Reservists deployed to Homestead help improve airflow to Haiti

  • Published
  • By Tech. Sgt. Brian Bahret
  • Joint Information Bureau Homestead
HOMESTEAD AIR RESERVE BASE, Fla. (AFNS) --  Department of Defense officials transformed Homestead Air Reserve Base from an F-16 Fighting Falcon base into a hub supplies to the Haiti and as a reception point for repatriating evacuees.

With a limited mobility infrastructure at Homestead ARB, the Air Force deployed 28 reservists from the 512th Airlift Control Flight from Dover Air Force Base, Del., to run mobility operations here in support of Operation Unified Response.

"This is one of the first units on the ground in any combat airlift operation," said Capt. Rick Kuehn, the airlift control element operations officer. "In all the operations in Iraq, Afghanistan and Somalia, (the airlift control element) has played a big role."

After assessing the local needs and establishing basic mobility operations, they requested additional reservists to help sustain the mission.

ALCE Airmen are coordinating flights for aircraft that belong to the Marines, Navy, Air Force Southern Command, Air Force Special Operations Command, Coast Guard and other nongovernment organizations.

"Normally, we don't support them," Captain Kuehn said, explaining that they operate mobility tracking systems independent of the Air Force. Due to the worldwide response for relief operations in Haiti, the need for a centralized mobility control system quickly became apparent.

"Initially, we didn't have any visibility on what was coming in," Captain Kuehn said. He said ALCE knew about the movement of Air Force assets, but mobility aircraft from the other organizations arrived unannounced.

"We knew about 20 to 30 minutes out when they called us on the radio saying 'We're here. What are we taking with us?'", he added.

The flights are welcome, but initially they caused delays to previously scheduled operations.

"It's been a challenge, but it gets better every day," Captain Kuehn said.

Now, along with coordinating airflow from other services and organizations, ALCE regularly helps groups such as the American Red Cross, U.S. Agency for International Development, Federal Aviation Administration, Federal Emergency Management Agency, FBI and State Department deliver cargo to Haiti.

The ALCE works with the U.S. Southern Command to determine the priority that cargo is delivered.

"It's our job to coordinate to get it on the airplane and get it out of here," said Lt. Col. Mark Visco, the 512th Airlift Control Flight commander.

As a result, aerial porters and maintenance Airmen from bases in Delaware, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Pennsylvania, New York, and Texas deployed to Homestead ARB.

"It's incredible to see the level of the quality of the NCOs, emergency (responders) and the other operations officer we have here," Colonel Visco said.

Since the initial days, the coordination of the movement of equipment has greatly improved, Colonel Visco said.

When creative solutions are the answer, the mobility Airmen are up for the challenge. FAA officials requested help moving a mobile air traffic control tower, but the tactical airlift control element team determined it was too large for Air Force aircraft. The reservists found an alternate solution.

"Our response was, 'There is not an Air Force asset we can use to bring that. Let's get a Russian An-124,'" Captain Kuehn said. "The next day, it was setup for airlift on an (Antonov) An-124and down to Haiti."

Captain Kuehn said he's proud to work with the Airmen here supporting Operation Unified Response.

"This has been an awesome operation to be involved with," Captain Kuehn said. "Everyone has been willing to go out of their way to do whatever's necessary."

Despite the long hours and the high operations tempo, everyone's doing an amazing job, added Colonel Visco.

"Everyone's stepping up and doing absolutely everything that they need to do to make this happen," he said.

During a visit to Homestead ARB, Maj. Gen. Frank J. Padilla, the 10th Air Force commander, Naval Air Station Joint Reserve Base Fort Worth, Texas, praised the continuing efforts of the Airmen deployed to and stationed at Homestead ARB.

"I'm impressed with the interagency cooperation and how smoothly they're making it work here," he said. "I like that the Airmen are engaged and focused on making things better daily."