CRG/AEG commander notes unit's accomplishments Published Jan. 5, 2006 By Col. Richard Walberg 818th CRG/24th AEG Commander ISLAMABAD, PAKISTAN (AMCNS) -- What a ride this has been! In days, the first of our redeployment chalks heads back to the United States. Our replacements are inbound, our hotel rooms are set, and our families and loved ones are anxiously awaiting our return. Eight weeks ago in our first newsletter, I asked your families to wait while we responded to the utter devastation suffered by the Pakistan people due to the 7.6 earthquake on Oct. 8. You, the members of the 818th CRG/24th AEG downloaded 263 aircraft that contained: 14.6 million pounds of U.S. relief supplies; 292,000 blankets; 93,000 sleeping bags; 4,562 tents; 8229 medicine boxes; 7,263 food boxes; 5,204 tarps and 1,587 bottled water boxes, packed on 4,418 pallets. When the international relief effort bogged down due to inconsistent off-base surface transportation, we brought the right people together and loaded over 525 trucks. This was the single key to the entire operation’s success. This was all done with no injuries or accidents, working 24/7, in austere conditions. We sent airfield survey teams to five Pakistan airports, and our combat control team did 108 drop zone surveys and called in the only three airdrops allowed by the host nation. Our airspace team came in and worked with the Pakistanis and the coalition to develop a helicopter airspace plan to ensure safe aviation operations. Our medics administered preventive health care to over 425 patients. Team CRG/AEG also was responsible for the welfare and security of the joint bare base camp. We constantly improved the living conditions, morale and sanitation standards for the population of over 200 people. We worked tirelessly to instruct the host nation on how to improve flight line security; base perimeter security; how to string [concertina wire] to restrict unwanted pedestrian traffic; and how to set up vehicle barriers. We devised an innovative off-base vehicle travel plan to confuse any potential adversaries. We ensured that the entire coalition military community operated within U.S. Central Command’s Force Protection Charlie standards. [The CENTCOM commander] lauded your efforts when he said that never in history have such a small group of people made such an historic impact on the impressions of the U.S. by the Muslim world population. We were a living Air Force Doctrine case study. For the first time, an Air Mobility Command contingency response group changed operational control from Commander, 18th Air Force, to Commander, CENTAF. This validated the Air Force Open the Airbase CONOPS, written for the deployment of the CRGs. Our deployment and subsequent redeployment tested the Air Expeditionary Force Center and both CENTAF and AMC personnel systems. Like any first-time event, we have uncovered seams that need to be studied and our Air Force will be better because of our experiences. When we left home, we all thought we would be gone for maybe three weeks. Now, almost nine weeks later, we can pack our bags and look forward to our holiday season. To me, field command is the single greatest honor an officer can have. I am truly humbled by the great Americans I have had under my command flag. Our job is done, you and your families have waited as I asked, now go home to your loved ones knowing that we helped further the cause of Peace on Earth and Goodwill Toward Men.Editor's note -- During the 818th Contingency Response Group's deployment to Pakistan in support of earthquake relief efforts there, the 818th CRG/24th AEG Public Affairs Officer developed the Responder, a unit newsletter filled with important information, stories, images, and more. Each issue also included a commentary from Col. Richard Walberg, 818th CRG/24th AEG commander. The following commander's commentary appeared in the final Responder newsletter.