Army presents 'Iron Mike' to AMC for Haiti airlift support

Published Feb. 9, 2010
By Laura McAndrews
Air Mobility Command Public Affairs

SCOTT AIR FORCE BASE, Ill. -- Ever since a devastating 7.0-magnitude earthquake stuck Haiti Jan. 12 Air Mobility Command has been working hand in hand with the U.S. Army to bring much needed relief to the country.

Lt. Gen. Frank Helmick, commander of the 18th Airborne Corps, recently presented an "Iron Mike" statuette to Gen. Raymond Johns, AMC commander, for the support AMC provided in transporting the 82nd Airborne Division into Haiti to provide relief.

"AMC's effort to deploy the Global Response Force [2nd Brigade Combat Team, 82nd Airborne Division] and the XVIII Airborne Corps Command Post was incredible," said General Helmick. "The Airmen, pilots, and flight crews were phenomenal, flexible, professional and effective."

The original "Iron Mike" statue at Fort Bragg, N.C., is an "Airborne Trooper" and has been an iconic symbol honoring the American fighting men since August 1961. The Fort Bragg trooper stands at just over 16 feet tall.

A part of AMC's efforts in Haiti involved transporting Soldiers and equipment from the Global Response Force, responsible for facilitating security and the distribution of relief supplies in the region.

Providing airlift for the 82nd Airborne deployment took just under seven hours to plan and was executed in only 100 hours, according to AMC officials. A combination of C-17 Globemaster IIIs and C-130 Hercules aircraft were used to fly the missions, operating out of Pope Air Force Base, N.C.

"The effort to deploy the 82nd Airborne forces took 91 C-17/C-130 loads," said Lt. Col. Mike Kirby, deputy director of the 618th Tanker Airlift Control Center's Mobility Management Directorate. "We were able to deliver all those loads in 100 hours because Air Mobility Command had people working 24/7 to plan, task and fly these missions. At the same time our Army counterparts were also working around-the-clock to prepare troops and equipment for our flights."

"It was a huge effort and you all made it happen," General Johns said.

"No other Air Force in the world comes close to their level of expertise and professionalism," said General Helmick. "I was awed by their performance during an extremely fluid contingency operation...many Haitian lives were saved because of their actions."

Haiti relief missions were planned, tasked and managed by the 18th Air Force through its 618th TACC, AMC's hub for global air operations.

Since relief efforts began AMC Airmen have been working around the clock, flying more than 357 AMC aircraft into Haiti and moving more than 5,000 personnel and 8,500 tons of cargo into the country to support Operation Unified Response.

While Haiti operations were in full swing AMC still met 100 percent of its mission requirements in Iraq and Afghanistan.

"Today marks day 27 since support for Haiti relief efforts began; it matches our response to Hurricanes Gustav and Ike, making it the longest relief effort since 9-11," said Maj. Gen. Mark Solo, 618th TACC commander. "It's an honor to receive this."