• Military Menu                       

• Introduction
• Systems
• Facilities
• Agencies
• Industry
• Operations
• Countries
• Hot Documents
• News
• Reports
• Policy
• Budget
• Congress
• Links

• WMD
• Intelligence
• Homeland Security
• Space

NAS JRB New Orleans Flying High Two Years After Hurricane Katrina

Navy NewsStand

Story Number: NNS070830-13
Release Date: 8/30/2007 5:06:00 PM

By Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class (AW/SW) Shawn D. Graham, Naval Air Station Joint Reserve Base, New Orleans Public Affairs

NEW ORLEANS (NNS) -- Hurricane Katrina came ashore in lower Plaquemines Parish, La., two years ago on Aug. 29 and changed the lives of millions of residents in the Gulf Coast region. With minor damage to Naval Air Station, Joint Reserve Base (NAS JRB), New Orleans, the base has been a ray of hope for the region.

Nestled in tiny Belle Chasse, La., NAS JRB is only minutes away from the Gulf of Mexico, with vast open areas where squadrons conduct large-scale battle simulations.

“For all military pilots it is an invaluable tool,” said Lt. Cmdr. Stephen Ready, the assistant operations officer for NAS JRB. “Since the storm, units have done training in Gulfport, Miss. With the assets we have on base, we can provide the same training and
take the burden off of NAS Gulfport.”

During Hurricane Katrina, the base became the focal point for rescue efforts throughout the Gulf Coast region. NAS JRB became the sixth busiest airport in the country, airlifting tons of supplies and housing thousands of Soldiers and National Guardsmen.

Despite taking a relatively small amount of damage from the storm, a stigma has surrounded the base.

“We’ve never stopped flying or training” said Ready. “People think that we are broken and we’re not. Before and after the storm, we’ve been a fully functional base, capable of housing and training multiple detachments of personnel.”

NAS JRB provides visiting units with berthing, food, fuel and other support. The base is also taking advantage of more space due to the loss of two decommissioned units. The station uses a hangar formerly utilized by the Air Force Reserve to house visiting squadrons.

“These detachments help the Department of Defense validate the need for the air station's size and mission, particularly if the number of squadrons based here is decreased,” said Capt. Walter J. Adelmann, commanding officer of NAS JRB New Orleans. “From a
logistical standpoint, this base is a command point for any emergency operation in the Gulf Coast region. Our base is a vibrant and meaningful part of the Navy’s inventory.”

With the base always in a state of preparedness, Adelmann has his sights set toward the future as he would like to make the base even more service member friendly. “Outside of Norfolk, San Diego and a few other areas, there aren’t a lot of viable options for the selected reservists' community. It’s imperative that the citizen Sailors, Soldiers and Guardsmen train. We are an attractive and realistic means of support for them and for the entire region. Supporting all the services is the name of the game. That’s why we are here.”