Relief effort switches gears

  • Published
  • By Louis A. Arana-Barradas
  • Air Force Print News
SAN ANTONIO --  The tsunami relief effort has switched gears and moved out of the crisis-response stage, the commander of the Air Force expeditionary airlift wing at Utapao, Thailand, said.

Sixteen days after tsunamis hit 12 countries in Southeast Asia, the flow of aid into the region has moved into a more controlled recovery and reconstruction phase, Col. Mark Schissler said. He said the first priority was to meet the crisis.

“The one thing we’ve done that matters is deliver aid that stops suffering and death,” said the deployed commander of the 374th Air Expeditionary Wing.

Since then, the wing -- with Airmen from almost 100 units and 14 bases -- has set up an airlift and delivery system that is safe and reliable, he said. It was a combined effort, with aircraft from sister services and other nations helping deliver food, water and medicine.

Disaster struck Dec. 26, when the most powerful earthquake in 40 years hit 100 miles of the Indonesian coast. It caused a series of deadly tsunami waves that raced across the Indian Ocean. The killer waves first struck the Indonesian island of Sumatra, and then Thailand. Then it battered Sri Lanka before devastating India and mauling Somalia. In total, 12 nations felt the effect.

When flood waters receded, the devastation was unprecedented. At least 150,000 were dead, thousands were missing and millions lost their homes, families and livelihood.

Airmen soon joined Soldiers, Marines, Sailors, aid workers and troops from local countries to get much needed supplies to the worst hit areas. After the first few days, the wing settled into a rhythm, Colonel Schissler said. This allowed the troops time to catch up and organize, and to set up work areas and communications. The unit has become “more efficient on a daily basis,” he said.

It does not mean, however, that the relief effort is slowing down. Utapao, home of a Thai navy base, is the hub of the humanitarian relief flights. Operations by C-130 Hercules and HH-60G Pave Hawk helicopters within the region continue around the clock along with missions by C-17 Globemaster IIIs, C-5 Galaxies and commercially hired transports providing airlift in the region.

Plus, “any country that can get an airplane here [to help] is trying to do that,” the colonel said.

On any given day, wing crews from any location that can service the aircraft, Colonel Schissler said. That includes airfields in Thailand, Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, Sri Lanka and other countries in the region.

“We’ll use [the airfield] if we can get clearance to go in there, or if there’s aid to pick up there,” the colonel said. As a result, the wing’s aircraft are flying an average of 17 or 18 daily missions within the theater. Other aircraft fly an additional 17 to 20 from outside the theater. That could add up to 40 missions on a busy day, he said.

Airmen are part of the more than 13,000 other U.S. troops -- active duty, Guard and Reserve -- providing humanitarian support. They make up Combined Support Force 536, the largest U.S. military force in the region since the Vietnam War, officials said. Their effort -- known as Operation Unified Assistance -- is the largest humanitarian relief effort since the Berlin Airlift.

Those who work on the flightline are keeping up with the hectic pace. Among them is Airman 1st Class Mark Torneskog, who deployed to Utapao on Jan. 3 from Andersen Air Force Base, Guam. He said, the seven-hour flight on a KC-135 Stratotanker was grueling.

“We got off the plane and started working before going to the hotel,” the air transportation troop said. “We had to move some stuff around.”

Thus began his 14-hour work days loading and unloading transport aircraft. “This place is pretty busy,” he said.

The fast pace is necessary because the more relief supplies that reach survivors, the less chance of more deaths and disease. Colonel Schissler said the Air Force’s airlift capability will allow a continued quick response.

There are challenges. The region has congested airspace unfamiliar to most of the aircrews. But the Airmen possess “tremendous capability, professionalism, knowledge and the airmanship” to meet the test, he said. As a result, aircrews are moving large quantities of relief goods to where they are needed. That means a lot of flying for aircrews and work for ground crews.

“Morale is really good. People are excited to be helping -- that’s just the way we are,” said Staff Sgt. Rod Hale, an air transportation troop from Travis Air Force Base, Calif. He said he has heard few complaints by co-workers. “Everyone just wants to do their part.”

Many more will get to help, too. In a speech to officials of the U.S. Agency for International Development and other relief groups in Washington, President George W. Bush predicted the effort to help rebuild Asia would take time.

“We have a duty, we have made a commitment, and our commitment is a long-term commitment to help those good folks in the part of the world that got affected get back on their feet,” he said.

For the Airmen at Utapao, that could mean a long tour of duty, but Airman Torneskog said he does not mind. In fact, he wishes he could remain there for three reasons: Everyone is motivated, the work is high intensity, and people must get things done quickly.

“Everyone is working well together, and we’re always up and moving,” he said. “It’s a great work environment. I wish I was stationed here, actually.”

The relief effort has had a double impact, Colonel Schissler said. It has affected Airmen because they are proud to represent their country in the region.

“Most of us wear American flags on our sleeve,” he said.

To the people of the region, the flag “represents capability,” the colonel said. “(It says) we’re a reliable partner when trouble comes their way. I think that’s what people count on; I think we’re welcome everywhere we go.”