Airmen from the Puerto Rico Air National Guard's 156th Airlift Wing load one of the unit's C-130E Hercules aircraft with search and rescue equipment that was bound for Haiti along with a team of Puerto Rican search and rescue workers Jan. 16 at Munoz Air National Guard Base, P.R. In the first week after the earthquake devastated the island nation of Haiti, the 156 AW transported more than 117 tons of cargo and 294 passengers and evacuated 70 United States citizens. (U.S. Air Force photo/Staff Sgt. J. Paul Croxon)
Airmen from the Puerto Rico Air National Guard's 156th Airlift Wing load one of the unit's C-130E Hercules aircraft with search and rescue equipment that was bound for Haiti along with a team of Puerto Rican search and rescue workers Jan. 16 at Munoz Air National Guard Base, P.R. In the first week after the earthquake devastated the island nation of Haiti, the 156 AW transported more than 117 tons of cargo and 294 passengers and evacuated 70 United States citizens. (U.S. Air Force photo/Staff Sgt. J. Paul Croxon)
by Staff Sgt. J. Paul Croxon
Defense Media Activity-San Antonio
1/18/2010 - SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico (AFNS) -- Whether providence or coincidence, the Airmen in the Puerto Rico Air National Guard are proving their readiness and relevance in support of Operation Unified Response while preparing for a major readiness inspection.
For the past year, Airmen from the 156th Airlift Wing have been training for an operational readiness inspection, but with little more than a week before their first operational readiness exercise the Haitian earthquake changed the wing's priorities.
"The wing's number one priority for the past year has been to prepare for the ORE," said Maj. Kenneth Lozano, 156th AW executive support officer. "The moment any real-world event or contingency operation happens, the (Airmen of the) 156th AW raise their hand to support."
According to Major Lozano, not only did the wing stand united to support operations in Haiti but the wing commander, Col. Carlos Quiñones, called the Air National Guard Readiness Center, the governor and his superiors to volunteer to support Haitian relief operations.
Volunteering to support operations and demonstrate the capabilities of the Puerto Rico ANG has been Colonel Quiñones' vision and he has developed a robust plan that puts Puerto Rico at the hub for United States Southern Command operations. He was scheduled to brief his vision to Lt. Gen. Harry M. Wyatt, director of the Air National Guard, long before the earthquake put the 156th AW on center stage as one of the first units in and flying non-stop missions with only a handful of aircraft.
The earthquake in Haiti has given the colonel an impressive set of facts to show how ready the unit really is. According to Senior Airman Andrew Layton, a command post controller for the 35th Expeditionary Airlift Squadron, a USSOUTHCOM coronet unit the 156th AW is tasked to support, Airmen from the wing have flown more than 50 sorties, unloaded more than 117 tons of cargo, carried more than 294 passengers and evacuated more than 70 U.S. citizens.
The desire to support operation continues for the wing but with an ORE scheduled to start in only a few days, the unit will only be able to execute one. As Colonel Quiñones asks his chain of command to postpone the exercise so the wing can continue to support its Caribbean neighbor, wing Airmen continue to prepare for the ORE while supporting relief efforts.
"It's ironic that at the same time we're preparing to deploy to Volk Field (Wisc), the wing is given the chance to prove its readiness in the real world and give relief to those suffering from the earthquake," Major Lozano said.
Comments
3/16/2011 3:29:01 AM ET With just 11 more months for my retirement of my military service I can say that Ill never forget my service in the 156th AW bucaneros in the PR AIR NATIONAL GUARD - HOOAHH.
SSGT CARLOS E RIVERA FRANCES, MUNIZ AFB CAROLINA PR
1/20/2010 9:18:13 AM ET I remember seeing the Puerto Rico ANG airplanes go by my house when I was a child. Back then the unit had A-7 Corsairs then F-16s and now C-130s. They were my inspiration to reach to the sky and be part of the greatest air force in the world. Now they are showing their readiness by helping our neighbors in need. I congratulate my island brothers and sisters for their efforts. I know they will blow their ORE out of the water. Like we say in the island Puerto Rico does it better
Angel Alvarado, Charleston AFB
1/19/2010 8:22:26 PM ET Go Buchaneers I'm proud of you I was so close to go to a TDY to support the Haiti mission but I won't be able to go. At the same time I'm proud to see the tail numbers from PR C-130's saying present
