An official website of the United States government
A .mil website belongs to an official U.S. Department of Defense organization in the United States.
A lock (lock ) or https:// means you’ve safely connected to the .mil website. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites.

Navy customs team prepares helicopter fleet for drawdown

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Allison M. Boehm
  • 332nd Air Expeditionary Wing Public Affairs
JOINT BASE BALAD, Iraq --  As part of the Responsible Drawdown, an airframe unit from Fort Hood, Texas, is preparing to redeploy. With that, 28 of their assigned helicopters -- which includes Apaches, Blackhawks and Chinooks -- must go through a rigorous inspection before returning home.

The job of JBB's Navy Customs team is to scrutinize every compartment of each airframe to ensure each helicopter is free of any agriculture or contraband and get them home quickly.

"We are inspecting every part of these aircraft," said Petty Officer 2nd Class Brandon Borden, customs border clearance inspector. "Everything from the rotor wings to the cockpit to the compartments. These helicopters have been out here a long time, and sand and dust gets in all of the compartments and that cannot be brought back to the states."

Along with the sand and dust, team members search for insects, plants, ammo, casings and other items that could pose as harmful material, including maps that could show movement routes.

"It is important we ensure all contraband is removed before redeployment," said Petty Officer 3rd Class Levi Haugewood, customs inspector. "If something was leaked or fell into the wrong hands it could endanger the mission here."

The 12-man team worked from early morning until dark April 15, 2010, inspecting the fleet of airframes.

Throughout the drawdown Navy customs will continue to inspect every piece of cargo, personal gear, aircraft and vehicles that redeploy to the U.S. to make sure nothing indigenous of Iraq is taken back to the states.