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Officials explain humanitarian operations during Air Force Week

  • Published
  • By Tech. Sgt. Ben Gonzales
  • Air Force News Agency
PHILADELPHIA (AFPN) --  Senior mobility and medical Air Force officials met with the mayor of Philadelphia and other community leaders to explain how Airmen provide hope around the world through humanitarian operations May 29 at the National Liberty Museum here.

Lt. Gen. Christopher A. Kelly, vice commander of Air Mobility Command from Scott Air Force Base, Ill., led the Global Presence Seminar after being publicly welcomed by Philadelphia Mayor Michael A. Nutter.

Other panel members included Col. James Henderson II, the director of the Air Force Center for Engineering and the Environment at Brooks-City Base, Texas; and Col. Donald Thompson, a senior medical evaluator for strategic plans and operations in the Department of Defense's Office of the Inspector General at the Pentagon. The seminar highlighted heroism and humanitarian actions of the Air Force and was part of Air Force Week in Philadelphia.

"Every week is Air Force Week here," Mayor Nutter said to the standing-room-only audience. "We appreciate everything you do every day, every week and every year. You make Philadelphia and this country safe and very proud."

Recalling the history of humanitarian operations by the Air Force, General Kelly said Airmen began providing assistance just weeks after the creation of the service with the Berlin Airlift and men and women in blue have continued that tradition of care through the years.

"(Humanitarian operations) is about taking care of others," General Kelly said. "It's about facing challenges and overcoming them to preserve life and hopefully preserve those thoughts of freedom and love and all the things this country stands for."

The general lauded aeromedical evacuation teams and the Airmen who fly, support and maintain airlift for the Air Force that serves the nation and provides hope for American warfighters as well as those in need around the world.

"How could you wish for or want a more noble profession than to provide hope to all mankind?" General Kelly asked. "Humanitarian relief and aeromedical evacuations provide for not just for (American servicemembers) and not just to people who are stranded, they provide hope to all mankind."

Serving others before self is a way of thinking that Airmen and Air Force medical professionals approach their occupations to provide hope.

"There is something inherent in the Air Force mindset that we have compassion, integrity in what we do, and we are here not just to serve the military mission but we are here to serve mankind," Colonel Henderson said.

Air Force doctors, nurses, medical professionals and all Airmen provide that compassion through medical outreaches and medical readiness training exercises throughout the world; providing humanitarian assistance and medical care to 100 countries between 2002 and 2006.

"Through these medical operations to nations around the globe, we practice diplomacy and reach out to other countries to offer hope," Colonel Henderson said.

"Humanitarian assistance is about sending a message to those in need that we care, that we value them, and that we will go out of our way to help," Colonel Thompson said. "What we do is just like what we have learned from Philadelphia -- that it is all about life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness and our commitment to share it with others in need."

The Air Force Week program is part of a proactive initiative to increase communication with the public. Air Force Week includes community visits and talks by Air Force officials, flight demonstration team performances and displays highlighting the Air Force men and women serving on the front lines. There will also be an Air Force Week Aug. 9 through 17 in Omaha, Neb., and from Nov. 14 through 21 in Los Angeles.