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Logistics Task Force Established at GTMO to Assist Haiti Relief

Navy NewsStand

Story Number: NNS100122-15
Release Date: 1/22/2010 3:36:00 PM

From Task Force 48 Public Affairs

GUANTANAMO BAY, Cuba (NNS) -- Rear Adm. Patricia Wolfe command Jan. 21 of Task Force 48, a newly established joint logistics hub at Naval Station Guantanamo Bay (GTMO) that is leading the effort to lift humanitarian relief supplies to Haiti.

"The military personnel here are working non-stop, around the clock, coordinating the air and sea assets to deliver immediate, life-saving supplies to Haiti," said Wolfe. "The timely delivery of this aid is only possible due to the close proximity of Naval Base Guantanamo Bay to the affected area. GTMO is obviously a critical asset to meet the strategic needs in this region."

Task Force 48 is coordinating the rapid lift of food, water and medical supplies, to include blood donations and inoculations. Personnel movements are also a major mission of the task force, transferring Red Cross aid workers, linguists, civil engineers and Navy dive and salvage experts into Haiti using a variety of transportation platforms.

More than 100 personnel surged from Carrier Strike Group 2 in Norfolk and Navy Expeditionary Logistics Supply Group (NAVELSG) in Williamsburg, Va., to staff the logistics hub within days of the earthquake.

They are providing the expertise and liaison with other units in the joint sea base and in Haiti to ensure the lift of thousands of pallets of medical supplies, water, food, personnel and other relief items. It is a complicated effort that requires a wide range of skill sets to include command and control, operations, flight control, cargo handling and logistics.

NAVELSG is a command specifically organized to provide a wide range of supply and transportation support critical for crisis response, humanitarian and combat service support missions. Wolfe serves as the commander of NAVELSG.

"Simply put, we are trying to save lives," said Wolfe. "We are using anything and everything that can deliver supplies and personnel here and then lift those supplies forward to Haiti. We have (Boeing) 747s, Navy and Air Force C-130s (Hercules), C-17s (Globemaster III), Coast Guard and Navy helicopters, and surface ships from various nations working with us and GTMO for this effort."

For more news from U.S. Naval Base Guantanamo Bay, visit www.navy.mil/local/