Ops support center Airmen coordinate AF relief efforts

  • Published
HICKAM AIR FORCE BASE, Hawaii (AFPN) --  Pacific Air Forces officials here activated the 24-hour PACAF Operations Support Center to coordinate Air Force-related relief efforts for the devastation caused by tsunamis that struck 12 countries following an earthquake Dec. 26.

Center officials, who are working with Department of Defense and U.S. Pacific Command, are assisting with the relief efforts for the victims of the disaster.

Six C-130 Hercules from Yokota Air Base, Japan, and three KC-135 Stratotankers from Kadena AB, Japan, are supporting people and moving relief supplies. The Stratotankers delivered two Marine Corps disaster assessment teams to Sri Lanka. Supplies of fresh water and packaged meals continue to arrive in Thailand.

Center officials will help identify requirements for temporary Air Force-specific support as well as the flow of aircraft from PACAF bases.

“We express our deepest sympathy and compassion to the hundreds of thousands of people who are suffering from loss of family, homes or property as a result of the tsunamis,” said Col. Mark Tapper, 502nd Air Operations Group commander and the Joint Forces Air Component commander for Joint Task Force 536. The task force was created to coordinate U.S military relief efforts in the region.

“We are going to do all we can to help out in this humanitarian relief effort,” Colonel Tapper said.