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816th EAS sets new standard in AOR airdrops

  • Published
  • By Staff Sgt. Tim Jenkins
  • 379th Air Expeditionary Wing Public Affairs
SOUTHWEST ASIA --  Pilots enter the cockpit conducting preflight checks on fuel levels, instruments, aircraft controls and power as the rest of the crew enters the cavernous rear of the C-17 Globemaster III. Each loadmaster immediately goes to work, almost instinctively knowing what the other is doing as they quickly prepare the empty aircraft into a vessel capable of carrying more than 170,000 pounds worth of much-needed supplies and equipment.

Such work is business as usual for members of the airlift community, but a week-long push by members of the 816th Expeditionary Airlift Squadron here accomplished a mountain-sized feat recently, dropping a monumental number of bundles in one week.

The drops, totaling more than 1,192,000 pounds to 22 different drop zones, included fuel, water, food and additional supplies needed by troops on the ground at forward operating bases across the area of responsibility.

The week's endeavor, deemed Operation Everest, was an effort headed by the 816th EAS to "fully exercise the C-17 theater drop capability," said Lt. Col. Stephen Ritter, 816th EAS commander.

According to Colonel Ritter, the idea for the operation was inspired by airdrop missions during World War II, flying over the hump, and during the Berlin Airlift, where squadrons would push to make big numbers.

"They would really, really push," he said. "They found that their baseline, what they were comfortable doing in the beginning before a big push, increased afterwards. The norm goes up after a big push because you discover efficiencies and new ways of doing things, which we've done through our whole deployment. We've really upped the ante."

The week's missions added up to 837 bundles dropped, setting a record for C-17 drops in one week. The previous record, set by the 816th EAS the week of July 16, totaled 640 bundles. Their total amount dropped that month alone topped the total bundles dropped during 2005 and 2006 combined.

Although Operation Everest tops the record books, according to members of the 816th EAS, the week wasn't about setting records.

"It's not so much a record, but a demonstration for the planners in (U.S. Air Forces Central) to let them know what kind of capability we can bring to the fight by deploying the new efficiencies we've worked on so hard," said Lt. Col. Michael Snodgrass, 816th Expeditionary Airlift Squadron operations officer.

The capabilities demonstrated during Operation Everest are a direct result of those new efficiencies, which include the capability of performing three airdrops in one day using one aircraft and two crews, and making three airdrops in one day with one aircraft and crew. The squadron has also rehashed it's manning, meaning an efficient balance between air-land and airdrop mission, and has improved its capability to change airdrop drop zones on short notice.

"The folks in the mission planning cell have been working on efficiencies trying to figure out how we can do more with less," said Colonel Snodgrass. "We're a smaller squadron than we've had historically, so we're trying to figure out ways that we can continue to put mass on the drop zone with fewer people."

These changes were necessary to ramp up capabilities in an effort to help their main customer -- the troops on the ground.

"They're down there at a forward operating base and may be hundreds of (kilometers) away from a main base, so we're out there getting them mass to the (drop zone), right to them, dropping the supplies so they can get to them while minimizing their exposure to unfriendly forces," said Colonel Snodgrass.

Staff Sgt. Hardia Madden, 816th EAS aircraft loadmaster, said he's always thinking about who the supplies are going to on the ground.

"That's probably the best thing you can do with a C-17or just airdropping," he said. "Knowing that you're getting whatever the guys need at the FOBs that vehicles can't reach. We do a few hours of planning and a few hours of flying, and they've got 40 bundles of what they need - ammo, water, MREs, stuff to sustain them. Everybody needs stuff and we're proud to get it to them."

Staff Sgt. Gary West, 817th Expeditionary Airlift Squadron instructor airdrop loadmaster, said the idea of helping those on the ground motivates him to do the job.

"Keeping the guys on the ground fed, fueled, I mean, that's the whole reason we do this," he said. "So, it feels good."

Colonel Snodgrass added it's also "a great feeling" to know the squadron's efforts are directly affecting the airlift community, putting more bundles on the ground and less aircraft in harm's way.

"The main thing the C-17 is bringing to the fight is mass on the drop zone," he said. "We can drop 40 bundles in one pass. In that one pass we're doing what two-to-three C-130s would take. So by doing it with one C-17, we're minimizing the threat to both the airplanes and the crews."

Although the 816th EAS calls Operation Everest a success, they're hoping the real success will come in future squadrons continuing the work of efficiently putting more equipment and supplies on the ground.

"We're hoping the squadron that follows us at the end of this month, we're going to leave them all of the plans we've come up with, and they're going to take those, and come up with better things," said Colonel Snodgrass. "The goal is to keep doing more with less and to keep giving the warfighter what he needs."

Colonel Ritter emphasized the work of the 816th EAS is the product of contributions from not only the members of his squadron, but also the mission partners, who have given unwavering support.

"I've really enjoyed watching this team work -- setting a goal, setting the bar high and watching them achieve it," said Colonel Ritter. "I'm really proud with how this squadron has interacted with our mission partners here at the 379th (Air Expeditionary Wing), with the Army mission partners and with all our downrange folks all throughout the AOR. They came in from day one to do the job right and to help everyone do great things. It just goes to show the great things you can achieve when you build a cohesive, tight, professional team."