Courtesy Photo | BAGRAM AIR FIELD, Afghanistan -- Army Spc. Charles Laborn, parachute rigger with the...... read more read more
by Air Force Staff Sgt. Marcus McDonald
455th Air Expeditionary Wing Public Affairs
BAGRAM AIR FIELD, Afghanistan -- Airmen are joining Soldiers and Sailors here in assembling containers to help with the multinational effort to provide humanitarian assistance and support to the people of Pakistan following the 7.6-magnitude earthquake that shook the country Oct. 8.
When they're not repairing aircraft supporting the ongoing Global War on Terrorism, Air Force EC-130 maintainers, alongside their counterparts working on Navy EA-6s, have been lending a hand to help riggers from the Army's 82nd Airborne Division build containerized delivery systems.
"The Army team had a very busy week already when the earthquake hit," said Air Force Capt. Joseph Schmidt, maintenance officer, 41st Expeditionary Electronic Combat Squadron. "Since our airplanes were in good shape, our aircraft maintainers offered to help build these CDS's to help the people of Pakistan."
Captain Smith, deployed from Davis-Monthan Air Force Base, Ariz., said that although the participants in this joint venture will probably never get a chance to meet the people they're helping, it's still worth the effort that's being put forth.
"Our Airmen, Soldiers and Sailors aren't participating for medals, money or recognition; they are taking part because they're representing what America is all about -- hope for a better tomorrow," said the captain, a native of Muncie, Ind.
Each CDS, weighing about 1,800 pounds each, contains a variety of humanitarian supplies to include bags of beans, rice and sugar, health, hygiene and tool kits, powdered milk, winter clothes and water.
More than 150 CDS's have been assembled here since the multinational earthquake relief operations to Pakistan began, according to Warrant Officer Daniel Christy, airdrop systems technician, 82nd Airborne Division, Fort Bragg, N.C.
"We worked around the clock for several days preparing CDS's for airdrop into Pakistan," the warrant officer said. "To date, this joint effort has provided an estimated 80,000 pounds in humanitarian aid in both land and air drop."
Working in a joint environment is nothing new to Army parachute riggers.
"Our response to the devastation that occurred in Pakistan only unifies the jointness people see on daily basis here at Bagram," said Warrant Officer Christy, a native of Greensboro, N.C. "In order to accomplish any mission here in Afghanistan, it requires everyone to think joint in efforts to make things happen."
Navy Petty Officer 2nd Class Daniel Lopez, Electronic Attack Squadron 134 out of Whidbey Island, Wash., said he's glad to have been a part of this joint effort to help the people of Pakistan.
"It feels great to know we have yet another opportunity, alongside the Army and Air Force, to help others in need," said Petty Officer Lopez, a native of Alta Loma, Calif.
"Our efforts will hopefully make it a little easier for the people affected by this devastating earthquake."
Tech. Sgt. Bryan Tenney, fuel systems craftsman, 41st EECS, said when the call for help from the Army riggers, the Air Force and Navy were ready to lend a hand and learn at the same time.
"When the news spread of this effort to help the people of Pakistan, it did not take long for the Air Force and Navy to join in," said Sergeant Tenney, a native of Columbus, Ga. "This gave us all a chance to learn exactly what Army riggers do. In turn, I think they learned that those of us in the other branches of service are not afraid to get dirty, sweaty and stand shoulder-to-shoulder with them when they need our help."
| Date Taken: | 10.26.2005 |
| Date Posted: | 10.26.2005 14:13 |
| Story ID: | 3488 |
| Location: | BAGRAM AIR FIELD, AF |
| Web Views: | 271 |
| Downloads: | 148 |
This work, Assemblying Containers of Hope, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
No keywords found.
