U.S. military to begin new Deep Freeze season

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HICKAM AIR FORCE BASE, Hawaii (AFNS) --  U.S. military officials will kick off the 2009-2010 season of Operation Deep Freeze, the Department of Defense's support of the U.S. Antarctic Program and the National Science Foundation, on Sept. 25.

Operation Deep Freeze involves operational and logistic support of the National Science Foundation's scientific research activities in Antarctica by U.S. Air Force, Navy, Army and Coast Guard forces.

This support is provided by the Joint Task Force Support Forces Antarctica, led by 13th Air Force here. JTF SFA coordinates strategic intertheater airlift, tactical deep field support, aeromedical evacuation support, search and rescue response, sealift, seaport access, bulk fuel supply, port cargo handling and transportation requirements.

Christchurch International Airport, New Zealand, is the staging point for deployment to McMurdo Station, Antarctica, a key research and operations facility for the U.S. Antarctic Program.

Operation Deep Freeze is unlike any other U.S. military operation. Some consider It possibly the military's most difficult peacetime mission due to the harsh Antarctic environment. The U.S. military is uniquely equipped and trained to operate in such an austere environment and has therefore provided support to the U.S. Antarctic Program since 1955.

Active-duty, National Guard and Reserve personnel from the Air Force, Navy, Army and Coast Guard work together as part of the joint task force. This team continues the tradition of U.S. military support to the U.S. Antarctic Program and demonstrates the United States' commitment to a stable Pacific region.

Airlift for Operation Deep Freeze involves active-duty and Reserve C-17 Globemaster III support from McChord Air Force Base, Washington, and New York Air National Guard LC-130 Hercules support from Stratton Air National Guard Base at Scotia, N.Y.

Sealift support consists of one U.S. Coast Guard icebreaker on standby in Seattle; one Military Sealift Command tanker; one Military Sealift Command-chartered dry cargo ship; and U.S. Navy Cargo Handling Battalion One from Williamsburg, Va.