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For AMC, Haiti a total force effort

  • Published
  • By 2nd Lt. Nicholas Mercurio
  • 6th Air Mobility Wing Public Affairs
ORLANDO SANFORD INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT, Fla. --  The Mississippi State University patch on Col. Tod Wall's headphones speaks of more than just collegiate affiliation; it tells the story of today's total force Air Force team.

Colonel Wall, a National Guardsman, is the operations group commander for the 172nd Airlift Wing, Mississippi Air National Guard out of Jackson, Miss.

Onboard a 172nd AW C-17 Globemaster III, Colonel Wall looks on as more than 100 passengers are swiftly off-loaded by Transportation Security Administration personnel and U.S. Customs agents to begin the process of entering the United States. "It's a total effort," he said. "You can see it by the tail flashes on the runways, Guard, Reserve, active duty; everybody wants to do whatever they can to help the people of Haiti."

For the crew, the mission began at Charleston Air Force Base, S.C. where they loaded disaster relief supplies and heavy equipment to transport to Haiti. After off-loading the cargo, the aircraft took on passengers who were a mixture of American citizens and foreign nationals. "I've never seen such a large-scale operation in such a confined area," Colonel Wall said, "there are a lot of entities working together and coordinating seamlessly. I don't think anybody can do it any better than this."

For the passengers, it was a relief to escape the aftershocks, which continue to shake the earth in Haiti along with the psyche of those remaining on the ground.

"I did not know what to expect," said Museau Clausel, who had to evacuate his damaged home outside Port-au-Prince, Haiti.

Clausel, who spoke through an interpreter, said, "I was only used to commercial planes so it was very different, but the crew was helpful and made us feel safe. I was afraid of the [aftershocks] because I thought it was another earthquake. I am glad to be in America and safe. I am glad my son is safe."

Inside the terminal at Orlando Sanford International Airport is another piece of the total force puzzle. In a room littered with laptop computers and evidence of 24-hour work cycles sits Col. Lincoln E. Larson, a state emergency preparedness liaison officer with the Air Force Reserves. He is responsible for coordinating military support of local state and federal agencies.

"My specific training is in defense support to civilian authorities," Colonel Larson said. "If what needs is a specific military capability, I work to provide that assistance from the Air Force."

Colonel Larson, one of the most senior people in the busy Emergency Operations Center at OSI, has seen the activity increase daily.

"I am extremely proud of what our Air Force has been able to do," he said. "It's a total force effort. We have National Guard crews, Air Force Reserve crews, active duty crews. Some of these crews have been working 24 hours or more because it's the right thing to do. I am proud to wear this uniform."