C-21s provide quick transit to individuals throughout AOR

Photo By Senior Airman Kasey Zickmund | Capt. Gina Stramaglio, 379th Expeditionary Operations Group C-21 pilot, conducts a pre-flight inspection at a non-disclosed Southwest Asia location May 28.  

(UNDISCLOSED LOCATION)

06.05.2010

Story by Staff Sgt. Kelly White 

379th Air Expeditionary Wing

SOUTHWEST ASIA - Troop and cargo movement through the CENTCOM area of responsibility is vital and nonstop in today's fight – C-17 Globemaster IIIs and C-130 Hercules are constantly transporting people and things in massive number. But when the need arises to rapidly move "one-sies and two-sies," it's not the big birds that best fit the task. At this non-disclosed Southwest Asia location, this is the niche of the C-21 fleet.

"Our day-to-day mission is primarily (distinguished visitor) transport throughout the Persian Gulf," said Capt. Robert Ovares, 379th Expeditionary Operations Group C-21 pilot. "As operational support, we also transport – on a limited basis – items and other personnel."

Ovares is one of about a dozen members of the C-21 squadron here serving, primarily, military customers. Flying about 10 missions a week, their aircraft are used for transportation missions all over the Gulf region in support of Operations Iraqi and Enduring Freedom, moving people and cargo such as blood shipments, registered mail, aircraft parts and intelligence products going stateside for analysis.

"Occasionally, we'll take congressmen or senators, if they're traveling through the AOR," he said, "and, on a limited basis, we do get some foreign dignitaries – usually high-ranking foreign military officials."

But the elite aren't the only ones the C-21 squadron looks out for. The aircraft, which can carry eight passengers and 42 cubic feet of cargo, is also able to accommodate one litter patient or five ambulatory patients for aeromedical evacuation.

"People are surprised because they think the C-21 is only for generals and high-ranking individuals, but that's not the case," he added. "If we're available, we help out however we can – sergeants, captains, whoever – we can take them where they need to go.

And, while I haven't personally flown any aeromedical evecuations, if the need were to arise we're configured to do that, too."

Aeromedical and cargo movement are primary missions for C-130s and C-17s, both of which have a secondary mission for DV transport.

"Because our mission is primarily DV transport and we can't do the missions larger aircraft are also tasked with, we're 'it' a lot of times as far as DV transport," he explained. "What makes the C-21 so vital is that our function allows those other airframes to be used for their primary purposes. If we weren't there, the DVs would have to take a C-130 or C-17 that could be used to move cargo, bullets, bombs, fuel – whatever the case may be – and they'd have to use that aircraft to transport a DV instead of moving vital supplies. We take a burden off of them, and we get people where they need to be in a rapid time."

There's another way the C-21 pilots strive to ease the burden of their fellow warfighters.

"We take a lot of people on emergency leave," Captain Ovares said. "We always call here before we leave to see if they have any takers for wherever we're going.

"A lot of times when we land somewhere, we'll have empty legs on the way back to home station," he added. "We make it a point to go into the (passenger) terminals and see if someone needs a lift. They're pretty flexible with allowing us to do that, and as pilots, we try to offer as much support as we can to everyone out here."

The amount of support each of the C-21 pilots here provide adds up quickly.

"We're a small squadron, basically three crews, about half-dozen maintainers and our leadership," Captain Ovares said. "A lot of our pilots are young guys, too – some of them straight out of pilot training.

"Flying in the U.S., everything is cut and dry. If you have a problem and need to stop somewhere, you can just drop in at any airport – from one state to another," he explained. "But here, if you have a problem, you're going to have to go back to where you started from because you don't have a lot of other options, in terms of being able to land and get help. That makes you rethink how you play the game."

"Because of the unique environment here, the C-21s are known for its young guys being aircraft commanders in a quick amount of time compared to some of the other major weapons systems out there," he said. "I get to watch these guys mature at such a rapid pace. It's neat to be involved with, and you see that kind of development here quite a bit."

• Date Taken: 06.05.2010
• Date Posted: 06.05.2010 06:07
• Story ID: 50908
• Location: (UNDISCLOSED LOCATION)