Dover reserve crew delivers communications team, equipment to Haiti

  • Published
  • By 2nd Lt Adam Gregory
  • 436th Airlift Wing Public Affairs
DOVER AIR FORCE BASE, Del. --  Airmen from Dover's 326th Airlift Squadron delivered the Joint Communications Support Element to Port-au-Prince, Haiti aboard a C-17 during the early morning hours Jan. 16.

On the way to Haiti, the aircrew stopped at MacDill Air Force Base, Fla. to load up the JCSE personnel and equipment.

"We were prepared to do what we needed for this mission and there are more crews back at Dover on standby ready to be called upon," said Capt. Jim F. McCann, the C-17 aircraft commander.

"I have been watching to see if and when we would be called and I knew that this might be our mission when I saw it in the system," said Captain McCann. "We train to do this and jump at the chance to help the people of Haiti any way we can."

The JCSE deploys ahead to provide early entry communication support for the Regional Combatant Commands, Special Operations Command, and other agencies back in the U.S. They are set up within 72 hours to provide communication for the full spectrum of operations.

"In this situation, we will provide communication for both military and non-governmental organizations," said Navy Senior Chief Petty Officer Ralph Johnson, JCSE team lead. "This will give us the hand shake and reach-back capability to the U.S."

To meet the expansive mission requirements, JCSE maintains a professional force that is prepared to deploy at a moment's notice, said Senior Chief Johnson.

Both active duty and reserve component forces comprise the JCSE - these include active duty squadrons, two Air-National Guard Squadrons, and one Army Reserve Squadron -- exhibiting the model of total force.

The 618th Tanker Airlift Control Center at Scott Air Force Base, Ill. provides command and control and coordination of the airlift effort. They coordinate an average 900 airlifts and air refueling missions each day, and can seamlessly redirect aircraft to support requirements for contingency or humanitarian relief operations.

During Pakistan earthquake relief operations in 2005, the 621st Contingency Response Wing supported 273 U.S. missions, and provided 15,294,000 pounds of relief supplies, including more than 93,000 sleeping bags and 292,000 blankets. They also loaded 587 trucks and processed 4,481 pallets.

The 326th Airlift Squadron has delivered humanitarian aid in the past. In Jan. 2009, they delivered 18,000 pounds of humanitarian cargo to a Nicaraguan University through the Denton program. The reserve and guard are able to conduct many humanitarian missions because they are able to use their training missions to deliver the much needed aid.