Homestead Air Reserve Base becomes hub for Haitian quake relief efforts

People of all ages have been affected by the devastation accompanied by the Earthquake in Haiti. Men, women, and children have been evacuated to the Homestead Air Reserve Base in order to process through customs, after providing proper citizenship documentation they are escorted home. (U.S. Air Force photo/ Tech. Sgt. Robert D. Gibson)

Reservists respond to Haitian earthquake relief effort

Airman Joelle JeanJaque, Homestead Air Reserve Base Civil Engineer Squadron, helps American Citizens processing through Customs locate transportation from Homestead Air Reserve Base to their perspective homes by making phone calls on her personal cell phone. (U.S. Air Force photo/Sernior Airman Lou Burton)

Dover Reserve crew delivers communications team, equipment to Haiti

Published Jan. 16, 2010
By 2nd Lt. Adam Gregory
436th Airlift Wing Public Affairs

DOVER AIR FORCE BASE, Del. -- Airmen from Dover's 326th Airlift Squadron delivered the Joint Communications Support Element to Port-au-Prince, Haiti, aboard a C-17 during the early morning hours Jan. 16.

On the way to Haiti, the Air Force Reserve aircrew stopped at MacDill Air Force Base, Fla., to load up the JCSE personnel and equipment.

"We were prepared to do what we needed for this mission and there are more crews back at Dover on standby ready to be called upon," said Capt. Jim F. McCann, the C-17 aircraft commander.

"I have been watching to see if and when we would be called, and I knew that this might be our mission when I saw it in the system," said Captain McCann. "We train to do this and jump at the chance to help the people of Haiti any way we can."

The JCSE deploys ahead to provide early entry communication support for the Regional Combatant Commands, Special Operations Command, and other agencies back in the U.S. They are set up within 72 hours to provide communication for the full spectrum of operations.

"In this situation, we will provide communication for both military and non-governmental organizations," said Navy Senior Chief Petty Officer Ralph Johnson, JCSE team lead. "This will give us the hand shake and reach-back capability to the U.S."

To meet the expansive mission requirements, JCSE maintains a professional force that is prepared to deploy at a moment's notice, said Senior Chief Johnson.

Both active duty and reserve component forces comprise the JCSE. This includes active duty squadrons, two Air-National Guard squadrons, and one Army Reserve squadron, exhibiting the model of total force.

The 618th Tanker Airlift Control Center at Scott Air Force Base, Ill., provides command and control and coordination of the airlift effort. They coordinate an average 900 airlifts and air refueling missions each day, and can redirect aircraft to support requirements for contingency or humanitarian relief operations.

During Pakistan earthquake relief operations in 2005, the 621st Contingency Response Wing supported 273 U.S. missions, and provided 15,294,000 pounds of relief supplies, including more than 93,000 sleeping bags and 292,000 blankets. They also loaded 587 trucks and processed 4,481 pallets.

The 326th Airlift Squadron has delivered humanitarian aid in the past. In January 2009, they delivered 18,000 pounds of cargo to a Nicaraguan University through the Denton program. The Reserve and Guard are able to conduct many humanitarian missions because they are able to use their training missions to deliver the much needed aid.

Those interested in donating to the effort can use the Denton Program. This Department of Defense transportation program uses available military air, surface and sea-lift assets to deliver humanitarian cargo donated by charities or private donors. The program is jointly lead by the Department of State, DoD and the U.S. Agency for International Development.

To donate to the humanitarian effort, charities or private donors can complete an application online at http://dentonfunded.ohasis.org. The application is reviewed and approved by the USAID, DoS and DoD.