ROYAL AUSTRALIAN AIR FORCE BASE DARWIN, Australia -- As a 21-year-old fresh out of his Military Occupational Specialty school, Lance Cpl. Joshua D. Wood is carrying a heavy load on his shoulders.
The load he carries comes from being the sole Marine responsible for the embarkation duties of Marine Aircraft Group 12 during Southern Frontier 2003.
With more than 250 Marines from Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, Japan, here, including elements of Marine All-Weather Fighter Attack Squadron 242 and Marine Wing Support Squadron 171, Wood spends long days and countless hours ensuring the units receive the gear they need to function.
"He is doing a great job," said Master Sgt. Chester Johnston, MAG-12 staff noncommissioned officer-in-charge. "He came down here with a basic text book knowledge of his job and has taken that to full fledged air movement."
From Iwakuni to Australia and back again, Wood plans, organizes and sees the cargo through to its final destination, and keeping track of all cargo movement for the squadrons is no easy task.
"I have to keep track of a full squadron worth of ground support equipment and make sure everything runs smoothly," said the Chesnee, S.C., native. "So far we have had six Air Force C-141 cargo loads carrying everything from ordnance trailers and tow tractors to communication equipment and even an aircraft engine."
Before the planes land, Wood is responsible for contacting the Australian customs and quarantine representatives, checking the gear list for any products that may contain hazardous materials and ensuring the appropriate off-loading equipment is on hand.
"The Australians are very particular with the gear when it comes to quarantine," said Wood. "That is my biggest problem right now. They don?t want to introduce any foreign substances into the country."
However Wood said the long days and sometimes nights he has spent at the terminal are well worth it when it comes time to enjoy the beauty Australia has to offer.