512th ALCF departs for Haiti support

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  • By 512th Airlift Wing Public Affairs
DOVER AIR FORCE BASE, Del. --  Members from a 512th Airlift Wing unit departed today in support of the humanitarian relief effort for Haiti.

Twenty-five members of the 512th Airlift Control Flight flew out on a Westover Air Reserve Base C-5, which was diverted here from a training mission to transport the Air Force Reserve crew to Homestead Air Reserve Base, Fla.

Since news of the disaster broke, Homestead ARB has been a staging area for troops, equipment and supplies that are being flown into the airport at Port Au Prince, capital of the island nation.

"Homestead is a base without the normal capacity to handle this type of operation, so several members from the 512th ALCF are going there to help by assisting with airfield operations," said Lt. Col. James Dignan, 512th Operations Group deputy commander.

As part of Air Force Reserve Command, Airlift Control Flights provide a nucleus of experienced airlift personnel to manage, coordinate and control air mobility assets. The ALCF is a vital part of the Air Mobility Command's global command and control structure. They provide a capability for operating at locations where there is limited support and are able to sustain operations under bare-base conditions. They are the front line of command and control, carrying out the commander's orders and back-channeling data to keep the mission flowing.

The 512th ALCF deployed with a sophisticated communications package called the Mobility Air Reporting and Communications system. The MARC is an environmentally controlled mobile shelter containing a full spectrum of communications equipment.

"Basically, the MARC is a mobile command post," said Master Sgt. Sean Pyne, 512th ALFC loadmaster who is one of the Airmen deploying to Florida.

Homestead ARB is home to F-16 fighters and doesn't have the command and control infrastructure needed for heavy airlift, said Sergeant Pyne. The 512th ALCF members will assist with the coordination of transferring cargo from larger aircraft to the smaller aircraft flying the supplies into Port Au Prince.

"It's great to be able to use our training in getting supplies to the people of Haiti to save lives and alleviate human suffering," he said.