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Air National Guard units execute GWOT with a rainbow plan

  • Published
  • By Capt. Audra Flanagan
  • 455th Expeditionary Maintenance Group
BAGRAM AIRFIELD, Afghanistan --  Members of the Illinois and Minnesota Air National Guard have partnered together to form the 455th Expeditionary Aircraft Maintenance Squadron's C-130 Aircraft Maintenance Unit. This type of partnership is called "rainbowing," a concept often used by C-130 units.

"The rainbow concept puts like airplanes and like units together" said Maj. Robin Skaar, 455th EAMXS/AMU officer in charge. "Heavy aircraft are deploying constantly; there is a great need for airlift, and rainbowing cuts some of the stress from people by decreasing the frequency of deployments."

Since their arrival, members of the C-130 AMU have produced impeccable results. "In addition to maintaining a sustained mission capability rate of over 95 percent, the C-130s continue to get food, water and equipment to the people who need it the most," said Maj. Todd Bean, 455th EAMXS commander, referring to troops on the ground at forward operating bases throughout Afghanistan.

Master Sgt. Thomas Heckman, a crew chief, is not surprised by the cohesiveness of the AMU. "Both units are so experienced in working in these types of conditions," he said.

"This has been very smooth compared to past deployments."
Master Sgt. Patrick Hyde, a supervisor in the sheet metal shop, is an example of the unit's experience level. He has previously deployed to Oman, Qatar, Uzbekistan, and Kuwait. Since arriving at Bagram, he has worked in a variety of positions, including structural repair, setting up the AMU's consolidated tool kit, and assisting in the electronic countermeasures shop.

All members of the C-130 AMU are volunteers who have chosen to temporarily leave their civilian employment and families to support the Global War on Terror. Airman 1st Class Michael Hauck, an electrical environmentalist and full-time student at Lakeland College in Mattoon, Ill., took the semester off to deploy. "Since I arrived at Bagram people have been helpful," he said. "My supervisor, Master Sgt. Tony Pacheco, has taught me a lot."

The C-130 Hercules can perform a variety of missions, including assault landings on dirty or unimproved runways and airdrops. It is often the platform of choice for tactical airlift in hostile or austere environments. Over the past 30 days, the Illinois and Minnesota Air National Guard have flown 590 sorties for 456 hours to deliver 1,923 tons of cargo and 5,526 passengers, including 36 distinguished visitors, in support of Operation Enduring Freedom.

While National Guard members from Illinois and Minnesota will soon return home, they will come back to Bagram to relieve the North Carolina Air National Guard in April, when they will work together again "to execute the mission and get everyone back safely," said Major Bean.