Dover reservists return home after Haiti relief effort

  • Published
  • By Staff Sgt. Steve Lewis
  • 512th AW Public Affairs
DOVER AIR FORCE BASE, Del. --  Airmen from the 512th Airlift Control Flight and the 46th Aerial Port Squadron recently returned to Dover AFB after contributing to humanitarian relief efforts for Haiti.

The twenty-person team spent more than a month at Homestead Air Reserve Base, Fla., where they conducted airfield operations and managed the transport of troops, relief supplies and other equipment being flown into Haiti's capitol, Port Au Prince.

Although the team worked closely with other Air Force command and control units in the Dominican Republic and Port Au Prince, Master Sgt. Henry Fortney, 512th ALCF, said their efforts were truly a multi-service and multi-national effort.

"Our main goal was to bring everyone under the same umbrella and on the same sheet of music, so we could get cargo to where it needed to be," said Sergeant Fortney.

He said the team processed cargo and personnel from other military branches, government organizations and even worked alongside personnel from Japan and Russia. When it came to moving cargo, the 512th ALCF also had to rely on members of the 46th APS, who were responsible for loading equipment onto aircraft and documenting hazardous material prior to airlift.

"(Homestead ARB) didn't have a function available for us to do hazardous materials preparation, so we took on that responsibility and made sure everything was prepared and documented; so, the aircrews knew what they were carrying," said Tech Sgt. Jamie O'Brien, 46th APS.

To ensure the cargo and supplies quickly made its way to Port Au Prince, the Dover team also had to coordinate closely with their command and control counterparts in the Dominican Republic and Haiti.

Overseeing the airfield operations at Homestead ARB was Lt. Col. Mark Visco, 512th ALCF commander, who deployed with the team. He said Dover worked seamlessly with the other airlift control units.

"The total force concept totally came into play here with the Reserve, Guard and regular Air Force working together in the same operation," said Colonel Visco. "Everyone was doing the same difficult job, and they did it well."

As the Airmen of the 512th ALCF and the 46th APS now prepare for future airfield operations-related missions, they now share the collective experience of contributing directly to the Haiti relief efforts and helping other countries in need.