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U.S. Airmen help Aussies in Indonesian relief efforts

  • Published
  • 36th Wing Public Affairs
Fulfilling their role as a rapidly deployable force available for providing assistance throughout the Pacific theater, Airmen from Andersen Air Force Base, Guam, are assisting partner nations in a multinational humanitarian effort to provide relief for Indonesia following an earthquake.

Padang, Indonesia, and surrounding areas on the west coast of Sumatra were devastated by the Sept. 30 earthquake and several strong aftershocks.

Airmen from the 36th Contingency Response Group deployed as part of the Humanitarian Assistance Rapid Response Team Oct. 5 to assist with on-going relief efforts.  The Airmen are paired with medical professionals from the 36th Medical Group at Andersen and other Pacific Air Forces Bases to form a 69-person strong team.

On Oct. 6, Airmen from the 36th CRG showcased one aspect of their mission by helping unload a Royal Australian Air Force C-17 Globemaster III in Padang, Indonesia.  The aircraft brought an Australian Army water purification and civil engineering team to Indonesia to assist in the ongoing relief efforts. Sixty-nine U.S. Airmen are in Padang as part of the deployment of the U.S. Air Force Humanitarian Assistance Rapid Response Team. 

The HARRT is led by Col. Dan Settergren, 36th Contingency Response Group commander, at Andersen. The team combines the command and control and base operating support capability of the 36th CRG with the medical expertise of medical personnel to form a small, rapid-response unit deployable within 24 hours to an austere environment to help host nations during disaster relief operations.