WESTOVER AIR RESERVE BASE, Mass. -- About 40 Reserve Citizen Airmen from Westover – in four different career fields – boarded a bus Septeptember 11, 2017, for a flight aboard a C-5M to Homestead Air Reserve Base, Fla. Once in Florida, the Airmen will assist with Hurricane Irma relief efforts at the direction of the Federal Emergency Management Agency. The Airmen work in civil engineering, aerial port, public affairs, and logistics readiness. They’ll also assist their fellow reservists at Homestead with getting the base back up to operational status.
The Airmen are scheduled to be deployed to Homestead for about 30 days.
Across Westover Sept. 11, there was an energy and attitude that reflected urgency and dedication.
“We have a normal 72-hour response time,” said Senior Master Sgt. Derek Ouimette, 58th Aerial Port Squadron senior air reserve technician, “and we shattered this with less than nine hours from notification, to wheels up!”
Around 10 additional Airmen are expected to deploy between September 12-13, 2017, for the same cause. This brings the tally up to about 50 Westover Reserve Citizen Airmen.
The 439th Airlift Wing remains ready to further assist those in need following the hurricane’s destruction in Florida. More information on this ongoing humanitarian operation will be provided as soon as it becomes available.