Holloman's BEAR ready to deploy

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman Terri Barriere
  • 49th Fighter Wing Public Affairs
HOLLOMAN AIR FORCE BASE, N.M. (AFPN) --  As the first anniversary of one of the worst natural disasters in American history approaches, Holloman Airmen are prepared for anything. 

The 49th Material Maintenance Group maintains a constant state of readiness for equipment that might be tasked to support any Department of Defense or Federal Emergency Management Agency humanitarian operations, said Col. William Goad, 49th MMG commander. 

"This state of readiness is commensurate with normal operating procedures to support contingency operations," he said. "We are ready 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. Our group's motto is 'Anytime, anywhere, at a moment's notice.'" 

Primarily for wartime purposes, the 49th MMG provides basic expeditionary airfield resources, or BEAR, while ready to provide contingency support for humanitarian crises. 

BEAR sets are essentially deployable air bases robust enough to meet a variety of contingency response requirements, the colonel said. The sets provide power generation and distribution, water production and distribution, personnel and industrial shelter systems, airfield support systems, personnel hygiene systems and personnel feeding and services systems. 

The 49th MMG deployed 995 tons of equipment via air and 282 tons via surface in support of Hurricane Katrina relief operations last year. Additionally, more than 40 Holloman Airmen from the 49th MMG deployed in support of Hurricane Katrina relief efforts. More than 300 stand ready to deploy this year, should the need arise. 

"The members of the 49th MMG were proud of the opportunity to apply their knowledge and provide support to other Americans along the Gulf Coast during their time of need," the colonel said. 

Senior Master Sgt. David Berridge, the team chief for deployed BEAR Airmen last year, said deploying BEAR members was an obvious choice because of the team's technical expertise in setting up tent cities. 

Sergeant Berridge said they complemented civil engineer forces to ensure the BEAR assets stayed working once they were set up. He said they also provided training on shelter setup to other deployed units. 

Leaders took note of lessons learned with the short-notice deployment last year and are doing a few things differently. 

"(The) 49th MMG has altered our internal deployment process to satisfy ... processing and moving equipment via air and surface simultaneously," Colonel Goad said. 

BEAR now also provides information to higher headquarters with updates on the type and amount of equipment the 49th MMG can provide in case of an emergency.