Senior Airman Mario Ortiz Jr., 435th Contingency Response Group crew chief, helps stack pallets while on location in Constanta, Romania, Jan. 19, 2012. The 435th CRG unloaded more than 100 pallets worth of equipment during their temporary duty assignment. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Caitlin O'Neil-McKeown)
A member of the 435th Contigency Response Group drives a fork lift to stack pallets while on location in Constanta, Romania, Jan. 19, 2012. The 435th CRG unloaded more then 100 pallets worth of equipment during their temparary duty assignment.(U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Caitlin O'Neil-McKeown)
by Senior Airman Katherine Holt
86th Airlift Wing Public Affairs
2/7/2012 - RAMSTEIN AIR BASE, Germany (AFNS) -- Twenty-six Airmen from the 435th Contingency Response Group traveled to Romania in partnership with the 21st Theater Sustainment Command to re-deploy the 170 th Brigade Combat team's equipment from Afghanistan to their home unit in Baumholder, Germany.
The operation took less than a month with the 435th CRG and the 21st TSC loading more than 2.5 million pounds of equipment onto 42 rail cars and 23 trucks.
"The speed and efficiency is critical to success so the Soldiers have their equipment back as soon as they have reconstituted from their deployment," said Col. John Shapland, 435th Air Ground Operations Wing commander. "The mission was crucial to safely, effectively and efficiently returning the 170th BCT's equipment."
Made up of 15 Air Force specialty codes, the contingency response element provided specialized capabilities to safely offload commercial and military aircraft so the TSC was able to load the equipment onto rail and road transportation.
"Each person on the team is utilized in a cross-functional manner to accomplish the aerial port mission and cargo yard operations," said Lt. Col. Rhett Champagne, 435th Air Mobility Squadron commander. "This is the core mission for the CRG and what makes it an effective force multiplier."
There were 25 cargo aircraft of vehicles and equipment returned on a variety of aircraft. The load equated to more than 2,023 car trains.
"This is about fiscal efficiency and cost savings," said Champagne. "Mulitmodal operations seek out the most cost effective transportation solutions from getting our equipment from downrange while maintaining flexibility to deal with challenges to our lines of communication."
The operation also validated the Joint Task Force European Port Opening, an acknowledgement that European Command has the capability and resources assigned to its theater that can meet low to medium port opening capabilities before needing to reach out to Transportation Command.
"Ultimately the undertaking highlighted the command and control of port operations while enabling the 21st TSC and 435th CRG to work together," said Champagne.
Shapland explained the benefit of joint-service operations when it comes to mission focus.
"The teamwork between the 435th CRG and the 21st TSC demonstrates a critical air-land capability seamlessly move personnel and equipment between various modes of transportation in a safe and expeditious manner."
