The calm after the storm

Aerial porters load cargo onto a C-130 Hercules aircraft at Homestead Air Reserve Base, Fla, Sep. 17, 2017. The aircraft redeployed personnel and equipment from the Wisconsin National Guard back to their home station. The team had deployed to Florida in support of Hurricane Irma relief efforts. (U.S. Air Force photo by Tech. Sgt. Liliana Moreno/Released)

Hurricane Irma

U.S. Air Force Airman 1st Class Giovanni Jaramillo, 321st Contingency Response Squadron aerial porter, drives a forklift into a C-17 Globemaster II to offload equipment essential to the ongoing relief aid being provided in response to hurricane Irma Homestead Air Reserve Base, Fla., Sept. 11, 2017. C-17 Globemaster II's from Joint Base Charleston relocated to Scott Air Force Base to carry pallets of aid, equipment, and more than 100 personnel to respond to the areas effected by Hurricane Irma (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Paul Labbe)

Aerial Porters lead the way for Hurricane Irma relief efforts

Staff Sgt. Thomas Ferris, 42nd Aerial Port Squadron cargo specialist, communicates with his team as they load cargo onto a C-5M Super Galaxy at Homestead Air Reserve Base, Fla, Sep. 16, 2017. The 439th Airlift Wing from Westover Air Reserve Base, Mass., deployed approximately 50 Airmen in support of Hurricane Irma relief efforts. (U.S. Air Force photo by Tech. Sgt. Liliana Moreno/Released)

CRW Airmen provide rapid global mobility during Hurricane Irma relief efforts

Contingency Response Airmen offload cargo from a C-17 Globemaster III, Sep. 13, 2017, at Homestead Air Reserve Base, Fla. A 17-member contingency response team from the 821st Contingency Response Group from Travis Air Force Base, Calif., deployed to Homestead ARB to augment the 439th Airlift Wing airfield capabilities in support of Hurricane Irma relief efforts. (U.S. Air Force photo by Tech. Sgt. Liliana Moreno/Released)

CRW Airmen provide rapid global mobility during Hurricane Irma relief efforts

Aerial porters secure cargo on a C-17 Globemaster III aircraft in preparation for Hurricane Irma relief efforts, Sep. 13, 2017, at Scott Air Force Base, Ill. A 17-member contingency response team from the 821st Contingency Response Group from Travis Air Force Base, Calif., deployed to Homestead Air Reserve Base, Fla., to augment the 439th Airlift Wing airfield capabilities in support of Hurricane Irma relief efforts. (U.S. Air Force photo by Tech. Sgt. Liliana Moreno/Released)

CRW Airmen provide rapid global mobility during Hurricane Irma relief efforts

A loadmaster from the 16th Airlift Squadron signals a 10K All Terrain forklift onto a C-17 Globemaster III aircraft, Sep. 13, 2017, at Scott Air Force Base, Ill. A 17-member contingency response team from the 821st Contingency Response Group from Travis Air Force Base, Calif., deployed to Homestead Air Reserve Base, Fla., to augment the 439th Airlift Wing airfield capabilities in support of Hurricane Irma relief efforts. (U.S. Air Force photo by Tech. Sgt. Liliana Moreno/Released)

CRW Airmen provide rapid global mobility during Hurricane Irma relief efforts

Staff Sgt. Dungan Farver, 16th Airlift Squadron loadmaster, signals a 10K All Terrain forklift onto a C-17 Globemaster III aircraft, Sep. 13, 2017, at Scott Air Force Base, Ill. A 17-member contingency response team from the 821st Contingency Response Group from Travis Air Force Base, Calif., deployed to Homestead Air Reserve Base, Fla., to augment the 439th Airlift Wing airfield capabilities in support of Hurricane Irma relief efforts. (U.S. Air Force photo by Tech. Sgt. Liliana Moreno/Released)

821st CRG provides Rapid Global Mobility support for Hurricane Irma

Staff Sgt. Ozzie Slawnikowski, 921st Contingency Response Squadron crew chief, marshals a C-5M Super Galaxy, Sep. 16, 2017, at Homestead Air Reserve Base, Fla. A 17-member contingency response team from the 821st Contingency Response Group from Travis Air Force Base, Calif., deployed to Homestead Air Reserve Base, Fla., to augment the 439th Airlift Wing airfield capabilities in support of Hurricane Irma relief efforts. (U.S. Air Force photo by Tech. Sgt. Liliana Moreno/Released)

Hurricane Irma

U.S. Air Force Capt. Daniel Cascio, and 1st Lt Ty Wojtysiak, 16th Airlift Squadron pilots, prepare to land on a flightline effected by hurricane waters while conducting a relief aid mission in response to Hurricane Irma on Homestead Air Reserve Base, Fla. Sept. 11, 2017. C-17 Globemaster II's from Joint Base Charleston relocated to Scott AFB, Ill. to carry pallets of aid, equipment, and more than 100 personnel to responded to the areas effected by Hurricane Irma. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Paul Labbe)

CRW Airmen provide rapid global mobility during Hurricane Irma relief efforts

Published Sept. 15, 2017
By Tech. Sgt. Liliana Moreno
621st Contingency Response Wing

HOMESTEAD AIR RESERVE BASE, Fla. -- As Hurricane Irma set sights on the Caribbean Islands and headed straight toward U.S. mainland, thousands of residents were ordered to evacuate the area.

The 621st Contingency Response Wing, at the request of civil authorities, placed multiple alert teams on standby to support ongoing Hurricane Irma relief efforts in the Caribbean and the U.S. to help protect the lives and safety of those in affected areas.

The 321st Contingency Response Squadron from Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst, New Jersey was the first one to send a contingency response team to Homestead Air Reserve Base, Florida, in support of Hurricane Irma relief efforts.

“Arriving at a location with no outside agencies to lean upon is the situation our team trains for,” said Master Sgt. Joseph Royer, 321st CRS CRT chief.

“A lot of times we create dependencies to ease our workload or to channel authority,” Royer said. “In this case, it became apparent the moment we hit the ground that the ramp was ours and we had no one to lean on but each other.”

They quickly opened port operations and offloaded 112.8 short tons of cargo and relief supplies, including two UH-60 Blackhawk helicopters, cargo and personnel from the 66th and 920th Rescue Squadrons, as well as team from the Federal Emergency Management Agency.

The CRT sustained 24-hour operations until follow-on forces arrived from the 439th Airlift Wing from Westover ARB, Massachusetts.

Shortly after a 17-member CRT from the 821st Contingency Response Group from Travis Air Force Base, California, arrived to augment the 439th AW airfield capabilities in support of hurricane relief efforts.

“We are here to help support Hurricane Irma victims and Homestead ARB personnel by opening and operating the airfield,” said Master Sgt. Master Sgt. Rodney Huffer, 921st Contingency Response Squadron CRT chief. “This allows the people here and the base to re-establish a normal operating environment and concentrate on cleanup efforts.”

The team worked hand in hand with the 439th AW reserve partners to establish a complete team effort.

“Our capabilities are enhanced by working with our reserve counterparts,” said Tech. Sgt. Eric Bell, 921st CRS CRT chief. “It was a seamless integration between both teams.”

“It’s an amazing feeling of pride and accomplishment,” Royer added. “Being able to confidently tell the story that we transformed an empty piece of concrete, into a hive of activity that would ultimately result in lives being saved and the burden of suffering being reduced.”