Cross-command communication fuels Haiti relief efforts

  • Published
  • By Staff Sgt. Heidi Davis
  • 633rd Air Base Wing Public Affairs
LANGLEY AIR FORCE BASE, Va. (AFNS) --  Two KC-10 Extender crews were wheels-up within 12 hour notice Jan. 12, at Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst, N.J., and headed for Langley Air Force Base's runway to escort and refuel cargo planes headed for Haiti in response to relief efforts.

Cross-command communication between Air Mobility Command and Air Combat Command officials help lead the distribution of port communication equipment, medical supplies and personnel to Haiti, as well as the transportation of evacuees out of the nation.

"AMC and ACC; we don't speak the same language, but at the end of the day, everything came together," said Senior Master Sgt. Chris Hofrichter, the quality assurance superintendent for the 514th and 305th Maintenance groups, Joint Base McGuire. "I can go on and on about the support at Langley (AFB). They helped us get in here and get set up. I feel like they rolled out the red carpet for us to get this thing done."

As an on-demand AMC unit within the 78th Refueling Wing, approximately 10 NTTF personnel (two crew chiefs, four pilots, two engineers and two boomers) flew to Langley AFB to escort and refuel C-17 Globemaster IIIs from McChord AFB, Wash., said Maj. Brian Alexander, a NTTF KC-10 pilot.
Because of the large number of aircraft flying in and out of Haiti, the fuel is scarce. For this reason, the KC-10 pilots fly with the cargo planes to Haiti and refuel them on their way back home.

"It's more than just what's going on, on the ground down there," Sergeant Hofrichter said. "We still have to get people out of there. Planes need gas and if they have evacuees on board, where are they going to land, in the water?"

The 10th Transportation Battalion, 7th Sustainment Brigade Soldiers from Fort Eustis, Va., utilized the fuel source as a means to get their boots on the ground and communication tools in the right hands.

As the eyes and ears of supply distribution, the 7th Sustainment Brigade support plans office staff traveled to Haiti to evaluate port management, port opening and watercraft from military and humanitarian sources.

"We have the expertise to look at the distribution from the big supply area out to the distribution points on the ground," said British Army Maj. Dominic Gosling, the 7th Sustainment Brigade embed. "We have the ability to help the people of Haiti, and it's great to get on the ground and do some good."

In addition, the 10th Transportation Battalion was able to send Humvees, cots and a harbor master unit, which is comprised of radar and tactical equipment to communicate with incoming vessels, said Army Sgt. Stephanie York, from the 10th Transportation Battalion. 

"If we have to work 12 hours or 14, we're going to do it," said Tech. Sgt. John Stewart, a KC-10 maintainer. "I don't think anyone has a problem missing a little sleep or a lunch here and there. (We) just focus on the mission at hand."