'Operation Unified Response' support flows non-stop

As of Jan. 26, NAS Jacksonville personnel have filled 22 C-130s, 11 C-40s, seven 747s and one C-17 with 2.3 million pounds of water, food, medical supplies, tents and radios headed to the Caribbean island that was devastated by a massive earthquake Jan. 12.

"Since we began, supporting Operation Unified Response, we've unloaded approximately 60 semi trucks filled with water, humanitarian daily rations, tents and medical supplies and have spend days preparing them for transport and loading them onto cargo planes headed to NS Guantanamo Bay, Cuba and then on to Haiti," said Airfield Facilities Manager Doug Chaney. "We are also supporting personnel transports to Cuba, USS Carl Vinson and Haiti. VRC-30 has been in and out of here continuously to support the Vinson. And now, USS Harry S. Truman is off the coast conducting workups so we are supporting the aircraft for their training. That plus all the C-130s coming in from National Guard units all over the country, the C-17s and 747s, we are extremely busy."

AOAN Janette Jackson (left) of VP-26, AM3 Michael Thierry and AMAN Jason Dailey both of the Center for Naval Aviation Technical Training Unit Jax volunteer to help strap down pallets of supplies and get them ready to be sent to NS Guantanamo Bay, Cuba in support of the Haitian relief effort.

"We are working extremely close with the airfield manager at Guantanamo Bay so we don't inundate them with aircraft. We have become their holding ramp until we're cleared to send the cargo planes south. We are also trying to stay ahead of the game by having pallets ready to go when the aircraft arrive here so they leave with full loads. This has been a huge challenge with cargo issues and coordinating all the flights," Chaney continued.

"But, the NAS Jax team has stepped up to help with this mission. They've pulled together and are helping in any way they can. We have no idea how long this will last, but we'll do what we need to in support of the relief efforts," added Chaney. "We've been working hand-in-hand with Defense Distribution Depot Jax personnel who have been awesome. They've provided me with forklifts, drivers, pallets, strapping, anything I need to get the job done - all I have to do is make a call."

Chaney was also quick to mention the military members helping with the mission. "Sailors from various departments and tenant commands have been extremely busy building pallets and helping in any way they can. It's taking a toll, but this is when we are at our best," he said.

MAC Tony Guyette of NAS Jax Security Department helps stage pallets of water that will be sent to NS Guantanamo Bay in support of Operation Unified Response Jan. 22

As NAS Jax Sailors and civilians work diligently to get the job done to get supplies to those in need, most are happy to help out in any way they can.

NAS Jax Air Operations Department Airfield Facilities Division Cargo Handler Sam Brown has been working long hours unloading trucks and loading numerous aircraf in support of the relief efforts.

He said, "We have a good supervisor here and don't have too much stress."

"We know what needs to be done and we do it no matter how long it takes or how many trucks come in to be unloaded. However, I wish I was in Haiti.," added Brown.

LSC(AW/SW) Reuben Amarh of the U.S. Fourth Fleet has been working at NAS Jax since Jan. 15 helping coordinate the loading of the cargo planes. "We just keep loading these aircraft with materials until the mission is accomplished. The people here have really been great palletizing the items, moving the pallets and loading the aircraft. Everything has been running pretty smoothly," he said.

Also working to keep the aircraft continually coming and going in a safe, efficient manner is the team of air traffic controllers assigned to Air Operations.

"NAS Jax Air Traffic Control Division has had to step up manning levels to handle the increase of air traffic operations in support of Haiti relief efforts. The airfield is supporting these efforts 24 hours a day, seven days a week," said Lt. Michael Fahnestock of Air Ops.

"What is challenging is that the controllers are working with an increase of larger aircraft such as B-747s, C-130s and C-40s which require more landing/departing separation between aircraft due to wake turbulence criteria. These additional operations are taking place along with our normal operations however, with the experience staff on duty, there have been minimal delays," he added.

So until the mission is complete, NAS Jacksonville personnel will continue to work together to support the Navy's participation in Operation Unified Response in support of the Haitian relief efforts.