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Global Strike Command assists Navy in powering nuclear triad

by Airman 1st Class Cody H. Ramirez
509th Bomb Wing Public Affairs

12/13/2010 - WHITEMAN AIR FORCE BASE, Mo. (AFNS) -- Members of the 509th and 131st Logistic Readiness Squadrons loaded more than $30 million of Los Angeles-class submarine batteries on DC-8 cargo aircraft in support of naval operations in the Pacific Dec. 4 and 6 here.

Air Force Global Strike Command officials received a call requesting batteries for a nuclear-attack submarine Dec. 3. The first shipment was sent to the USS Frank Cable, a submarine tender currently in Guam, within 24 hours of the notification.

"I was impressed with the initiative and dedication demonstrated by the LRS team who promptly coordinated this $30 million shipment of Navy submarine batteries on such short notice," said Lt. Col. Trace Steyaert, the 509th LRS commander. "Our team worked around the clock to build these airworthy pallets of critical Navy submarine assets and ensured safe loading aboard two transport aircraft to meet their departure times."

The 509th LRS small air terminal members, logistics planners and vehicle operators worked together to honor the request.

"From the go, this was a joint operation," said 1st Lt. Stefan Hafner, the 509th LRS deployment and distribution flight deputy commander. "We were contacted by mission validators from the Navy asking if we could make it happen -- obviously the answer was 'yes'."

Lieutenant Hafner said they pulled together squadron resources and gathered the needed manpower to get the ball rolling. Vehicle operators moved the batteries from a local business in Warrensburg, Mo., one of the sole companies with a naval submarine battery contract, to Whiteman Air Force Base. The small air terminal Airmen palletized and loaded the aircraft while the logistics planners oversaw the operation to ensure everything went smoothly.

"It was great to see an operation pulled off so smoothly in such a short time," Lieutenant Hafner said. "Everyone involved noticed the significance of this effort and came together to get it done."

The operation brought together the local community, active duty, Guard and the Navy members to palletize and ship the 65 crates of batteries.

"We support the bomber mission everyday, and now we had the chance to help out our sister service by supporting another leg of the nuclear triad," Lieutenant Hafner said. "We no longer live in an Air Force where we're cut off from our sister services.

"We deploy together, support each other and we're focused on delivering joint solutions for our nation," he said. "Tying this together with the nuclear mission and ensuring the preservation of sovereign options for the president is an awesome responsibility -- one we were glad to take up."