Maintenance window scheduled to begin at February 14th 2200 est. until 0400 est. February 15th

(e.g. yourname@email.com)

Forgot Password?

    Defense Visual Information Distribution Service Logo

    Army and Air Guardsmen work together on hurricane supply logistics

    Army and Air Guardsmen work together on hurricane supply logistics

    Photo By Sgt. 1st Class Carmen Fleischmann | Air Force Staff Sgt. William Bowman, with the Florida National Guard’s 125th Fighter...... read more read more

    JACKSONVILLE, FL, UNITED STATES

    04.13.2018

    Story by Staff Sgt. Carmen Fleischmann 

    Florida National Guard Public Affairs Office

    Air Force Master Sgt. Abea Balala, with the 125th Fighter Wing’s Traffic Management Flight Office and Air Transportation, was responsible for getting much need supplies from the field up in the air and out to high impact areas during Hurricane Irma.

    His team of four from the 125th FW received shipments of food, water and other supplies from various Army units across the state and prepared them for distribution to citizens in need.

    It was during this last state activation that Balala realized that his team and the Florida National Guard as a whole could save precious time if the cargo they received from the units were already properly prepared for airlift when they received it at Cecil Field in Jacksonville.

    “I stressed after Hurricane Irma that we have to get our counterparts trained as well, because we’re going to need them,” said Balala. “We knew that it was not enough to take on the mission with just the four of us.”

    The lessoned learned during Irma’s response efforts also brought to light the need for joint training and greater attention to detail with regards to cargo preparation. With this end in mind, Balala offered a week-long pallet buildup and cargo preparation course at Cecil Field that culminated with an in-depth, hands-on portion on Friday where the team prepared a pallet of water, as well as a Humvee and trailer for airlift.

    Multiple units within the Florida Army National Guard participated in this training, including Joint Force Headquarters; the 1st Battalion, 111th Aviation Regiment; and 3rd Battalion, 20th Forward Support Company.

    Army Capt. Daniel Munzner, with Joint Force Headquarters’ G4, is part of the Logistical Section assigned to the Joint Operations Center, which makes him responsible for planning and tracking the overall distribution of food, water and other supplies during disasters. When roads are flooded or ground transportation isn’t feasible, this equipment is often air loaded. The training this week gave Munzner first-hand knowledge of the loading requirements that the units he tasks with supply distribution will need to accomplish, whether in his current position or in another logistical position. He also appreciated both the Army and Air components joint learning environment, since they’ll respond together during disasters as well.

    “On the Joint Operations side, we’ve been working with the Air side a lot more over the last two years than we ever had,” said Munzner. “They’re actually part of what is called the ‘Joint Support Group’ … and we work together to coordinate everything throughout hurricane seasons.”

    For the upcoming hurricane season, Company D from the 1/111th AVN has been designated to assist the team from the 125th in preparing pallets of food, water and other supplies for airlift and distribution all of over the state. This assignment makes it even more important for both the Army and Air components of this very important mission to get on the same page.

    The other units that received the training this week will take the knowledge back to their units, then prepare their cargo for transport to the hangars when a state activation is called. Having the cargo already properly prepped for airlift saves critical time and during a disaster, when every second counts.

    This training can only benefit Florida’s citizens should the approaching hurricane season be as active as 2017, according to Capt. Munzner.

    “It means better response, it means better use of our resources,” said Munzner. ‘It means if we pack things right and move things right, supplies are going to get to them faster, cheaper, and ultimately may save lives.”

    LEAVE A COMMENT

    NEWS INFO

    Date Taken: 04.13.2018
    Date Posted: 04.16.2018 09:51
    Story ID: 273166
    Location: JACKSONVILLE, FL, US
    Hometown: ST. AUGUSTINE, FL, US

    Web Views: 159
    Downloads: 0

    PUBLIC DOMAIN