|
BAGRAM AIR FIELD, Afghanistan – In preparation for the Resolute
Support Mission, and a reduced number of service members in
Afghanistan, Soldiers of the 122nd Aviation Support Battalion and
3rd General Aviation Support Battalion, 82nd Combat Aviation
Brigade, are responsible for sending aviation equipment and
helicopters back to the United States in preparation for reset.
Long before helicopters head back to the United States, they
must be broken down. Soldiers of the 122nd ASB work day and night to
make sure the helicopters are ready when Air Force planes arrive.
|
A UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter is moved into position to be
loaded on a C-17 Globemaster III, Bagram Air Field, Afghanistan,
October 10, 2014. This Black Hawk is one of many helicopters that
will be returned to the states before the end of the year. (U.S.
Army photo by Staff Sgt. Christopher Freeman/ 82nd CAB PAO)
|
“(When reducing CH-47 Chinooks), the first thing you
gotta do is remove the blades,” said Spc. Amekokoe Assogba,
a CH-47 helicopter repairer, Bravo Company, 122nd ASB, 82nd
CAB. “The next thing you do is remove the (pieces that hold
the blades on the aircraft).”
Once the packages are
removed, a major piece of the Chinook is removed.
“Once you remove the packages, then you have to remove the
pylons,” said Assogba. “That is the only way it will fit in
an aircraft.”
Once the pylons are removed and stored,
work begins on the inside of the aircraft.
“Once the
outside has been reduced, we remove the floor package from
the inside,” said Assogba. “We clean the aircraft inside and
out, and once that is done, customs will inspect the
equipment.”
Customs is responsible for ensuring that
all equipment leaving Afghanistan has no dirt or dust on it.
“Customs will check to make sure there is no dust or
dirt on the equipment,” said Assogba. “We do a thorough
cleaning of the aircraft to make sure we get a first-time
‘go.'”
Once customs gives the seal of approval, then
the mobility team of the 82nd CAB begins the final stages to
get the aircraft out of theater.
“(The 82nd CAB
mobility team) is the Army representatives for our equipment
going on Air Force planes,” said Staff Sgt. Krish Lalu,
mobility non-commissioned officer, Headquarters and
Headquarters Company, 82nd CAB. “We work with the Special
Handling Office to schedule a joint inspection.”
The
SHO is responsible for making sure all equipment is
air-worthy prior to the plane's arrival. With the various
types of equipment that leaves theater, units provide crews
to serve as subject-matter experts.
“When we have
helicopters or other aviation equipment, we usually have a
crew there that is familiar with the equipment to serve as
subject-matter experts,” said Lalu. “Since a helicopter is
very technical, we request mechanics or pilots to assist
us.”
Prior planning is important to making sure the
helicopter leaves when it is scheduled.
“We schedule
our joint inspection a day or two prior to lift off,” said
Lalu. “That way if there are any issues, we have time to
correct it.”
Sometimes, during the joint inspection,
issues may be found. If the Air Force inspectors deem it not
air-worthy, it could be one of two things: administrative or
mechanical.
“If it is administrative, the mobility
team will fix it,” Lalu said. “If it is mechanical, the crew
and pilots would have to fix the issue.”
Once the
paperwork and mechanical issues are resolved, the equipment
waits for its day to redeploy back to the states.
“Once the Air Force completes their inspection, and we both
sign off on it, that that cargo is sterile,” said Lalu.
“Nothing goes on it, it doesn't move. The next time it will
move is to get on the aircraft.”
U.S. Air Force Staff
Sgt. Loren Rice, air transportation specialist, 455th
Fighter Wing, serves as one of the joint inspectors of the
Special Handling Office.
“We make sure the helicopter
or other equipment is air-worthy,” said Rice. “We make sure
things aren't broken or leaking. The aircraft must be clean,
have the proper fuel level, and all tie-down points must be
serviceable.”
Rice has enjoyed being a part of
getting equipment out of Afghanistan.
“My favorite
part is seeing all of the different types of cargo,” said
Rice. “These pieces of equipment are things I don't get to
usually see.”
By U.S. Army Staff Sgt. Christopher Freeman
Provided through DVIDS
Copyright 2014
Comment on this article
|
