Dover Reserve crew delivers communications team, equipment to Haiti
Posted 1/19/2010
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by 2nd Lt. Adam Gregory
436th Airlift Wing Public Affairs
1/19/2010 - DOVER AIR FORCE BASE, Del. (AFNS) -- Airmen from the 326th Airlift Squadron, here, delivered the Joint Communications Support Element to Port-au-Prince, Haiti, aboard a C-17 Globemaster III during the early morning hours of 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 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," Captain McCann said. "We train to do this and jumped 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. The JCSE is 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, the JCSE team lead. "This will give us the hand shake and reach-back capability to the U.S."
To meet 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. |
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