Ramstein unit completes NEO in Central African Republic
US Air Forces in Europe
Release Date: 11/07/2002
By Airman 1st Class Robyn Dorocak 86th Airlift Wing Public Affairs
RAMSTEIN AIR BASE, Germany (USAFENS) -- The 37th Airlift Squadron here completed a noncombatant evacuation operation of people landlocked in Bangui, Africa, Nov. 2.
The 20-person team from the 86th Airlift Wing was tasked by U.S. European Command to evacuate 31 people due to the recent civil unrest developing in the Central African Republic.
A European Security Assessment Team flew into the area with the 37th AS to review the security for Americans in the country and helped develop the air evacuation process.
"The ESAT team and the U.S. Embassy were our liaisons for the mission," said Maj. Bill Ward, 37th AS assistant operations officer. "They helped direct us through the successful engine-running upload of the evacuees. With their assistance we had people on board and were back in the sky within 15 minutes of landing."
Ward said there was plenty of support from area Libyans, Djibouti, local rebel and presidential guards assisting in the security of the airfield. In addition, the Sembach Air Base, Germany, 786th Security Forces Squadron's Raven forces supported the Ramstein aircrew.
"Anywhere we go, we are responsible for the protection of the aircraft and crew," said Staff Sgt. Benny Tammelin, 786th SFS Raven coordinator. "When we landed to load the evacuees, we had a critical role in maintaining the perimeter of the aircraft and the safety of the people."
Americans were warned Oct. 28 by the State Department to defer travel to the Central African Republic. Since then, the 86th AW fulfilled their designated USEUCOM role.
"Our responsibility was to support through airlift and complete this mission - we did that," said Ward. "We accomplished the first evacuation that has risen from this scenario. We gained knowledge, while having a real world benefit."
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