U.S. military team arrives to assess disaster relief efforts

  • Published
  • By Capt. Carlos Diaz
  • 18th Wing Public Affairs
KATUNAYAK AIR FORCE BASE, Sri Lanka (AFPN) --  About 30 members of the U.S. military arrived here Dec. 30 to help assess disaster relief assistance in the wake of tsunamis that struck south Asian countries.

Airmen from the 613th Contingency Response Group at Andersen Air Force Base, Guam, and Marines from the III Marine Expeditionary Force in Okinawa arrived at this Sri Lankan military base to identify requirements to support the local U.S. Embassy and humanitarian relief efforts.

"Our mission here is to go out and size up the relief efforts and provide the embassy with a clearer picture of what the military provide," said Marine Col. Thomas Collins, commander of Joint Task Force 536th's disaster relief assessment team.

The team comprises civil affairs, medical treatment, preventive medicine, contracting and civil engineers, among others.

Airmen from the 613th CRG are also in Sri Lanka to conduct an airfield suitability assessment.

"Right now we have a group of 10 members on the team to evaluate the conditions of the airfield and to select the best place for strategic airlift," said Lt. Col. Paul Williams, 613th CRG commander. "We will make sure that the local airfields can support aircraft like the C-17 (Globemaster III) and the C-5 (Galaxy) during disaster relief operations."

Once the assessment teams complete their evaluations, airlift will begin from Yokota Air Base, Japan, and from Kadena Air Base, Japan. Crews will be scheduled to fly around the clock to transport much needed items like water, food and medical supplies.

"We will do whatever we need to help" said Maj. Alex Ferido, a KC-135 Stratotanker pilot from the 909th Air Refueling Squadron at Kadena AB. "Today we brought some Marines and Airmen. Tomorrow we might be refueling aircraft coming to the Pacific to help (with relief efforts)."

Air Force C-130 Hercules s and KC-135s along with Navy P-3 Orions have flown from Kadena to transport pallets of water, food, clothes and medical supplies to Thailand, in what is expected to be one of the largest humanitarian relief operations since the Berlin Airlift, officials said.