JOINT BASE MCGUIRE-DIX-LAKEHURST, N.J. --
Approximately 1,200 miles northeast of the devastation of Hurricane Harvey, the 514th Air Mobility Wing here quietly dispatched its Reserve Citizen Airmen of the 76th Air Refueling Squadron Aug. 31, 2017.
Responding to a request from the Tanker Airlift Control Center, 618th Operations Center at Scott Air Force Base, Ill., the 76th ARS sent a KC-10 Extender and its crew members to refuel an E-3 Sentry, or Airborne Warning and Control System (AWACS), from the 601st Air Operations Command, with approximately 100,000 pounds of fuel so the aircraft could continue its mission.
The 601st Air Operations Center, in support of Air Forces Northern, deployed the AWACS to provide command and control to helicopters and low-level flyers involved in search and rescue operations, and damage imagery assessment, as rain and floods continued to affect the residents of Texas and Louisiana.
The 76th’s mission allowed the 601st's AWACS to remain in air for another day and the 78th ARS, also from JB-MDL, performed a refueling mission on Sept. 1, 2017.
"This is exactly what we train for, we were all alert for this," said Lt. Col. Patrick J. McMahon, 76th ARS pilot. "People will drop what they are doing to play a part in helping the folks in Texas."
KC-10 pilots train both to get to deployable status and to maintain their competencies. For McMahon, this marked his second day at the 76th where they spared no time in getting him on track to be the combat-ready, deployable, Reserve Citizen Airman who will be among those who allow the Freedom Wing to take part in efforts that protect and aid our citizens locally and globally.
"This is what we train for, this is relevant, answering the nation's call," said Col. David P. Pavey, commander 514th Air Mobility Wing.