Airmen provide vital support in mudslide relief effort

  • Published
ANDERSEN AIR FORCE BASE, Guam (AFPN) --  Airmen from the 36th Expeditionary Contingency Response Group here are working alongside the Filipino government to assess requirements for support of mudslide relief efforts in Leyte, Philippines.

At the request of the Filipino government, the 36th ECRG and other units of the U.S. Pacific Command are participating in humanitarian assistance and disaster relief operations.

“Opening and securing airfields are the areas of expertise for the 36th ECRG,” said Capt. Kevin Walker, 736th Security Forces Squadron commander. “Members of the 36th ECRG leadership have gone forward to the affected area to assess the situation and find the best ways to bring in support.”

The Pacific Air Forces first C-17 Globemaster III from Hickam Air Force Base, Hawaii, is scheduled to land here on its first strategic airlift mission. In addition to support personnel, this aircraft will carry water, meals ready to eat, tents, cots, and heavy equipment.

Airmen of the 36th ECRG were already deployed to the Philippines as part of multinational and joint exercise Balikatan ’06 when mudslides engulfed a village and 1,800 people Feb. 17.

Many 36th ECRG Airmen have disaster relief experience from the Tsunami relief efforts of Operation Unified Assistance in early 2005.