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DoD's only aerial sprayers share know-how

  • Published
  • By Master Sgt. Bob Barko Jr.
  • 910th Airlift Wing Public Affairs
LEHIGH ACRES, Fla --  Citizen Airmen from the Air Force Reserve's 910th Airlift Wing highly-specialized Aerial Spray unit are involved in the Department of Defense's Aerial Spray Course at the new state-of-the-art Lee County Mosquito Control District Training Center here Jan. 14-17.

The course acquaints participants with aerial application of pesticides, especially as it relates to the U.S. military. Graduates of the course are also certified to be ground supervisors of aerial spray operations, monitor pest control contracts using aerial spray and, if they are Command Pest Management Professionals, also approve DoD aerial spray projects.

Course topics included aerial spray theory, mapping and math, C-130 operations, public affairs, aerial spray contracting and more. Participants also viewed static displays of aerial spray aircraft and equipment and took part in a field exercise.

The 910th AW is home to DoD's only aerial spray mission.

"The 910th's role is to train DoD personnel and also give them an overview of civilian aerial spray aspects. We have a great relationship with the Florida Mosquito Control Association and it's an excellent opportunity to cross-train with them," said Lt. Col. Karl Haagsma, one of the 910th's two full-time entomologists, affectionately known as 'bug docs.' Haagsma and Lt. Col. Mark Briedenbaugh, the unit's other full-time entomologist are co-facilitators of the course.

In addition to the entomologists, the 910th AW aerial spray team includes spray-qualified pilots, loadmasters who double as Modular Aerial Spray System operators and specialized maintenance personnel.

"Since the Army and Navy stopped doing small-area aerial spraying with helicopters and small planes, we are now DoD's only aerial spray unit. Just recently they even turned in their equipment so we're it," said Lt. Col. Don Teig, one of the unit's Traditional Reservist 'bug docs,' the Air Force's pest control subject matter expert and chairman of the Armed Forces Pest Management Board, based at Walter Reed Medical Center, Md.

For many years, the 910th was known as the DoD's only 'large-area, fixed-wing' aerial spray unit, meaning they would use their C-130 aircraft to spray areas larger than 5,000 square acres from altitudes above the ground of 100 to 150 feet, depending on the type of spraying being done. Teig indicated that private enterprise takes care of smaller areas that would not be practical or cost-effective for the unit's large planes to handle.

"Any small areas that used to be covered by the other branches of service are now done by contractors," said Teig.

"Ultimately, this course is about the judicious use of aerial spray products in eliminating pests and protecting troops. We are very careful when it comes to pesticides, we don't want to use too much or too little, just enough to accomplish the mission while protecting the environment as much as possible," said Breidenbaugh.

Although the idea and practice of protecting troops on the ground by destroying disease-carrying insects from the air has been around since 1946, the technology and aircraft involved has changed over time. The opportunity to see these 'weapons' in the aerial spray 'arsenal' up close and personal as well as the requirement for certification or recertification brought approximately 30 pest control professionals to the event.

The course drew participants from the Army, Air Force, Navy as well as the DoD's civilian branch, contractors and vendors. Senior Airman Thomas Davis, a pest management specialist at Barksdale Air Force Base, La., said the knowledge and capabilities that the 910th team brings to the field of pest management would be helpful to him in the future.

"Prior to attending this course, I did not know aerial spray was at our disposal. If we can use this capability in the future, it will be much more efficient than fogging with trucks and it may help give the public (and our troops) a positive view of what we're doing (to protect them from disease-carrying pests)," said Davis.

While the 910th team may be the unique experts in the DoD when it comes to aerial spraying, Teig indicated that sometimes the teachers may pick up something from the course's students. "This is the best place for us to train, too. These are the best of the best (in the field of pest management) in the U.S. We all learn from each other's talents," said Teig.

Lt. Col. Tom Janousek, a traditional reservist entomologist and a pest consultant based in Omaha, Neb. in his civilian work, agreed, noting that the information presented in the course is a good place for sharing ideas and experience.

"The course is a good way to meet the people that we work with across the country. It's also a great environment to exchange ideas," said Janousek.

The 910th's unique mission has taken the aerial spray team all over the country to not only eliminate mosquitoes, sand fleas, filth flies and other pest insects on DoD installations but to also eliminate unwanted vegetation on bombing ranges as well as assist during the response to the worst oil spill in U.S. history.

The only thing the team has not been called upon to do is part of its mission that dates back to the early days of the military's aerial spray concept, protect U.S. troops from disease carrying insects in combat zones. However, Capt. Kirk Mundal, a traditional reserve 'bug doc,'  U.S. Navy veteran, living in Valley City, N.D., is ready for that assignment should it ever happen. As a veteran of Operation Enduring Freedom, he had the opportunity to help protect troops from disease-ridden creatures on many bases across Afghanistan.

"I look forward to that challenge should it ever arise. I love this mission. It's a great mission... to protect the troops and people like we do," said Mundal.