914TH SUPPORTS CORONET OAK

Airmen from the 914th Airlift Wing board a C-130 at the Niagara Falls Air Reserve Station N.Y. February 2, 2013 to relieve fellow Airmen who are supporting Operation Coronet Oak in Puerto Rico. The first group of Airmen returned to Niagara later in the day after a two-week temporary duty assignment there. Coronet Oak is an all-Reserve and Guard operation, providing airlift support in Central and South America. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Stephanie Clark)

Niagara wing rotates troops supporting Coronet Oak

Published Feb. 7, 2013
By Tech. Sgt. Andrew Caya
914th Airlift Wing Public Affairs

NIAGARA FALLS AIR RESERVE STATION, N.Y. -- Niagara Airmen executed a rotation to and from Puerto Rico in support of Operation Coronet Oak, February 2.

A group of 914th Airlift Wing reservists left in a unit equipped C-130 Hercules aircraft early Saturday for Muniz Air National Guard Base in San Juan, Puerto Rico. The same plane brought back a group of Niagara Airmen returning after a two-week temporary duty assignment.

Coronet Oak is an all-Reserve and Guard operation, providing airlift support in Central and South America.

According to 914 AW Loadmaster Senior Airman Drew Schubauer, since many countries in Central and South America do not have the resources to provide humanitarian aid in response to potential natural disasters, units like the 914th travel south to assist the Puerto Rican Air National Guard with various missions.

The 914th maintainers and aircrew sustained both Niagara's and the Puerto Rican National Guard's C-130s for a two-week time period.

"We are basically 'on call' for support at any time," said Master Sgt. Tammy Jones, 914th Maintenance Squadron.

In the past, the 914th has supported this operation, usually with two teams that rotate in and out of Puerto Rico for a four-week period.

"It's a great learning experience," said Jones.