LRS Aids Humanitarian Mission

A cargo truck from the 375th Logistics Readiness Squadron pulls up behind a C-17 Globemaster to load humanitarian aid supplies bound for Afghanistan, Feb. 7, 2011 at Scott Air Force Base. 6,545 pounds of humanitarian goods including three pallets of clothing and shoes donated from Red Bud, Ill. are being transferred to Manas, Kyrgyzstan before arriving at the final location in Afghanistan. (U.S. Air Force photo/ Staff Sgt. Ryan Crane)

LRS Aids Humanitarian Mission

Airman 1st Class Shane Milke, 452nd Air Mobility Wing loadmaster, directs the cargo truck operator where to position the loader behind the C-17 Globemaster Feb. 7, 2011 at Scott Air Force Base. 6,545 pounds of humanitarian goods including three pallets of clothing and shoes donated from Red Bud, Ill. are being transferred to Manas, Kyrgyzstan before arriving at the final location in Afghanistan. (U.S. Air Force photo/ Staff Sgt. Ryan Crane)

LRS Aids Humanitarian Mission

Tech Sgt. Matthew Hamilton, 452nd Maintenance Squadron loadmaster, helps members of the 375th Logistics Readiness Squadron push a 500 pound pallet onto a C-17 Globemaster Feb. 7, 2011 at Scott Air Force Base. 6,545 pounds of humanitarian goods including three pallets of clothing and shoes donated from Red Bud, Ill. are being transferred to Manas, Kyrgyzstan before arriving at the final location in Afghanistan. (U.S. Air Force photo/ Staff Sgt. Ryan Crane)

LRS Aids Humanitarian Mission

Airmen from the 375th Logistics Readiness Squadron give the loadmasters the ‘all clear’ to move the last pallet onto the C-17 Globemaster Feb. 7, 2011 at Scott Air Force Base. 6,545 pounds of humanitarian goods including three pallets of clothing and shoes donated from Red Bud, Ill. are being transferred to Manas, Kyrgyzstan before arriving at the final location in Afghanistan. (U.S. Air Force photo/ Staff Sgt. Ryan Crane)

Scott Airmen help transport clothes, shoes to Kyrgyzstan

Published Feb. 9, 2011
By Senior Airman Andrew Davis
375th Air Mobility Wing Public Affairs

SCOTT AIR FORCE BASE, Ill. -- More than 6,500 pounds of humanitarian goods including three pallets of clothing and shoes donated from Red Bud, Ill., were loaded onto a C-17 Globemaster III bound for Manas Air Base, Kyrgyzstan on Monday.

The goods are being shipped overseas through the Denton Program, which allows private U.S. citizens and organizations to use space available on U.S. military cargo planes to transport humanitarian goods.

Due to the holidays and recent inclement weather, the donation coordinators from Red Bud were unable to bring the goods to Scott.

"Normally the volunteers who collect the goods will bring the goods to the nearest port of embarkation which in this case would be Scott," said Staff Sgt. John Ruiz, 375th Logistics Readiness Squadron. "Due to some limiting factors on their end, the 375th LRS took it upon themselves to come together and volunteer to pick it up from Red Bud." Because of the large amount of cargo, the squadron gathered 16 volunteers to drive out and pick it up.

"We gathered as many personnel as we could from across the squadron to help out," said Sergeant Ruiz. "The squadron really came together donating money for gas, manpower and vehicles to haul it all back to Scott."

The Denton Program is jointly administered by the U.S. Agency for International Development, Department of State and Department of Defense. Through the program, humanitarian aid can be shipped at little or no cost to the donor. Donated items include clothing, food, medical and educational supplies, and agricultural equipment and vehicles, and are sent to countries in need while simultaneously putting the extra space on U.S. military transport assets to good use.

Transportation is generally available to close destinations such as Central and South America; however, the availability of transportation to particular countries is affected by current military and political situations. Transportation can neither be scheduled nor guaranteed; and therefore, cannot be used to meet urgent needs or deadlines. In 2008, more than 600,000 pounds of humanitarian goods were sent to 17 different countries through the Denton Program.

Online applications and additional information about the DOD Humanitarian Assistance Programs, Denton and Funded Transportation's Programs, are available at http://hatransportation.ohasis.org http://hatransportation.ohasis.org.