CRW Assessment Team Evaluates Cargo Solutions for Stakeholders in Afghanistan

Surrounded by the mountains in western Afghanistan, U.S. Air Force Capt. Luke Stumme uses a dynamic cone penetrometer (DCP) to measure the soil subsurface strength of the airfield at Forward Operating Base (FOB) Farah, Dec. 2, 2009. While Capt. Stumme systematically lifts and drops a 17 pound weight on the penetrometer rod, Tech. Sgt. Joel Bane gauges the distance the rod is travelling into the dirt, while Capt. Jay Michaels records how many hits it takes for the rod to travel each marked distance. Capts. Stumme and Michaels along with Sergeant Bane are all members of an Air Force Airfield Assessment team that is deployed in Afghanistan to analyze data from visits to all established airfields with a major military presence. The results of their study will be briefed to the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) commander. The ultimate goal of the team is to help find solutions for getting more forces into the war zone and sustaining those forces.