Charleston Reservists join Ebola support operations

by Michael Dukes
315th Airlift Wing Public Affairs

10/6/2014 -  JOINT BASE CHARLESTON, S.C --  Three Air Force Reserve aircrews flew C-17 Globemaster IIIs packed with personnel and supplies over the past two weeks in support of Operation United Assistance, an effort to support Ebola stricken regions of West Africa.

Aircrew from the 300th Airlift Squadron departed Joint Base Charleston early last week, followed by the 317th and 701st AS who departed for the region over the past three days.

"I am very proud of our crews and other personnel who are supporting this vital effort!" said Col. Caroline Evernham, 315th Operations Group commander.  "These missions deliver critical supplies to the units on the ground. They are stopping briefly and usually leaving the area within two to three hours or less, and there is little danger of the crew or aircraft coming into contact with personnel infected with Ebola."

"While there should be no danger to these crewmembers, they are receiving briefs from Public Health prior to departure educating them on precautions to take to further minimize any chance of exposure" added Lt. Col. Russell Catanach, 315th OG vice commander.

"All of our crews are comprised of Citizen Airman who have taken leave from their civilian careers to support this operation," Catanach said.  "These crews demonstrate that the 315th Airlift Wing's volunteer C-17 crewmembers stand capable and ready to fly anywhere in the world to support the nation's objectives, whether during conflict or in response to humanitarian crises of any nature."

Multiple aircrews from the 437th AW led Joint Base Charleston's contribution by launching several missions in support of OUA over the past few weeks after receiving Air Mobility Command tasking.  Team Charleston aircraft have deployed so far to Senegal and Liberia.

Charleston is joined in this effort by aircraft and personnel from Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Washington, Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst, New Jersey, and Altus Air Force Base, Oklahoma.

Officials expect the number of missions in support of OUA to increase in coming days as hospitals, labs, and support personnel are positioned to assist in the crisis.

"We are monitoring the situation closely, and although there are no immediate plans to start transporting patients, we will reevaluate the situation if that happens," Everham said.

The U.S. military is providing medical personnel to support health care provider training, engineers to construct Ebola treatment units, logisticians and other transportation personnel to support the regional intermediate staging base, as well as command and control staff for the Joint Force Command headquarters in Liberia.

U.S. military engineers are currently overseeing construction of at least 17 separate Ebola treatment units with a 100-bed capacity. Once complete, the facilities will be turned over to Liberia and staffed by local and international health care providers. U.S. military personnel will not staff the ETUs.

The president considers containing the spread of Ebola to be a national security priority that will require mobilizing the collective resources of the international community.

"This will not be an overnight process, but we're making significant progress," said Pentagon Press Secretary Navy Rear Adm. John Kirby last week.