and tracker in 7th Transportation Group during the surge for OIF [Operation Iraqi Freedom]."
The Chicago native later moved to Fort Carson, Colo., where he served as the battalion movement noncommissioned officer for the 3rd Battalion, 10th Special Forces Group.
Boyd has deployed multiple times to Afghanistan and Iraq with the 7th Transportation Group, 10th Special Operations Group, as well as 1st Brigade Support Battalion, where he served as the support operations noncommissioned officer.
Out of all his positions held at the many units, the 88N said his most memorable of all was with the 3rd Infantry Regiment in Washington D.C.
"The Old Guard [3rd Infantry Regiment] received a lot of exposure to VIPs, everyone from Collin Powell to Brad Paisley," said Boyd.
Boyd has earned many awards for his hard work and dedicated service, including nine Army Commendation Medals, one Joint Service Commendation Medal, seven Army Achievement Medals and one Air Force Achievement Medal.
He is most proud of his Air Force Achievement Medal because you rarely see an Army member with an Air Force medal, said Boyd.
"You are more likely to see an Air Force Member with an Army medal," he added.
With all the responsibility and stresses of his job, Boyd still maintains a very sociable and outgoing personality. From treating everyone with respect to having a good relationship with the truck drivers who are transporting military equipment, Boyd appears to be liked by everyone he comes into contact with.
"Sergeant Boyd is a very knowledgeable and dedicated transportation NCO," said Master Sgt. Mark Jensen, the brigade logistics noncommissioned officer in charge for 1st BCT, 82nd Abn. Div.
Jensen said Boyd's position puts a lot of responsibilities on his shoulder for missions to get accomplished, and that Boyd's personality makes him a very easy person to talk with.
"Sergeant Boyd presents himself as a normal person," said Jensen. "He is very approachable, which makes it easy for the civilians who aren't as comfortable being around the military to deal with him versus someone who is a bit more regimented."
Once JRTC rotation 14-03 was over, Boyd was back at work redeploying the brigade's personnel and equipment to its home station.
The paratrooper said he plans on retiring from the military, thus ensuring many more successful movement operations for whichever unit he supports.
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