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188th Fighter Wing deploys Disaster Beddown Relief Set to aid Operation Unified Response in Haiti

  • Published
  • By Capt. Heath Allen
  • 188th Fighter Wing Public Affairs
FORT SMITH, Ark --  The 188th Fighter Wing was tasked to provide assets to assist relief efforts in Haiti following a 7.0-magnitude earthquake and subsequent aftershocks that have devastated the island nation in recent weeks. While the 188th has yet to receive a tasking to provide personnel, the Air National Guard unit deployed its Disaster Relief Beddown Set (DRBS) to Haiti to aid on-going relief efforts as part of Operation Unified Response.

The DRBS is a 188th asset that supports 150 personnel. It includes one all-terrain forklift, billets, shower and latrine facilities, a kitchen and self-help laundry machines. The DRBS also has water purification capabilities.

The DRBS will be used to house relief personnel from Expeditionary Medical Support, which will help provide medical care to earthquake victims.

"The 188th is always prepared when called upon," said Col. Tom Anderson, 188th Fighter Wing commander. "We were tasked to provide our Disaster Beddown Relief Set to assist in the relief efforts in Haiti. We're very appreciative that the 188th was afforded the opportunity to help in any way possible."

Two C-17 Globemasters and one C-130 Hercules collectively transported 90 short tons of material to Haiti. The first C-17 from the 172nd Airlift Wing, an Air National Guard unit based in Jackson, Miss., arrived at the 188th at 11 p.m. Jan. 24.

The subsequent C-17 from the 452nd Air Mobility Wing based at March Air Reserve Base, Calif., arrived before sunrise on Jan. 25. A C-130 from Dyess Air Force Base, Texas, transported the final load of cargo in the early morning hours on Jan. 25.

The DRBS was last utilized in January 2009 following an ice storm that affected much of northern Arkansas. The 188th Civil Engineering Squadron deployed 30 Airman to transport seven flatbed trucks packed full of cargo and set up shower and laundry facilities in Marshall, Ark., in Searcy County as part of the DRBS.

The DRBS is part of the 188th's Regional Training Site (RTS), which is utilized by other National Guards units nationwide to conduct field training.

For more information on the 188th Fighter Wing please visit www.188fw.ang.af.mil.

188th Fighter Wing deploys Disaster Beddown Relief Set to aid Operation Unified Response in Haiti

  • Published
  • By Capt. Heath Allen
  • 188th Fighter Wing Public Affairs
FORT SMITH, Ark --  The 188th Fighter Wing was tasked to provide assets to assist relief efforts in Haiti following a 7.0-magnitude earthquake and subsequent aftershocks that have devastated the island nation in recent weeks. While the 188th has yet to receive a tasking to provide personnel, the Air National Guard unit deployed its Disaster Relief Beddown Set (DRBS) to Haiti to aid on-going relief efforts as part of Operation Unified Response.

The DRBS is a 188th asset that supports 150 personnel. It includes one all-terrain forklift, billets, shower and latrine facilities, a kitchen and self-help laundry machines. The DRBS also has water purification capabilities.

The DRBS will be used to house relief personnel from Expeditionary Medical Support, which will help provide medical care to earthquake victims.

"The 188th is always prepared when called upon," said Col. Tom Anderson, 188th Fighter Wing commander. "We were tasked to provide our Disaster Beddown Relief Set to assist in the relief efforts in Haiti. We're very appreciative that the 188th was afforded the opportunity to help in any way possible."

Two C-17 Globemasters and one C-130 Hercules collectively transported 90 short tons of material to Haiti. The first C-17 from the 172nd Airlift Wing, an Air National Guard unit based in Jackson, Miss., arrived at the 188th at 11 p.m. Jan. 24.

The subsequent C-17 from the 452nd Air Mobility Wing based at March Air Reserve Base, Calif., arrived before sunrise on Jan. 25. A C-130 from Dyess Air Force Base, Texas, transported the final load of cargo in the early morning hours on Jan. 25.

The DRBS was last utilized in January 2009 following an ice storm that affected much of northern Arkansas. The 188th Civil Engineering Squadron deployed 30 Airman to transport seven flatbed trucks packed full of cargo and set up shower and laundry facilities in Marshall, Ark., in Searcy County as part of the DRBS.

The DRBS is part of the 188th's Regional Training Site (RTS), which is utilized by other National Guards units nationwide to conduct field training.

For more information on the 188th Fighter Wing please visit www.188fw.ang.af.mil.