AMC assists initial U.S. earthquake response
Members of 621st Contingency Response Group-Element here deployed to support humanitarian airlift operations into the affected area, according to Capt. Christopher Simmons, CRG element operations officer.
Two C-17 Globemaster II aircraft departed McGuire Oct. 10 en route to Pakistan.
The first C-17 aircraft, loaded with 23 CRW personnel and approximately 100,000 pounds of air operations equipment, stopped briefly at Ramstein AB, Germany, before continuing to Pakistan. Equipment included vehicles, cargo loaders, a forklift, communication equipment and generators.
The remaining CRW personnel departed McGuire on another C-17 later the same day. They will supplement the initial crew and will provide an estimated 100,000 pounds of additional equipment needed to establish air operations in that country.
Setting up air operations is the first step in getting more relief supplies into the area, said officials here.
The CRW extends the U.S. military's ability to deploy people and equipment around the globe in support of contingency and humanitarian operations. The unit includes a variety of specialties, such as aerial port, maintenance, communications, and command and control. The 621st CRW is one of two specialized wings in the Air Force responsible for training and rapidly deploying personnel to quickly open airfields in remote locations. A second unit, the 615th CRW, is located at Travis AFB, Calif.
"As part of the 621st CRW, we're more than happy to help however we can," Captain Simmons said of the 621st's deployment.
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