621st CRW supports AZANG with Hurricane Sandy relief efforts

An Airman from the 621st Contingency Response Wing, Travis Air Force Base, Calif. supports a chain with his boot while helping Airmen from the Arizona Air National Guard to secure a vehicle in an Air Force C-17 Globemaster III at the Sky Harbor Air National Guard Base in Phoenix, Ariz., bound for N.Y. to support the Hurricane Sandy relief efforts, November 3, 2012. The 621st CRW is highly-specialized in training and rapidly deploying personnel to quickly open airfields and establish, expand, sustain, and coordinate air mobility operations. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Gustavo Gonzalez)

An Airman from the 621st Contingency Response Wing, Travis Air Force Base, Calif., marshals an Air Force C-17 Globemaster III at the Sky Harbor Air National Guard Base in Phoenix, Ariz., bound for N.Y. to support the Hurricane Sandy relief efforts, November 3, 2012. The 621st CRW is highly-specialized in training and rapidly deploying personnel to quickly open airfields and establish, expand, sustain, and coordinate air mobility operations. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Gustavo Gonzalez)

621st CRW supports AZANG with Hurricane Sandy relief efforts

Airman from the 621st Contingency Response Wing, Travis Air Force Base, Calif. and the Arizona Air National Guard, work together to secure a vehicle in an Air Force C-17 Globemaster III at the Sky Harbor Air National Guard Base in Phoenix, Ariz., bound for N.Y. to support the Hurricane Sandy relief efforts, November 3, 2012. The 621st CRW is highly-specialized in training and rapidly deploying personnel to quickly open airfields and establish, expand, sustain, and coordinate air mobility operations. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Gustavo Gonzalez)

621st CRW supports AZANG with Hurricane Sandy relief efforts

An Airman from the 621st Contingency Response Wing, Travis Air Force Base, Calif. tightens a chain while helping Airmen from the Arizona Air National Guard to secure a vehicle in an Air Force C-17 Globemaster III at the Sky Harbor Air National Guard Base in Phoenix, Ariz., bound for N.Y. to support the Hurricane Sandy relief efforts, November 3, 2012. The 621st CRW is highly-specialized in training and rapidly deploying personnel to quickly open airfields and establish, expand, sustain, and coordinate air mobility operations. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Gustavo Gonzalez)

621st CRW supports AZANG with Hurricane Sandy relief efforts

A U.S. Air Force C-17 Globemaster III from Stewart Air National Guard Base, N.Y. takes off at the Sky Harbor International Airport in Phoenix, Ariz., bound for N.Y., containing electrical equipment and vehicles to support the Hurricane Sandy relief efforts, November 3, 2012. The aircraft was loaded by aerial porters from Arizona Air National Guard's 161st Maintenance Group and the 621st Contingency Response Wing (621st CRW) from Travis Air Force Base, Calif. The 621st CRW is highly-specialized in training and rapidly deploying personnel to quickly open airfields and establish, expand, sustain, and coordinate air mobility operations. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Gustavo Gonzalez)

621st CRW supports AZANG with Hurricane Sandy relief efforts

Published Nov. 4, 2012
By Staff Sgt. Gustavo Gonzalez
621st Contingency Response Wing

PHOENIX SKY HARBOR AIR NATIONAL GUARD BASE, ARIZ. -- The 621st Contingency Response Wing (CRW) sent a Contingency Response Element (CRE) to work closely with Arizona Air National Guard's 161st Air Refueling Wing to support them in their efforts to help restore power to the East Coast since Nov. 2.

The CRE from Travis Air Force Base, Calif., helped launch 16 aircraft in support of the Hurricane Sandy relief efforts. The aircraft, both C-5 Galaxy's and C-17 Globemaster III's, contained utility vehicles, equipment and personnel from Arizona's Salt River Project (SRP) and Arizona Public Service (APS) bound for New York State. SRP and APS will support the local utility companies restore power to the more than two million New Yorkers who have been without electricity since Monday evening.

The 621st CRW Command Chief Charles Monk was present to witness the CRE in action.

"I am really impressed with all of you," Monk said. "Everyone I've talked to has a great attitude and is enthused about the mission here to help support the Arizona Air National Guard in their hurricane relief efforts."

The CRE provides the command and control functions required to support Air Mobility Command's (AMC) worldwide mobility operations. CRE's normally conduct autonomous operations from austere locations but can also augment the infrastructure at established civilian or military airfields. They provide minimum cargo loading and a quick turn en route AMC mission support during mobility operations.

The CRE has been working 24 hour operations since arriving.