State Guard, Harvest Hope, and Aerobridge aid NE-storm victims
November 5, 2012
By W. Thomas Smith Jr.
November 6, 2012
COLUMBIA, SC – Members of the S.C. State Guard, Harvest Hope Food Bank, and AeroBridge spent much of Saturday and Sunday packing boxes of food, water, clothing, blankets, and other life-necessities; delivering those boxes to Hamilton-Owens Airport; and loading them onto aircraft bound for the storm-stricken areas of the northeastern U.S.
Photo at right: CAPT Kurt Beasley with relief-boxes bound for NJ
It was an all-volunteer effort which those involved contend demonstrate both the State Guard’s and Harvest Hope’s ability to muster the troops on short notice to help those several states away.
This joint effort between the State Guard and Harvest Hope was a great experience for both, says LTC Mary Louise Resch, S.C. State Guard adjutant and an official with Harvest Hope Food Bank. State Guardsmen demonstrated how quickly we can respond to crises and how the Guard’s flexibility is such that we are able to operate in environments wherein response times may be moved up as the situation develops. Harvest Hope staff demonstrated the importance of ‘right size’ packaging to optimize packing an aircraft, based on design, weight and cabin-and-cargo space. Together, they were able to load multiple aircraft with over a ton of food in less than 30 minutes, and the planes were ‘wheels up’ in less than an hour.
Among those volunteering where members of the State Guard’s 1st Brigade, the Military Academy, the Provost Marshal’s Det. (law enforcement), and the Information Office.
This mission is indicative of both the need and the capability of the State Guard in that we fulfill the mission of boots-on-the-ground within four hours, says COL Chuck Shields, commandant of the State Guard’s Military Academy. Specifically, this mission reflects the necessity of an all-volunteer rapid deployment force, and this type of community involvement is one of our strongest recruiting tools.
The aircraft, part of AeroBridge – a National Business Aviation Association–endorsed group of experienced aviation specialists who coordinate emergency aviation response during disasters – were bound for Eagles Nest, New Jersey. Two of the AeroBridge pilots were also members of the State Guard.
– Visit W. Thomas Smith Jr. online at uswriter.com.
