Photo By Staff Sgt. Tryphena Mayhugh | Service members oversee the loading of pallets on to a C-130J prior an airdrop, part...... read more read more
PRISTINA, Kosovo – After receiving the final “go,” crew members from the 37th Airlift Squadron released four pallets of food out that back of the aircraft over a drop zone in Kosovo on May 27.
The airdrop was the first phase of an airborne operation hosted by the 4th Infantry Brigade Combat Team (Airborne), 25th Infantry Division. The training focused on humanitarian assistance, but preparation for the drop started in a warehouse at Rhine Ordnance Barracks in Kaiserslautern, Germany, home to the 5th Quartermaster Theater Aerial Delivery Company.
The pallets were built, rigged and inspected by Soldiers from the 5th Quartermaster, a logistics and distribution focused unit from the 16th Sustainment Brigade, unique in U.S. Army Europe.
“5th Quartermaster provides rapid aerial delivery for units within U.S. Army Europe, enabling resupply when and where it is needed,” said Staff Sgt. Noel Phelps, a parachute rigger with 5th Quartermaster. “Aerial delivery is critical because we can get to those hard to reach places faster than trucks or rail."
For 5th Quartermaster and the 16th Sustainment Brigade as a whole, training with the U.S. Air Force’s 37th Airlift Squadron is essential to maintaining readiness. Participation in training exercises together refines the response procedures in the event of a real-life situation requiring aid or relief.
Once the pallets passed the first set of inspections, they were transported to Ramstein Air Base for another round of checks and eventually loaded on to 37th Airlift Squadron’s aircraft bound for Kosovo. Once loaded, the team of soldiers and airmen worked to hook up the parachutes attached to the pallets so they would open once they left the aircraft.
About three hours after takeoff, the back door of the aircraft lowered and the crew relied on hand signals and headsets to communicate each of the steps leading up to dropping the pallet. With the final thumbs-up, the last line was cut and four pallets descended down over the drop zone.
Airman 1st Class Sarah Meadows, the loadmaster on board 37th Airlift’s C-130J said, “Overall, today’s mission was a success because we got to train with the Army for contingency operations and humanitarian assistance. It is important to train so we can execute quickly if a situation happens.”
| Date Taken: | 05.27.2015 |
| Date Posted: | 06.02.2015 09:46 |
| Story ID: | 165171 |
| Location: | PRISTINA, ZZ |
| Web Views: | 44 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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