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Blackanthem Military News
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Last Updated:
Sep 6, 2008 - 11:54:07 AM |
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Blackanthem Military News
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| (Front to back) U.S. Navy Capt. Tom Broderick, Combined Joint Task Force-Horn of Africa executive assistant and Senior Chief Legalman Alicia Barnes, Camp Lemonier Staff Judge Advocate leading chief petty officer, board a CARB flight in Nairobi, Kenya Dec. 22 to visit the troops during the holidays. U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class Mary Popejoy (RELEASED) |
CAMP LEMONIER, Djibouti - Traveling to major cities throughout East Africa is fairly easy to do via government and commercial air, but getting to the little known cities can take several hours if traveling by SUV on roads that are bumpy and unimproved.
To mitigate the risk for individuals and to assist in the productivity of CJTF-HOA personnel downrange, a waiver was granted by Secretary of Defense Robert Gates to allow CJTF-HOA to partner with a civilian contractor to take military personnel from major cities in the HOA area of operation and fly them to smaller, remote locations because its not always practical to send a C-130.
"In areas like this that are fairly austere, we just don't have the capability to land some of the combat aircraft we have," said Air Force Col. John Crocker, CJTF-HOA Air Component Coordination Element director and 449th Air Expeditionary Group commander. "A C-130 can go a lot of places, but a small, narrow dirt strip isn't going to work for a C-130, which is why using smaller planes to transport personnel and goods is essential to the CJTF-HOA mission."
Instead of CJTF-HOA personnel flying into a major city in the CJTF-HOA AOR, getting a hotel and waiting for ground transportation for a 5-8 hour vehicle trip, they can get off one plane and onto another with less hassle.
"It's quite a thrill to walk into an airport and walk out to a smaller plane that is ready to take us to our next destination," said Navy Capt. Tom Broderick, CJTF-HOA executive assistant. "It's very user friendly, and we shaved a five-hour drive down to a 45 minute flight. This is a great capability that will allow CJTF-HOA to move personnel around more efficiently."
A small airline based in Nairobi, Kenya, has been contracted and began flying for the U.S. military in early December. The company consists of six, twin engine turbo propeller planes, holding at most 19 passengers.
"It's in the early stages, but we're planning on four trips a week, 16 per month," said Crocker. "The cost for a CARB trip is $1,800 an hour, whereas it would cost roughly $3,000 to $4,000 to have a U.S. Air Force C-130 make a comparable flight. The program frees up some of the combat aircraft to stay in combat."
According to Crocker, this new mode of travel will also enable personnel to travel great distances to reach project sites or to acquire supplies/
"This extended reach will help those who are out there digging wells and looking after livestock and making a difference among the villages," said Crocker.
Crocker went on to explain that this is a great opportunity to expand our capabilities downrange and that he's thrilled to be a part of a team that worked together to make it happen.
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