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Airdrops mitigate risk of convoy ops

  • Published
  • By Tech. Sgt. Stacia Zachary
  • AFCENT Combat Camera Team Correspondent
BAGRAM AIR BASE, Afghanistan --  Often called the workhorse of the heavies, the C-130H and J models are quickly gaining notoriety for their ability to lessen convoys transiting throughout Afghanistan on resupply missions.

With a limited roadway infrastructure in place, Afghanistan heavily relies on airlift to get personnel and supplies in to austere locations.

"Everything that is getting out to these small, little outposts in (Afghanistan) is getting there from (C-)130s," said Capt. Andrew Thomas, 774th Expeditionary Airlift Squadron C-130 Hercules pilot. "All their sundries and beans and bullets - we're bringing it in. There's really no other way for them to get it in a lot these places."

To make sure the servicemembers at remote forward operating bases and combat outposts are adequately supplied to ensure mission success, the 772nd and 774th Expeditionary Airlift Squadrons are continuously packing, loading and delivering essentials to the war fighter on the ground.

"We're flying round-the-clock missions, mostly air-land and to and from lots of little austere Army air fields throughout the country," the captain said. "We're also doing air drops here (at a rate) of about one to two drops per day."

Mitigating risks are an essential aspect of keeping servicemembers safe in a war where the enemy is using guerilla warfare. This type of warfare is unpredictable and tactics need to change to accordingly lessen impending threats.

Due to the enemy's tendency to target convoys, airlift helps "keep the Army off the road and out of harm's way," said Lt. Col. Robert Mayhew, 774th EAS C-130 pilot and aircraft commander.

Due to the threat of improvised explosive devices, airlift is used for its capability to ensure the safety of the ground fighter.

"Airdrop is so important because it gets the supplies out to the troops without having to drive them out by truck where they can be blown up by an IED," said Tech. Sgt. Brian Digsby, 772nd EAS loadmaster.

"Every pallet we move means one less truck that needs to be on the road and one less IED that might harm our guys out there," the colonel said. "That makes it a very rewarding and fulfilling mission to move the cargo through the theater."