Defense Courier Service transports classified, sensitive material

The Defense Courier Division under the U.S. Transportation Command is a multi-service operation with 17 stations globally. The Soldiers, Sailors and Airmen who hold this special duty are responsible for handling the Department of Defense’s most sensitive material.

Master Sgt. Justin Hartman, station chief of the Defense Courier Service-Wright-Patterson, explained what this critical job is all about.

“Our mission statement is ‘to provide secure, timely and efficient, end-to-end, global distribution of classified and sensitive material for the United States and its allies,’” said Hartman.

The task of delivering this material leaves no room for error, and the couriers at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base know it.

“It’s a tremendous responsibility handling and transporting classified national security material on a daily basis. I have an awesome team of Airmen and Soldiers that have proven they are more than capable of handling the stress and responsibility that our mission requires,” said Hartman.

Getting highly classified material from point A to point B efficiently and securely is what this job is all about, and for the couriers at Wright-Patterson that means delivering this material throughout a 12-state region within the Midwest and northeast United States.

Hartman said that traveling with this highly classified material can be stressful, but they have many safeguards in place to ensure security.

“We adhere to strict rules and checklists that ensure we flawlessly complete our mission as any failure could cause exceptionally grave danger to our nation’s security,” said Hartman.

Tech Sgt. Rommel P. Angeles, station NCO in charge, said that when he is tasked to carry out a mission, he mitigates stress by staying focused and recollecting his Air Force ambassadorship skills.

“I strive to remain collective but on high alert when I am traveling. Flexibility is key to having responsibility of such important information,” said Angeles.

Airmen of any Air Force specialty code are eligible to apply if they are qualified for the defense courier service. For more information on DCS special duties, refer to https://www.ustranscom.mil/cmd/associated/dcd/.

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