Team effort sets Airlift standard

Published Oct. 12, 2007
By Capt. Michael Andrews
379th Air Expeditionary Wing Public Affairs

SOUTHWEST ASIA -- Any significant group achievement can normally be attributed to a strong team, persistence, and relentless commitment to a challenging mission or task at hand.

The 816th Expeditionary Airlift Squadron, flying C-17 Globemasters, contributed the lion's share of intra-theater airlift by flying more than 44,945 passengers out of just over 52,000 passengers throughout Iraq, Afghanistan and the Horn of Africa during the month of September. In addition they flew 1,190 sorties, just four sorties short of the squadron record, while delivering more than 36 million pounds of cargo.

"We move everything from passengers, cargo, and wheeled vehicles throughout the area of responsibility on a daily basis," Lt. Col. Joseph Wolfer, 816th EAS commander. In addition, the 816th also regularly flies distinguished visitors including Army General David Petraeus, Multi-National Force - Iraq commander, and heads of state such as Afghanistan President Hamid Karzai.

"I'm so proud of my team and how they performed during the demanding September personnel rotation. They really lived up to our legacy as being the oldest airlift squadron the Air Force," said Colonel Wolfer.

Maj. Gen. Maury Forsyth, Deputy Combined Forces Air Component Commander recently stated that "seeing these September statistics reminds me that every piece of equipment or person moved by air, means less convoys on the roads of Iraq and Afghanistan. Airmen are in the fight at every level and I couldn't be more proud."

While proudly detailing how his young crews hit the ground running after arriving, Colonel Wolfer was quick to mention the team effort needed to support his vital airlift mission.

"As a tenant unit, none of these operations could have been possible without the tremendous amount of support we received from the 379th Air Expeditionary Wing and the 8th Expeditionary Air Mobility Squadron," said Colonel Wolfer.

For example, providing operational, maintenance and fleet service support in scorching temperatures well above 110 degrees, the 8th EAMS gives the members of the 816th the ability to complete their mission.

"The 816th EAS is our biggest customer here," said Lt. Col. Jeff "Flipper" Philippart, 8th EAMS commander. "Our ability to work together brings an unmatched strategic airlift capability to the Global War on Terror."

To put the maintenance and support operations in context, Colonel Philippart said this squadron has roughly the same amount of aircraft of a wing back in the United States.
Colonel Wolfer praised every member of the 8th EAMS and the support they provide to the 816th.

"These quiet professionals clearly went above and beyond the call making sure we had good, clean facilities and flyable jets," Colonel Wolfer said. "Without the 8th Air Terminal Operations Center providing seat pallet support we wouldn't have come close to achieving the numbers we have for September, or any month for that matter," he said.

Colonel Wolfer also thanked the 379th Services Squadron for working tirelessly with the 816th EAS first sergeant to keep squadron personnel in hard billets and out of tents.

"Some people may not realize that billeting can have a huge impact on the mission," said Colonel Wolfer. "Quality crew rest just isn't realistic in a tent at times, so the services squadron really supported our mission."

Colonel Wolfer added that the 379th Logistics Readiness Squadron office provided vital support to the 816th mission. The LRS also played a role in processing every Air Force transient deployer waiting on intra-theater lift to move them to Iraq, Afghanistan or Horn of Africa.

The LRS, specifically the installation deployment officer, coordinates with the Air Mobility Division, Combined Air Operations Center and the in-theater bases to track every deployer ensuring they catch their airlift and reach their deployment location no later than their Required Delivery Date. During September alone, the 379th LRS processed more than 13,000 deployers/redeployers for nearly 200 missions either going up range or going home.

While some may talk about the importance of teamwork, the 816th EAS, 379th AEW and 8th EAMS will continue to help save lives and protect Airmen, joint and coalition forces.

(Staff Sgt. Jason Barebo also contributed to this article.)