Catherine
Jung
Air Force Space Command Public Affairs
PETERSON AFB, Colo. - More than 193 Air Force Space
Command people began deploying in support of Joint Task
Force Katrina, Sep. 2.
AFSPC members from Buckley AFB, Colo.;
F.E. Warren AFB, Wyo.; Malmstrom AFB, Mont.; Minot AFB,
N.D.; Patrick AFB, Fla.; Vandenberg AFB, Calif.; and Peterson
are converging on 10 duty locations currently participating
in disaster relief efforts, said Maj. Randy Olsen, AFSPC
Space Operations Squadron operations flight commander.
Columbus AFB, Miss.; Keesler AFB,
Miss.; Camp Shelby, Miss.; Gulfport, Miss.; Eglin AFB,
Fla.; Tyndall AFB, Fla.; Maxwell AFB, Ala.; Lackland AFB,
Tex.; the city of New Orleans, La.; and Louis Armstrong
Airport in New Orleans will receive assistance from AFSPC
Airmen and civilian employees who work in 13 specialized
job categories, said Tech. Sgt. Dan Rosera, NCOIC of AFSPC
Space Operations Squadron communications flight.
Staff officers, civil engineers, communications,
contracting, logistics plans, manpower, personnel, power
pro, public affairs, services, security forces, transportation,
helicopter maintenance people and aircrews are providing
much-needed aid to those affected by the hurricane, Sergeant
Rosera added. However, security forces and civil engineer
people make up the bulk of those deploying.
According
to command medical officials, three medics deployed in
support of AFSPC rotary wing assets at Columbus AFB
Miss. In addition, AFSPC medics assisted in transiting
evacuees taken to Lowry AFB, Colo., and to Cape Cod in
Mass.
The Federal Emergency Management Agency
submitted a request for assistance to U.S. Northern Command,
who, in turn, started the request for forces process.
NORTHCOM coordinated with 1st Air Force to identify unique
resources and an approximate number of people needed to
support the effort. First Air Force then contacted the
AFSPC Air Expeditionary Force Center, who worked with
the AFSPC AEF deployment section. Deployment staffers
worked with individual AFSPC functional managers to select
those who would deploy to JTF Katrina, said Colonel Bill
Kreighbaum, AFSPC chief of AEF deployment readiness.
“The men and women of Air Force Space
Command are supporting humanitarian requirements as directed
by Headquarters Air Force and the commander of Air Force
Forces Joint Task Force Katrina,” said Maj. Gen. Doug
Fraser, AFSPC director of air and space operations.
AFSPC people will be deployed for
30- to 120-day rotations, with 45- to 60-day rotations
being standard, said Capt. Jill Ortiz, AFSPC chief of
AEF deployment readiness. Length of deployments vary by
job specialty and will be determined by 1st Air Force.
