Citizen Airmen Provide Air Drop Training for Fort Drum-Based Soldiers

Courtesy Photo | Master Sgt. Todd Russell (upper right), of the 914th Airlift Wing trains soldiers from the U.S. Army 10th Mountain Division, Fort Drum, N.Y, the proper way to rig a pallet for a drop from a C-130, Oct. 13, Niagara Falls Air Reserve Station, Niagara Falls N.Y. This joint exercise was conducted by members of the 914th Airlift Wing, 107th Airlift Wing and the U.S. Army 10th Mountain Division.  

NIAGARA FALLS AIR RESERVE STATION, NEW YORK, UNITED STATES

10.13.2010

Courtesy Story

New York National Guard

By by Senior Airmen Andrew Caya and Chelsea Gitzen

NIAGARA FALLS AIR RESERVE STATION, N.Y. -- Members of the New York Air National Guard's 107th Airlift Wing and the Air Force Reserve's 914th Airlift Wing, participated in joint service training with soldiers of the U.S. Army's 10th Mountain Division here, at the Niagara Falls Air Reserve Station, Oct. 12 and 13.

The propose of this training was preparing heavy loads of equipment, airdropping it and training U.S. airmen and soldiers to quickly locate and allocate the much needed and possibly life-saving supplies during combat and field maneuvers.

"We have many air drops in Afghanistan," said Master Sgt. Todd Russell, a loadmaster with the 30th Aerial Port Squadron. "We use these drops to give them anything they need such as water, ammunition, and Meals Ready to Eat."

To ensure that the military can get these supplies on-target and on time when and where it counts, the Airmen and Soldiers train on the equipment here, in Niagara Falls as well as Ft. Drum, N.Y.

U.S. Army Warrant Officer Jose Seguinot an Airdrop systems technician stationed at Ft. Drum, N.Y. believes that this instruction his soldiers are receiving here is instrumental for U.S. service members in theater.

"[This training] is really important to learn," said Seguinot. "This is the best method of resupply in theater and these guys going through it are going to be the ones recovering all this equipment down range."

Russell said instead of flying all the way to Ft. Bragg, N.C. to move troops and supplies for training, the Air Force can fly to Ft. Drum to assist the 10th Mountain Division Soldiers with their training which saves the military time and money.

The Air Force Reserve, Guard and Active Duty soldiers benefit from this training said Russell. Everyone at Niagara Falls and Ft. Drum has been enthusiastic about this training, he added.

"This joint training between Air Force Reserve, Guard and Active Duty Army Personnel personifies the 'Total Force' concept," said Master Sgt. Ralph Baker, a loadmaster with the 30th Aerial Port Squadron. "I believe the more that the uniformed services share resources and knowledge, the stronger we will be in the future defense of our nation and the world."

Seguinot, Baker and Russell alluded to the fact that this two -day training session is only the beginning for this joint endeavor and the service members are looking forward to more training between the Army and the Air Force.

• Date Taken: 10.13.2010
• Date Posted: 10.14.2010 09:16
• Story ID: 58081
• Location: NIAGARA FALLS AIR RESERVE STATION, NEW YORK, US