Hurlburt brings Space-A to Air Commandos

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Joseph Pick
  • 1st Special Operations Wing Public Affairs
HURLBURT FIELD, Fla. --  After three months of planning and execution by the 1st Special Operations Logistics Readiness Squadron air transportation team, the first Space-A flight departed Hurlburt Field for Las Vegas, Nevada, April 8.

The Space Available Travel program allows Department of Defense members and their families to travel on Air Mobility Command assigned and contracted aircraft at no cost on a space-available basis.

Space-A Travel is a privilege offered to uniformed service members, retirees and dependents as an affordable option for leisure travel plans. Members looking to fly through Space-A must be on leave at the time of sign up and will be processed through security just as a commercial airport would.

Space-A seats are assigned based on leave status, type of leave and who signed up for travel first. Leave categories, such as emergency leave, will have higher priority than normal leave status. Seats are categorized into six spaces; emergency leave, environmental morale leave, active duty on leave, dependents when sponsors are deployed, command sponsorship and National Guard, Reserves and retirees.

After a manpower study, the 1st SOLRS air transportation shop was deemed both an aerial delivery shop and a small terminal, officially making Hurlburt a Space-A supported base, said Master Sgt. James Tompkins, the superintendent of air terminal and aerial delivery with the 1st SOLRS.

With the high-operations tempo of the 1st Special Operations Wing, the Wing’s leadership recognized that Space-A was a way for Air Commandos and families to make plans simpler and better the lives of Airmen.

“Colonel Palenske has said if it’s going to improve our Airmen’s lives and not going to be a negative factor let’s go ahead and do it,” said Lt. Col. John Klohr, commander of the 1st SOLRS. “It’s a way of saying ‘thank you for your service’.”

For now, members can monitor the Hurlburt Field Passenger Terminal Facebook page below to see Space-A opportunities within 72 hours of departure.

https://www.facebook.com/Hurlburt-Field-Passenger-Terminal-1944071739212721/?hc_ref=SEARCH&fref=nf

Individuals can sign up by following instructions at: http://www.amc.af.mil/Home/AMC-Travel-Site/Space-Available-Sign-up/ and sending an email to 1solrs.lgrr.airtransportationops@us.af.mil.