JOINT BASE LANGLEY- EUSTIS, Va.– –
Editor’s Note: This article is part of series
highlighting Joint Base Langley-Eustis members’ contribution to humanitarian
relief efforts from JBLE.
Normally, while serving as Joint Base
Langley-Eustis command and control specialists, U.S. Air Force Airmen in the JBLE
Command Post focus on the varied missions of JBLE and its tenant wings. However, on Sept. 28, 2017, one critical
mission called on these Airmen to support a global response mission.
Overnight the JBLE Command Post became a
command and control focal point for Puerto Rico hurricane relief efforts,
coordinating with Air Mobility Command, U.S Transportation Command and the
Tanker Airlift Control Center, becoming a fully operational air mobility
asset.
“I am proud of our young Airmen for stepping up
to the plate (and) having the drive, knowing they are directly impacting a
global humanitarian relief effort and saving human beings’ lives,” said Kevin
Castro, 633rd Air Base Wing Command Post chief.
The command and
control team is supporting and coordinating efforts for the Global Response
Medical Force from Langley Air Force Base, and Fort Eustis’ 597th Rapid Port
Opening Element and 119th Inland Cargo Transfer Company. So far, they’ve supported a total of
23 missions, which included more than 500 tons of cargo and over 123 personnel.
“With the significance of this mission and
knowing we could support it, our Airmen very quickly trained and became the
command and control focal point in support of the hurricane relief operations, changing
gears and becoming AMC controllers seamlessly,”
said Master Sgt. Jennifer Riter, 633rd ABW Command Post command and control
non-commissioned officer in charge . “In that first shift, after notification,
myself and another Airman had to create continuity consisting of checklists for
each shift, contact lists for all the airfield agencies, daily flying
schedules, and quick reference guides (while) creating everything in the mindset
of an Air Mobility Command controller.”
According to Master Sgt.
Stephanie Schwartz, 633rd ABW Command Post superintendent, the
checklists were valuable to making the mission a success.
“The next morning after Master Sgt. Riter and Airman
Stephen Grana created all the continuity, we were able to step in with no
problems at 50 percent manning,” said Schwartz. “Imagine what our team could accomplish
if we were fully manned, being the command and control node for JBLE, making sure that we are here for every
unit in the local area and help out at any time through the process of rapid
deployments.”
The 633rd ABW Command
Post is always up to the challenge, ensuring JBLE’s joint mission partners are
always prepared to support any contingencies that may come their way.