621st CRW supports AZANG with Hurricane Sandy relief efforts

by Staff Sgt. Gustavo Gonzalez
621st Contingency Response Wing Public Affairs

11/6/2012 - PHOENIX SKY HARBOR AIR NATIONAL GUARD BASE, ARIZ. -- -- The 621st Contingency Response Wing sent a Contingency Response Element 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 Travis Air Force Base, Calif., CRE from helped launch 16 aircraft in support of the Hurricane Sandy relief efforts. The C-5 Galaxy's and C-17 Globemaster III's contained utility vehicles, equipment and personnel from Arizona's Salt River Project and Arizona Public Service bound for New York. SRP and APS will support local utility companies and work to restore power to more than two million New Yorkers who have been without electricity since Monday.

Chief Master Sgt. Charles Monk, 621st CRW Command Chief 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 worldwide mobility operations. CREs normally conduct autonomous operations from austere locations but can also augment the infrastructure at established civilian or military airfields. CREs also provide minimum cargo loading and quick turn en route AMC mission support during mobility operations.

The CRE has been working 24-hour operations since arriving.