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LANSING, Mich. - Airmen from the 217th Air Mobility Operations Squadron, Michigan National Guard based in Battle Creek, returned Nov. 13 and Nov. 18, after supporting Operation United Assistance for nearly eight weeks in Vicenza, Italy and Dakar, Senegal.
While there, the Airmen provided a critical link between the U.S. Air Force and the U.S. Army. Their efforts helped ensure the timely transportation of vital medical equipment and supplies to relieve suffering and restore hope to African countries affected by the outbreak of Ebola.
“These guardsmen brought U.S. air-power expertise forward, facilitating the coordination of air mobility operations and airlift assets to successfully move over 2,570 passengers and 6,165 short-tons of cargo in 321 missions,” said Maj. Gen. Christopher Bence, deputy Joint Force Air Component commander. “Their contributions serve as an example of how the total force not only flies, fights and wins, but also how the unique capabilities of the U.S. Air Force delivers compassion throughout the world.”
Operation United Assistance is the overall U.S. government foreign humanitarian assistance/disaster relief effort to contain the spread of the Ebola virus. The effort supports Liberia, Sierra Leone and Guinea. The Airmen were stationed in Italy to provide support for the operation; however, they also traveled to Dakar, Senegal where they served as liaison officers between multiple organizations, including the Senegalese air force.
The Department of Defense has imposed many isolation and self-monitoring efforts in an attempt to take every precaution necessary to protect our service members and their families. Senegal is an area that has remained unaffected by the Ebola virus and these Airmen did not need the quarantine period.
Today, more than 270 Michigan National Guard Soldiers and Airmen are deployed across the globe in support of the global war on terrorism; however, as the Michigan Guard Serves the nation abroad, more than 90 percent of the force is available, trained and ready to respond to a state emergency, including a terrorist event.
| Date Taken: | 11.21.2014 |
| Date Posted: | 11.21.2014 12:11 |
| Story ID: | 148477 |
| Location: | LANSING, MI, US |
| Hometown: | BATTLE CREEK, MI, US |
| Hometown: | SWARTZ CREEK, MI, US |
| Web Views: | 44 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
This work, Michigan National Guard Airmen support Operation United Assistance, by MAJ Corissa Barton, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
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