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Comfort from above - Airmen coordinate relief supply airdrops for Afghan people

  • Published
  • By Staff Sgt. Melissa Koskovich
  • US Central Command Air Forces-Fwd Public Affairs
OVER EASTERN AFGHANISTAN (AMCNS) --  The sounds of cargo aircraft echo through the Afghan hillside. Families huddle against their makeshift homes, watching air-dropped bundles glide to the ground. These deliveries contain blankets, firewood, medical supplies and food – a gesture of compassion and a foundation to build on.

Since October 2004, the men and women of the Air Mobility Division at the Combined Air Operation Center in Southwest Asia have planned and executed missions, airdropping more than 2.1 million pounds of humanitarian aid throughout Afghanistan.

“The Afghan people see things dropping out of our aircraft, and they know these things are for them,” said Capt. Timothy Ryan, AMD air-drop planner. “It really helps us win their hearts and minds. They know we are there to help.”

With temperatures dropping to minus 14 degrees during the winter months and areas like Kabul getting up to 25 inches of snow, many Afghanis desperately need this help.

Around 90 service members are assigned to the AMD, which operates around the clock executing, on average, four weekly humanitarian airdrops, with more than 300 airdrops completed in the last 18 months.

The locations where humanitarian supplies are needed are identified by the Afghan National Army, and coordinated by the AMD staff.

“When planning a mission, we confirm the location, time and what the cargo will be. We also map a flight plan and arrange for an aircraft to escort the mission,” said Captain Ryan.

The AMD staff said since the missions have started, there’s been a steady increase in the number of requests.

“There are a lot of people in Afghanistan who need our help,” said Captain Ryan.

According to White House reports, six million people in Afghanistan and 1.5 million Afghan refugees depend on international relief programs.

“The missions planned and executed by the AMD team are vital to meeting the needs of many Afghans, especially those in isolated areas. Everyone in the AMD is proud of their part in making these missions possible,” said Lt. Col. Chuck Ciuzio, chief of the AMD.

The AMD’s missions are part of Coalition efforts to support the government of Afghanistan in its efforts to provide for its citizens.

“Flying over the terrain, and seeing what it’s like there – how cold it is and how little the people have – it’s good to know that our capabilities can also be used to help people,” said Capt. Benjamin Cameron, deputy chief of AMD tactics.

“We might not see the Afghan people using what we drop, but we know they get it and that there’s a need,” said Maj. Gabriel Griess, chief of AMD tactics. “We’re helping, and it’s a great feeling.”