News>Local community-military partnership delivers aid to Afghanistan orphans
Story at a Glance
• The 452nd Air Mobility Wing transported 13,000 pounds of locally donated humanitarian aid • "It is always rewarding when you can be part of the process, but it is a rare opportunity to be involved in the final segment of these missions and witness the cargo getting to the destination." -- Lt. Col. Mark Larson, 452nd Operations Group deputy commander • "I hope one day that we'll have another opportunity to work together to make the world a little kinder place." --Jean Arnott, Women of Faith organizer
Photos
Airport workers use a K-loader to transport offloaded cargo from a March C-17 Globemaster III at Kabul International Airport, Afghanistan, October 4, 2011. Team March transported the cargo, donated by Women of Faith in Redlands, Calif., to the war-torn country through the Denton Amendment program, a U.S. government program that allows humanitarian supplies to be shipped on military aircraft free of charge on a space available basis. (U.S. Air Force photo/Master Sgt. Linda Welz)
Lt. Col. Tim Harris (left) and Lt. Col. Keith Guillotte, 729th Airlift Squadron pilots land a C-17 Globemaster III at March Field October 8, 2011, after a week-long mission to deliver humanitarian supplies to orphans in Kabul, Afghanistan. The cargo, donated by Women of Faith in Redlands, Calif., was shipped through the Denton Amendment program, a U.S. government program that allows humanitarian supplies to be shipped on military aircraft free of charge on a space available basis. (U.S. Air Force photo/Master Sgt. Linda Welz)
Lindsey Cortes, 29, of Mentone, Calif., makes a hat during a weekly volunteer session with Women of Faith in Redlands, Calif., for shipment to Afghanistan as part of humanitarian cargo through the Denton Amendment, a U. S. government program that offers free shipment for this cargo via military aircraft on a space available basis. The group also donates to local hospitals. (U.S. Air Force photo/Linda Welz)
Willy Alexander and Rudy Trejo, Satellite Services, Inc., open a plastic pallet cover September 28, 2011, to prepare pallets of humanitarian supplies for shipment to Kabul, Afghanistan. The 24 skids of humanitarian supplies that arrived at March Air Reserve Base from Women of Faith in Redlands were redistributed and secured onto pallets prior to their October 2nd departure on a 452nd Air Mobility Wing C-17 Globemaster III as part of the Denton Amendment, a U.S. government program that allows humanitarian cargo to be shipped free of charge via military aircraft on a space available basis. (U.S. Air Force photo/Linda Welz)Amendment Program. (U.S. Air Force photo/Linda Welz)
Twenty-four skids of humanitarian supplies arrived at March Air Reserve Base Sept. 28, 2011, from Women of Faith in Redlands. The supplies, transported by Stater Bros. will be built up on pallets and delivered to International Orphan Care in Kabul, Afghanistan by the 452nd Air Mobility Wing as part of the Denton Amendment program, a U.S. government program that offers space available transportation on military aircraft for humanitarian cargo. (U.S. Air Force photo/Linda Welz)
Humanitarian cargo is secure on a C-17 Globemaster III after its departure from March Air Reserve Base, Calif., October 2, 2011, enroute to Afghanistan. Team March transported the cargo, donated by Women of Faith in Redlands, Calif., to Kabul through the Denton Amendment program, a U.S. government program that allows humanitarian supplies to be shipped on military aircraft free of charge on a space available basis. (U.S. Air Force photo/Master Sgt. Linda Welz)
Lt. Col. Tim Harris, 729th Airlift Squadron pilot and aircraft commander, discusses the mission with deployed 452nd Air Mobility Wing commander, Col. Udo McGregor, upon Harris' arrival at Kabul International Airport, Afghanistan, October 4, 2011. Team March transported cargo, donated by Women of Faith in Redlands, Calif., to the war-torn nation through the Denton Amendment program, a U.S. government program that allows humanitarian supplies to be shipped on military aircraft free of charge on a space available basis. (U.S. Air Force photo/Master Sgt. Linda Welz)
Cliff Law, transportation management specialist with Satellite Services, Inc., reaches up to grab a piece of cargo netting September 28, 2011, from Rudy Trejo, forklift operator, as they secure a pallet of humanitarian supplies for shipment to Kabul, Afghanistan. The 24 skids of humanitarian supplies that arrived at March Air Reserve Base, Calif., from Women of Faith in Redlands, Calif., were redistributed and secured onto pallets prior to their Oct. 2 departure on a 452nd Air Mobility Wing C-17 Globemaster III as part of the Denton Amendment, a U.S. government program that allows humanitarian cargo to be shipped free of charge via military aircraft on a space available basis. (U.S. Air Force photo/Linda Welz)
Tech. Sgt. Geoffrey Parish, 729th Airlift Squadron loadmaster, helps secure humanitarian supplies on a C-17 Globemaster III at March Field October 2, 2011. Team March transported the cargo, donated by Women of Faith in Redlands, Calif., to Kabul, Afghanistan through the Denton Amendment program, a U.S. government program that allows humanitarian supplies to be shipped on military aircraft free of charge on a space available basis. (U.S. Air Force photo/Master Sgt. Linda Welz)
Richard Philbin, 62, of Redlands, Calif., makes a hat during a weekly volunteer session with Women of Faith in Redlands, Calif., for shipment to Afghanistan as part of humanitarian cargo through the Denton Amendment, a U. S. government program that offers free shipment for this cargo via military aircraft on a space available basis. The group also donates to local hospitals. (U.S. Air Force photo/Linda Welz)
Women of Faith in Redlands, Calif. meet weekly to make hats, blankets, cards and other things for shipment to Afghanistan as part of humanitarian cargo through the Denton Amendment, a U.S. government program that allows humanitarian cargo to be shipped free of charge via military aircraft on a space available basis. The organization also donates to local hospitals. (U.S. Air Force photo/Linda Welz)
Women of Faith in Redlands donates birthing kits to women in Afghanistan that supplies the recipient with critical supplies for them and their newborn to use during and after childbirth. Jean Arnott, WOF coordinator, holds a card supplied in each kit that describes step-by-step how to deliver a baby in English, Farsi and with illustrations. (U.S. Air Force photo/Master Sgt. Linda Welz)
Women of Faith in Redlands donates birthing kits to women in Afghanistan that supplies the recipient with critical supplies for them and their newborn to use during and after childbirth. Each kit contains this card that tells Afghan women, in their own language at the top, to save the card until they are able to read it or have it read to them by their children. (U.S. Air Force photo/Master Sgt. Linda Welz)
Mike Whipple of International Orphan Care, stands by humanitarian cargo September 28, 2011, being readied for shipment to Afghanistan as part of humanitarian cargo through the Denton Amendment, a U. S. government program that offers free shipment for this cargo via military aircraft on a space available basis. The cargo, donated by Women of Faith in Redlands will be transported to the war-torn country by a 452nd Air Mobility Wing C-17 Globemaster III, where Whipple will arrive to receive it Octoer 4, and distribute it to local orpanages. (U.S. Air Force photo/Linda Welz)
by Master Sgt. Linda E. Welz
452 AMW Public Affairs
10/25/2011 - MARCH AIR RESERVE BASE, Calif. -- The 452nd Air Mobility Wing here partnered with community organizations to deliver more than 13,000 tons of clothing and supplies to needy Afghan orphans.
The wing worked with International Orphan Care, the Women of Faith, a community group based in Redlands, Calif., through the Denton Program to deliver the humanitarian supplies earlier this month.
The Denton Program is a government program that helps non-profit organizations save the cost of postage by transporting humanitarian aid as space available cargo on military aircraft. In this case, the cargo totaled 13,568 pounds.
"The depressed economy, which has made it difficult for so many, has also affected IOC's ability to finance this shipment," said Jean Arnott, one of the organizers of Women of Faith.
She valued the total shipment at $189,440, but said that without the Denton Program, the supplies would still be gathering dust in a warehouse in Redlands.
"The dollar value of the goods is really nothing until the gifts are placed in the hands of those whose lives will benefit," Arnott said. "That means that as our gifts are distributed to women, children, schools, hospitals, clinics and more, the value is finally realized."
More than 30 local faith-based and scouting organizations collected the items, including several groups from Utah. Volunteers of all ages made hats, scarves, night gowns, puppets, toys, wall hangings and many other things for women and children in need. Some donated their time by soliciting donations of medical supplies, fabric, books or putting together birthing kits, school kits and backpacks. As word spread about the shipment, other humanitarian groups contacted Arnott, hoping to add donations to the cargo manifest.
"Working as long as we did for the Afghan people gave us an opportunity to really consider them and even to become educated about their plight," Arnott said.
Women of Faith members built a library of books about the war-torn country, enabling the volunteers to learn more about Afghan citizens and how their lives have changed through their country's turbulent history.
"Because we have come to know our sisters in Afghanistan, having our goods finally get to them means even more to us," Arnott said. "We are eagerly looking forward to receiving pictures and videos of the people as the distribution of our gifts progresses."
Each of the boxes contains a handwritten note of sisterly caring, with a message at the top in Farsi that says, "Hang on to this note until you can read it."
"I hope that even before they are able to read the notes, or have them read to them by their children as they learn English in school, that they will feel the love and compassion we have for them," Arnott said. "We really want them to know that the gifts are from real people who care about them and their situation, not a faceless factory somewhere."
Delivering the aid
During the two years the Women of Faith have been making and collecting items, Arnott has been working with International Orphan Care to proceed through the lengthy and complex Denton Program process.
Although Denton Cargo is typically processed through Charleston Air Force Base, S.C., the proximity of the Women of Faith's cargo to March Air Reserve Base and the availability of space on a 729th Airlift Squadron C-17 Globemaster III made a perfect match for a truly local military-civilian partnership.
"I live in Yucaipa, very close to Redlands. We often carry humanitarian cargo, but usually it's from some other place in the states, there isn't any local connection," said Lt. Col. Tim Harris, 452nd Operations Support Squadron chief of current operations and aircraft commander of the mission. "It was different for this stuff, since it originated just a few miles from where I live."
The Women of Faith's cargo arrived at March on Thursday, Sept. 28., via two semi-trucks that were volunteered by Stater Bros., a local chain of grocery stores. Transportation Management Office staff quickly palletized and readied the boxes of supplies for the more than 10,000-mile journey. On Sunday, Oct. 2, Airmen from the 50th and 56th Aerial Port Squadrons at March loaded the pallets on the C-17 just prior to take off for its destination--Kabul International Airport, Afghanistan.
Arnott, who was jet side as the cargo was being loaded, had the opportunity to meet some of the members of the March crew flying the mission. As it turned out, Arnott and one of the pilots, Lt. Col. Mark Larson, were members of the same church.
"That is when the mission became really meaningful for me," said Larson, who is the 452nd Operations Group deputy commander. "It is always rewarding when you can be part of the process, but it is a rare opportunity to be involved in the final segment of these missions and witness the cargo getting to the destination."
The Denton crew took off from March Field at about 10 a.m. on Sunday as Arnott observed from base operations.
"Watching the plane lift into the sky and fly out of sight--especially having met many of the folks who worked on this final leg to make it happen--was a singular moment I won't forget," Arnott said. "I've always been very patriotic, but I've never had the opportunity to rub shoulders this closely with a military program in progress. The professionalism, enthusiasm and warmth of everyone we've met has been inspiring."
The crew members, who had begun their day four hours earlier, made their first stop six hours later in Bangor, Maine, to load up on fuel before taking to the skies again for the continuing 11-hour flight to Incirlik Air Base, Turkey. Upon arriving in Turkey, the crew had several stops to make and then finally checked into lodging.
"Long hours and overseas flying is what the C-17 and most Air Force cargo plane aircrews do," Harris said. "Whether it's flying humanitarian cargo to Kabul, bullets to Bagram or aeromedical evacuations, almost everything C-17 crews do involves long hours and long days."
After crew rest, the March C-17 was airborne again, navigating the long path toward the mountainous terrain of Afghanistan, via a route assignment over the Persian Gulf and Pakistan that took almost six hours.
It was a daytime flight and the skies were fairly clear most of the way, which meant the huge cargo plane could be seen easily at lower altitudes and made for quiet and cautious moments over the skies of a war zone. But as it approached Kabul, the airspace became shrouded in clouds, and the jet descended through the protection of the overcast skies and made a smooth landing on the tarmac.
"The overcast conditions are unusual here for this time of year," said Capt. Ashley Norris, 452 AMW public affairs officer, who is deployed there.
Norris and Col. Karl McGregor, 452 AMW commander, who is also deployed to Afghanistan, met the crew with hugs and smiles.
The engine-running offload took only about an hour. The cargo was staged at the airport for a few days while IOC representatives arranged for pick up. The same IOC representative who was on site to observe the cargo being delivered to March, flew to Kabul to personally see to the delivery of the cargo in Afghanistan.
"There was no question that it was a different type of mission than we typically do," Harris said. "It felt great to help a group of people in the Inland Empire achieve what they have worked so hard to do; put together needed supplies and coordinate delivery directly to the folks who will put them to use."
Larson expressed his gratitude to Women of Faith for their countless hours of time and resources to help those less fortunate, and to the many personnel at March for working to put this mission together.
"I hope one day that we'll have another opportunity to work together to make the world a little kinder place," said Arnott.
With a sense of accomplishment, the crew began the long trek back to March but not before making three airshow flyovers in Midland, Texas; Kingman, Ariz.; and Apple Valley, Calif. The aircraft had been scheduled to finish the mission with a Redlands Air Show flyover, but the show was cancelled.
