Freedom Wing transports humanitarian cargo, illustrates teamwork

  • Published
  • By Tech. Sgt. Jonathan E. White
  • 514th Air Mobility Wing
JOINT BASE MCGUIRE-DIX-LAKEHURST --  
     Approximately 35,000 lbs of humanitarian cargo arrived in Port-au-Prince, Haiti via the Denton Program March 22.
     The Denton Amendment, Title 10 U.S.C. Section 402, states "the Secretary of Defense may transport to any country, without charge, supplies which have been furnished by a non-governmental source and which are intended for humanitarian assistance. Such supplies may be transported only on a space available basis."
Moving Denton cargo involves teamwork. According to Ken Hundemer, Denton Operations operation's manager, there are many 'unsung heroes' who participate in the program from beginning to end. In order to fully appreciate the program, it is necessary to examine some of the key players in the movement of this type of cargo.
"For this particular movement, there was involvement from service members located with the Air National Guard at Louisville, Ky., Air Force Reserve at Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst, N.J., active duty Aerial Port Squadron at Joint Base Charleston, S.C. and Air Force Reserve at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio," Hundemer said.  "This was a real team effort!"
     Non-Governmental Organizations or Private Voluntary Organizations are groups seeking to transport humanitarian cargo. The sender and consignee (recipient) must be approved by the Department of Defense, U.S. Agency for International Development and the Department of State. The DoD serves as the lead agency. It maintains a website which assists NGOs or PVOs with the application process.
     "The designated consignee NGO in Haiti is Fondation Croisade Pour Christ Haiti," Hundemer said. "This shipment was almost exclusively Kids Against Hunger food packets.  These food packets are filled with rice, vegetables, soy, and vitamins/minerals that are dehydrated for long-term storage and use.  Just add water and they can provide enough quality calories for a day with a single meal."
     The donating NGO will warehouse its cargo until arrangements are made at a designated port of entry.  This is normally an Air Force Aerial Port or Logistics Readiness function. In this case, it was with the Kentucky Air National Guard's 123rd Logistics Readiness Squadron. 
     "The humanitarian agency will request an approval inspection for the Denton shipment through U.S. Transportation Command. Once cargo is approved the agency contacts the 123rd Small Air Terminal to begin coordination for air cargo preparation," said Senior Master Sgt. Larry Burba, 123rd LRS air cargo superintendent. "Coordination includes Security Forces contacting Louisville Metro Police Department to bring the K-9 Unit out to Stanford Field to conduct one final inspection of the cargo before it is prepared for flight and the base Traffic Management Office signing for the arriving cargo."
     Once cargo is prepared, coordination for space airlift begins with the terminal, Denton Humanitarian Assistance program and Air Mobility Command mission planners. Hundemer said for this particular movement, Mr. Jason Craig, 514th Air Mobility Wing KC-10 mission planner, played a significant role in scheduling KC-10 airlift to transport Kids Against Hunger food packets from Louisville, Ky. to Charleston, S.C. on March 11. The KC-10 flight crew selected for this movement consisted of eight Freedom Wing members. One of those Freedom Wing members was instructor pilot Lt. Col. Grant C. Christianson, 514th Operations Support Squadron. Christianson previously participated in three Denton cargo assignments.
     "When a base has Denton cargo available for pick-up, it is listed in the system," Christianson said. "Our operations seek opportunities to pick-up and deliver this type of cargo while meeting training requirements."
     While pilots such as Christianson and Maj. Brad Tobias, 78th Air Refueling Squadron, coordinated flight planning, timing, take off and landing times with Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst, Master Sgt. Tony Moreland, 78th ARS flight engineer, served as the system expert who ensured they were able to operate the aircraft safely.
     "It was rewarding and exciting to have the privilege of executing multi-faceted missions such as  the Denton cargo," Moreland said. "The most fulfilling part of this assignment was reading Kids Against Hunger labels on the several dozen boxes loaded on the five pallets of cargo."
     Meanwhile, boom operators Master Sgt. Dean Reck, Tech. Sgt. Shane A. Lester, Staff Sgt. Chris Foley and Staff Sgt. Brian Kelly, with the 76th ARS, worked with Senior Master Sgt. Jason Smith, 123rd LRS air cargo worker, to ensure the cargo was loaded properly and the weight of the aircraft was within limits for safe operation. After the Freedom Wing delivered the cargo to Charleston, S.C., days later another AFRC unit moved it from Charleston into Haiti.
     "Our office plays the role of facilitating movement of this humanitarian cargo, but the heavy lifting is done by the men and women in uniform.  We cannot thank them enough for what they do.  They literally are saving lives in impoverished, underdeveloped countries around the world," said Hundemer. "A special tip of the hat to AFRC troops for all of the work that they do with getting this cargo moved.  Without their professionalism in their duties on the ground or in the air, we would not have the help and support needed to get this cargo to those in need.  Thank you!"