Reservists support Pakistan relief efforts

SOUTHWEST ASIA (AFNS) -- Members of the 379th Air Expeditionary Wing responded to Pakistan's call for assistance following the devastating floods that began July 29.

Four C-130 Hercules crews, along with two aircraft from the 746th Expeditionary Airlift Squadron and eight members of the 908th Aircraft Maintenance Unit here deployed in response to relief efforts currently underway in Pakistan.

U.S. military cargo planes have delivered more than 60,000 pounds of food and relief supplies from Rawalpindi to Sukkur as part of the $90 million in U.S. support relief efforts in Pakistan.

"It's nice to know you're doing something to help people out," said Lt. Col. Doran Gillie, the forward mission commander from the 746th EAS. "That's what keeps us energized."

The cargo planes have faced some challenges in their operations throughout the region, including remote airfield runways that aren't equipped to handle the amount of cargo the C-130s are bringing in daily.

Crews and locals worked together Aug. 19 to offload 10,000 pounds of rice by hand, when it was discovered that a forklift was not available to handle the pallets.

"Because we're going into fields we've never been at before, we are finding out that many of the locations aren't equipped to unload our aircraft," Colonel Gillie said. "A lot of creativity has been involved in getting the supplies on and off the aircraft and everyone -- from our support team, to the local Pakistanis, to the aircrews -- (is) working together to make it happen."

The efforts of the C-130 crewmembers are just part of a larger national effort to provide aid and assistance to Pakistan. U.S. officials are expanding pre-existing programs in flood-affected areas, providing temporary bridges, and mobilizing significant military and civilian resources to rescue victims of the disaster and deliver needed supplies. There are currently 18 U.S. military and civilian aircraft in Pakistan, and three aircraft based in Afghanistan, in support of flood relief operations.