JOINT BASE ANDREWS, Md. –
As talks to improve global nuclear security come to a close in the nation's capital, there is still one adventure left for foreign dignitaries in their honorary travels and treatises: disembarking from America via Andrews.
The 316th Wing protocol office, located in the passenger terminal on Joint Base Andrews, acted as the invisible hand uniting Andrews support units, the White House, Secret Service, U.S. State Department and foreign embassies to ensure a safe departure of many of the delegates after Nuclear Security Summit conversations came to a close April 13.
"Our job is to get all of the other agencies' inputs and make sure everybody is working off of the same page - making sure they know what is needed of them for support of the countries leaving," said Maj. Raymond Madrid, 316th Wing protocol director.
All points lead to protocol when it comes to ensuring the delegates depart Andrews efficiently and safely. The protocol staff accomplished mission by coordinating with the 316th Security Forces Squadron and Secret Service for security, 89th Aerial Port Squadron for servicing the planes and managing the luggage, and 316th Logistics Readiness Squadron to ensure safe transport of passengers to the aircraft.
"A departure is a lot more detailed than the arrivals as far as the support portion. As a team, we have to screen baggage, get air crews to their aircraft, make sure their aircraft are serviced with everything they need, get catering escorted through, and make sure everything is ready to go. When that 10-minute entrance window of the DV comes, we want everything to run smoothly so they can just head off," said Major Madrid.
The process for helping the delegation and their party exit Andrews is broken down into different time frames. Passengers are offered a flexible six-hour window to bring their heavy luggage items for loading and arrive two hours prior to the departure to be screened as well as loaded onto the airplane. When the DV arrives 10 minutes prior to takeoff, team members unload his motorcade, put the items on the aircraft and an Andrews official bids the delegate farewell, said Major Madrid and Mary Bouras, 316 WG protocol specialist.
President Felipe Calderón of Mexico was just one of 17 distinguished visitors who departed from Andrews after the Nuclear Security Summit Tuesday.
"We started hours ago with accepting, screening and loading the passengers' luggage," said Ms. Bouras. "Passengers get screened at Hangar 3 and, if they travel separate from the motorcade, they stay in Hangar 3 until their delegation says they're ready to get on the plane."
DVs like President Calderón get VIP treatment when traversing Andrews.
"The DV is the most important person for us. If the passengers are coming with the DV then they have to come at the same time - 10-minutes prior."
Comparatively, the mission requirements for protocol during the Nuclear Security Summit were no different than any other ordinary day ... or at least 100 of them at once.
"It's the same mission we perform day to day only it's a hundred times intensified. We have to handle aircraft one after another in a short period of time," said Major Madrid.
Overall, 316 WG protocol members garner a great sense of pride in a successful mission completion, and think other Team Andrews members should share in that pride.
"What a great honor for us to be able to host all of these different world leaders, their staffs and aircraft, as well as to have the trust placed on Andrews and the commanders here," said Ms. Bouras.