An official website of the United States government
A .mil website belongs to an official U.S. Department of Defense organization in the United States.
A lock (lock ) or https:// means you’ve safely connected to the .mil website. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites.

Home : News : Article View
NEWS | June 24, 2011

National Guard units provides needed supplies, saves lives

By Air Force By Master Sgt. Mary Davis 455th Air Expeditionary Wing

BAGRAM AIRFIELD, Afghanistan - Soldiers in an austere province in Afghanistan received much needed provisions thanks to the joint efforts of the Alaska and New York Air National Guard units during their first formation airdrop.

Members of the 774th Expeditionary Airlift Squadron dropped approximately 20,000 pounds of cargo to Soldiers on the ground in the Oruzgan Province June 22. The aircrews were tasked to perform two back-to-back missions, which tested their skills and strengthened them as a team.

"We flew a two-ship formation airdrop of C-130s supporting Combined Joint Special Operations Task Force in southern Afghanistan," said Air Force Lt. Col. Rich Adams, 774 EAS Commander.

"We supported them by carrying food, fuel, ammunition and water to support forward operating bases in southern Afghanistan,” he said.

Despite having air crews from two separate Air National Guard units, they had one mission in mind - getting supplies downrange to combat forces on the ground.

"We delivered about 10 containers per aircraft at about 1,000 pounds per container," said Air Force Master Sgt. Timothy Griffin, a C-130 loadmaster. "I ensured the cargo was balanced, so the weight was distributed evenly on the aircraft."

Griffin worked with the Army riggers at Bagram Airfield to prepare cargo pallets for the drop using the Improved Container Delivery System.

"The system enables accuracy by adjusting to wind data, terrain and other vital information affecting the airdrop," said Air Force Capt. Tom Bradford, an active-duty C-130 navigator from the 39th Airlift Squadron at Dyess Air Force Base, Texas. "The ICDS collects data so aircraft speed and altitude can be adjusted."

Bradford provided his airdrop expertise to ANG aircrews and served as an extra set of eyes on the flight. He also operates as continuity between ANG units completing 90-day rotations in theater demonstrating the Total Force concept.

"It's challenging to work with different aircrews, but one benefit is learning how people do things differently," he said. "I've been deployed to this area twice, so I advise them about various aspects of the drop zones."

There is an inherent amount of risk when flying during the daytime, that is doubled when flying more than one aircraft to the drop area, said Air Force Lt. Col. Chris Thurn, C-130 pilot and mission commander.

"These types of missions are typically flown at night," he said. "The second aircraft had to perform fluid travel maneuvers from the 3 to 9 o'clock positions to mitigate threats and keep from becoming predictable."

Exercises and training is a huge aspect of Thurn's work back at his home station. This helped his team perform flawlessly during the airdrop.

"As an instructor pilot and evaluator pilot, I put a lot of emphasis on training to make sure we are prepared," he said. "It's the long-term effects of what we do on a daily basis that makes a difference. If I can help those on the ground, I'm proud to do this."

Adams echoed Thurn's sentiments.

"We take pride in doing this, because it keeps people from having to drive in convoys. Airdropping supplies, keeps people out of harm's way and keeps war fighters in the fight," he said.

 

 

Related Articles
Maryland Army National Guard Chief Warrant Officer 1 Samantha Carrera, a cyber warfare technician for Cyber Protection Team 169 and a white cell local network defender, reviews how Louisiana Army National Guard Staff Sgt. Scott Heard from Cyber Protection Team 178, plans to clear a malicious cyber activity from the simulated coalition network during Cyber Velocity at the Virginia National Guard’s State Military Reservation in Virginia Beach, Virginia, August 13, 2025. The 20 soldiers with Cyber Protection Team 169 led the certification exercise to strengthen the U.S. Army’s overall cyber readiness by assessing Georgia Army National Guard’s CPT 170 and Louisiana Army National Guard’s CPT 178, which includes Army Guard soldiers from Louisiana, Mississippi, and Texas.
Maryland Army Guard Cyber Soldiers Lead Certification Exercise
By Maj. Benjamin Hughes, | Aug. 18, 2025
VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. - The Maryland Army National Guard’s Cyber Protection Team 169 led a certification exercise for other Army Guard cyber protection teams at the Virginia National Guard’s State Military Reservation, Aug...

Georgia Army National Guard Soldiers assigned to the 110th Combat Sustainment Support Battalion return to their home state of Georgia at Robins Air Force Base on August 16, 2025, following a nine-month deployment to Poland in support of U.S. Army Europe operations. During the deployment, the 110th CSSB provided sustainment command and control to U.S. formations across the region, supporting multinational operations and training events that strengthened interoperability with U.S. and allied forces.
Georgia Army Guard Soldiers Return from Central Europe Deployment
By Staff Sgt. Robert Whitlow, | Aug. 18, 2025
WARNER ROBINS, Ga. – More than 55 Soldiers of the Georgia Army National Guard’s 110th Combat Sustainment Support Battalion, or CSSB, returned home Aug. 16 after a nine-month deployment to Poland in support of U.S. Army Europe...

U.S. Army Spc. Gordon Trotman, member of the New Jersey National Guard’s 21st Weapons of Mass Destruction–Civil Support Team, left,  observes as Spc. Andrew DeJesus, also with the 21st WMD-CST, uses his phone to communicate with team members during a joint training exercise at Mercer County Park, West Windsor Township, New Jersey, July 31, 2025. The 177th Fighter Wing Explosive Ordnance Disposal team collaborated with the 21st WMD-CST and the NJ State Police to prepare for security operations at the 2026 FIFA World Cup games at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, NJ.
New Jersey Air Guard 177th Civil Engineer Squadron Trains for World Cup Security
By Airman Alex Cadavid, | Aug. 18, 2025
ATLANTIC CITY AIR NATIONAL GUARD BASE, N.J. - Airmen from the New Jersey Air National Guard’s 177th Civil Engineer Squadron participated in a recent training exercise with the 21st Weapons of Mass Destruction-Civil Support...