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Airmen airdrop 80,000 lbs. of food, supplies in Afghanistan

  • Published
  • By Staff Sgt. Shawn J. Jones
  • U.S. Central Command Air Forces Public Affairs
AFGHANISTAN --  Nearly 80,000 pounds of food and water parachuted through Afghan skies Monday morning as part of humanitarian efforts in the region.

The supplies were pushed out the backdoor of a C-17 Globemaster III flown by the 816th Expeditionary Airlift Squadron. As planned, the cargo landed at the feet of forward-deployed troops operating in Afghanistan's mountainous, snow-covered terrain.

These humanitarian relief operations are only achieved through cooperation between the Air Force and Army to integrate and synchronize their capabilities to execute Operation Enduring Freedom's mission and win the Global War on Terror. Soldiers on the ground will share much of the food and water with Afghan people in the area as part of U.S.-led efforts to stabilize the country and bring democracy to the region.

"I think the best way we can do that - and show them what America is about - is to support them and give them the supplies they need," said 1st Lt. Joe Purcell, 816th EAS pilot. "We're not here to occupy their country. We're here to help them rebuild."

In order to stabilize and reconstruct the country's infrastructure, supplies are needed in regions with hazardous terrain and at remote locations deep in the mountains.

"The dropping of supplies to our forward-deployed troops and the men and women they support at these operating areas is just one of the many ways airlift is reducing exposure to enemy threats and keeping drivers off dangerous roads," said Lt. Col. Scott DeThomas, 816th EAS commander. "It's just another example of the full-spectrum capability of the C-17. Anything, Anywhere, Anytime."

The C-17, the Air Force's newest cargo aircraft, played a vital role in the mission, though performing airdrops is just one of it many capabilities. The Globemaster III also performs tactical airlift and transports litters and ambulatory patients during aeromedical evacuations.

Mission leaders said the airdrop wouldn't have been a success if it wasn't for the Airmen who packed, loaded and unloaded the humanitarian cargo.

"They made it look easy," said Lieutenant Purcell. "Though it's definitely not easy."