Five African nations represented in International Airdrop Symposium exchange

Published July 21, 2011
By Master Sgt. Scott T. Sturkol
Air Mobility Rodeo 2011 Public Affairs

JOINT BASE LEWIS-MCCHORD, Wash. -- Lt. Col. Pine Pineaar from the South Africa air force described the information he's receiving in the 2011 International Airdrop Symposium here as "a lot to take in." But he added he's "learning a lot."

During the three-day symposium, 26 nations are taking part. Of those, five nations from Africa are represented -- Ethiopia, Botswana, Nigeria, Algeria and South Africa. All of the nations look to benefit in the information exchange provided by the symposium.

"For the attendees from Africa, they are looking to build or improve upon an airdrop capability for their air forces," said Lt. Col. David Mackenzie, deputy director for U.S. Air Forces Africa's Plans and Requirements Directorate at Ramstein Air Base, Germany. "By attending this symposium, these five countries gain insight to procedures and methods of airdrop."

Mackenzie said that two of the five African nations have some airdrop capability but mostly in using paratroopers. However, with the U.S. military's active and growing ability to do airdrops in places like Afghanistan, the knowledge gained can help countries like these five African nations build a "better airdrop capability."

As of June 30, 2011, mobility Airmen using the Joint Precision Aerial Delivery System, Low-Cost, Low-Altitude airdrops, and traditional airdrop systems have airdropped more than 39.5 million pounds of cargo to troops in Afghanistan for Operation Enduring Freedom.

"Here is where we are looking to transfer what we've learned (in Afghanistan) and help build this capability for these African nations," Mackenzie said.

Maj. Patrick Linson, symposium chairperson from the Advanced Airlift Tactics Training Center, or AATTC, of St. Joseph, Mo., said the symposium is doing exactly what it was planned to do. "Sharing these techniques is naturally beneficial to all involved," he said.

"In the spirit of cooperation, this effort will help with airdrop improvements for years to come," Linson said.

Attendees have seen briefings about airdrops from the U.S., Colombian, Japanese, Canadian or Australian airmen. They've also had first-hand observation of an LCLA airdrop in both the C-130 Hercules and C-17 Globemaster III, and they've seen how the inner workings of a container delivery system bundle is built for airdrops.

Whether it's been for contingency or humanitarian operations, attendees have noted the importance of airdrops. Pienaar of the South Africa air force said there is an especially "high value" for airdrops for humanitarian purposes.

"The value of airdrops in humanitarian missions cannot be underestimated," Pienaar said. "Although the cost (of airdrops) may be high, the value of human life is higher."

Mackenzie said symposiums like this will continue to improve airdrops around the world to include Africa.

"As we do more and more, the benefit will come when countries like these African nations can do more to help their own people," Mackenzie said.

The final day of the symposium was July 21.