Lifeblood of Africa: Reserve crew flies C-130 missions

Published April 13, 2006
By Maj. Ann Peru Knabe
379th Air Expeditionary Wing Public Affairs

HORN OF AFRICA -- The 120-degree heat, dusty wind and 4,500-foot dirt runway seemed worlds away from Capt. Pat Stafy’s home in snowy Pennsylvania.

The Air Force Reserve Command pilot, activated to fly with the 746th Expeditionary Airlift Squadron in Southwest Asia, was flying his third mission to Bilate, Ethiopia.

Monkeys watched Captain Stafy and the rest of the C-130 aircrew from nearby trees on the barren runway. More than 50 hungry children anxiously waited in the bushes for the loadmasters to hand out candy and snacks. When the treats were thrown, they trampled over each other grabbing for treats, even if it was just one piece of hard candy.

“This part of the mission doesn’t fall under any operational order,” said Lt. Col. Brian Kraemer, a 746th EAS navigator. “But, it still fits nicely into the overall concept of the HOA Flex mission because it focuses on winning the hearts and minds of the people through goodwill gestures and humanitarian work.”

The crew, deployed from the 913th Airlift Wing based at Willow Grove Air Reserve Station, Pa., is just one of three different Air Force Reserve units flying weekly channel missions in support of Combined Joint Task Force – Horn of Africa. Based in Camp Lemonier, Djibouti, CJTF-HOA relies on the support of C-130s assigned to the 379th Air Expeditionary Wing based in Southwest Asia. Aircrews deploy from Southwest Asia for several days, flying a variety of missions out of Djibouti. Most of the missions involve humanitarian airlift and transport of military personnel and senior government leaders.

“It’s all about planting the seeds of goodwill,” said 1st Lt. Justin Botts, a copilot serving in the area of responsibility for the first time. “Our missions are much more than carrying food and water. Humanitarian assistance operations deepen trust and cooperation between coalition forces and citizens in the region.”

Each C-130 aircraft carries up to 42,000 pounds of cargo or 92 passengers. Typically, it’s a mix of both as the flights meet the needs of multiple missions throughout east Africa, ranging from Kenya to Ethiopia.

Lieutenant Botts explained the simple act of carrying cargo on a C-130 aircraft affects thousands of people.

“On our last mission, we carried thousands of pounds of equipment needed to dig a well in a small Ethiopian community,” he said. “Once the well is built, it does more than bring fresh water to the people. It becomes a gathering spot, and the whole area becomes a location that encourages education and positive community growth.”

The well mission in Gode, Ethiopia, required three days of multiple C-130 flights to get all the well equipment transported. Each time, the aircrew members were greeted by the same airport manager, Girmmk. By the third trip, his gratefulness couldn’t be ignored.

“When I filed the flight plan on the third day, he hugged me because he was so grateful,” said Captain Stafy. “We had become friends; they trusted us, and they knew we wanted to help them and their community.”

Other missions are people-focused. Maj. Mohamed Golle, an Ethiopian army liaison officer for CJTF-HOA is a frequent traveler on the C-130 channel missions. He recently traveled from Djibouti to Bilate to work ground operations in the remote town with limited access to the outside world.

“These planes are a critical link to getting the mission done,” he said. “They allow us to travel around east Africa, allowing us to be mobile in our work.”

U.S. Marine Sgt. Mark Girgis, agreed. The first generation American whose parents are Egyptian has found himself a hot commodity in CJTF-HOA missions around the Horn of Africa because he is fluent in Arabic. He serves as a contractor at Camp Lemonier, and the C-130 is his primary means of travel within east Africa. Other “frequent flyers” include embassy officials, counter-terrorism personnel and special operations soldiers. The aircraft can also be configured to fly injured medical patients on litters.

But, the HOA Flex mission goes beyond moving people and humanitarian supplies throughout the AOR. Every flight carries fresh water and food, the lifeblood of servicemembers serving throughout the region. Other cargo includes generators, aircraft parts, medical supplies and even mail.

“The missions are hot, dusty and exhausting,” said Colonel Kraemer. “It’s a far cry from our flights above the rolling green hills of Pennsylvania.”

Despite the 12- to 15-hour days, Captain Stafy finds the HOA Flex runs one of the most gratifying missions in the AOR.

“There’s no doubt we’re making a difference,” said the reservist. “We’re touching the lives of our own servicemembers and thousands of Africans everyday.” (AFRC News Service)