McChord receives Alaska-based Airmen, aircraft as precaution to volcano (updated)

Published Feb. 2, 2009
By Tyler Hemstreet

MCCHORD AIR FORCE BASE, Wash. -- McChord welcomed eight aircraft and nearly 200 Airmen from Elmendorf Air Force Base, Alaska, Jan. 31 through Feb. 2 as part of a precautionary redeployment in light of increased activity associated with Mount Redoubt volcano, located approximately 100 miles from Elmendorf.

Three Air Force Reserve Command C-130J Hurricane Hunter aircraft on assignment from Mississippi to Alaska relocated to McChord Jan. 31, and five Elmendorf-based C-17 Globemaster IIIs arrived late Feb. 1 and early Feb. 2.

"Our ability to quickly receive additional air power on short notice and continue to support the nation's worldwide strategic airlift requirements is a capability long-associated with McChord," said Col. Jeffrey Stephenson, 62nd Airlift Wing commander. "We've supported evacuations in the past, and we will gladly support our fellow Airmen from Elmendorf as long as they need us."

McChord's own C-17 strategic airlift mission made the base ideally suited to host the relocated aircraft and allow the Elmendorf Airmen to continue to meet their mission requirements. It didn't take long for them to get settled as both Elmendorf units resumed flying operations out of McChord on Tuesday, completing a combined three missions and one local sortie by Feb.4.

"Given that we are continuously in support of (U.S. Transportation Command) taskings, the only way that we can ensure that -- with the instability and unpredictability of the volcano -- was to go ahead and redeploy down here to guarantee continuous missions," said Lt. Col. David Almand, 517th Airlift Squadron commander at Elmendorf.

"We've gotten outstanding support from (the 62nd AW) in allowing us everything we need on the operations and maintenance side from the wing commander on down to the lowest level," said the colonel.

The 517th AS provides airlift for theater deployed forces and resupply of remote Alaskan long-range radar sites in support of (U.S. Pacific Command), (North American Aerospace Defense Command) and TRANSCOM. The volcano has the potential to "cause a disruption to airflow," and potentially disrupt missions, Colonel Almand said.

"The importance of integration is to share our resources, ensuring that Elmendorf operations continue here just as they would at home, and just as if they were another squadron here," said Col. Joseph Wiley, 62nd Operations Group commander.

It was a big chore to pick up nearly everything and move operations on short notice and Master Sgt. Stephen Santos, 703rd Aircraft Maintenance Squadron first sergeant, was helping his Airmen get acclimated to their temporary workplace as well as their lodging arrangements in nearby Lacey, Wash.

"We brought the back shop, flightline, maintainers, aircrews, plus the whole operational side," Sergeant Santos said. "It's the first time we've moved an entire operational function to another base."

McChord leadership anticipates the redeployment to last at least two to four weeks.

"Our goal is to seamlessly integrate Elmendorf operations into those of McChord while simultaneously supporting the objectives of TRANSCOM and PACOM," said Col. Jon DeClerck, 62nd Operations Group deputy commander.