April 20, 2011

C-130s continue support of firefighting efforts in Texas and Mexico

PETERSON AIR FORCE BASE, Colo. – Six Department of Defense C-130 aircraft equipped with U.S.D.A. Forest Service, Modular Airborne Fire Fighting Systems and under the command and control of U.S. Northern Command, continue to support firefighting efforts in Texas and Mexico.Two C-130s, from the 302nd Airlift Wing at Peterson Air Force Base,

April 18, 2011

C-130s drop retardant over Texas wildfires

TYNDALL AIR FORCE BASE, Fla. –As the nation’s second most populous state and second largest in square miles, Texas continues to battle wildfires in all its 254 counties, many of the fires considered major. In a letter to the president on April 16, 2011, Texas Gov. Rick Perry requested federal assistance to help contain the fires, and Air

April 18, 2011

Firefighting operations continue in Texas

TYNDALL AIR FORCE BASE, Fla. – As dry conditions, high winds and a lack of rain continue to plague Texas, U.S. Air Force C-130s are responding to help douse the raging wildfires that have consumed nearly 1.5 million acres and destroyed more than 220 homes in Texas since Jan. 1.Air National Guard and Air Force Reserve units from across the

April 17, 2011

C-130s continue support of firefighting efforts in Mexico

LAUGHLIN AIR FORCE BASE, Texas - Two Department of Defense C-130 aircraft continued to support Mexican firefighting efforts to control wildfires in the Mexico state of Coahuila today by launching four aerial fire-fighting missions from here.The C-130s, from the 302nd Airlift Wing at Peterson Air Force Base, Colo., and under the command and

April 17, 2011

AFNORTH responds to Texas wildfires

TYNDALL AIR FORCE BASE, Fla. – Under the direction of the Joint Forces Air Component Commander for Air Forces Northern here, four C-130 Hercules aircraft equipped with fire fighting capabilities will deploy to respond to the wildfires that are plaguing South Texas.The C-130s will base their operations at Dyess Air Force Base in Abilene,

April 16, 2011

Colorado AF Reservists answer call to provide assistance for Mexico fires

PETERSON AIR FORCE BASE, Colo. - Approximately 30 Air Force Reservists and two Modular Airborne Firefighting System equipped C-130 Hercules from Colorado’s 302nd Airlift Wing will leave Saturday, April 16 to begin travel to support wildland fires in Northern Mexico, approximately 60 miles south of the Texas border. The MAFFS certified AF

April 8, 2011

NORAD, USNORTHCOM hold CBRN conference

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. - The North American Aerospace Defense Command and U.S. Northern Command wrapped up their annual Chemical, Biological, Radiological and Nuclear conference in Colorado Springs April 7.This year’s conference focused on the roles of the CBRN community and aimed to make clear what each organization’s responsibilities would be

April 1, 2011

1st Squadron, 13th Cavalry supports Border Patrol in Arizona

FORT BLISS, Texas - Equipped with the latest surveillance technology in the Army's inventory, the 1st Squadron, 13th Cavalry Regiment recently completed training in Arizona which also supported the U.S. Border Patrol's efforts to detect, deter and defeat transnational criminal organizations (referred-to as drug-trafficking organizations or drug

March 31, 2011

USNORTHCOM chief stresses disaster preparedness

WASHINGTON, D.C. - The United States must do more to prepare for natural disasters on the scale of the recent earthquake and tsunami in Japan, and more cooperation is necessary to combat transnational criminal organizations, the commander of U.S. Northern Command said here yesterday.In testimony before the House Armed Services Committee, Navy Adm.

March 29, 2011

Flexibility, teamwork key to smooth transition for DoD families from Japan

TRAVIS AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. - As family members made their way across the Pacific Ocean bound for the United States, scores of representatives from various agencies awaited their return at the Joint Reception Coordination Center here, led by members of U.S Army North.A network of experts from the Army, Air Force and Navy, along with civilians

March 25, 2011

A coalition of support - Military, civilian groups come together to welcome dependents home from Japan

PETERSON AIR FORCE BASE, Colo. - Stepping off the plane with her five-week old son, Airman 1st Class Megan Pencook wasn’t sure what to expect, but it sure wasn’t the applause she received from the more than 200 military and civilian personnel waiting for voluntary departees from Japan in the hangar at Denver International Airport March 24.“I

March 25, 2011

Army North teams continue to assist military families returning from Japan

FORT SAM HOUSTON, Texas – In support of Operation Pacific Passage, military and civilian members of U. S. Army North took the lead in setting up three reception centers on the U.S. West Coast and one in Denver to assist nearly 4,000 military family members who voluntarily returned to the United States in the aftermath of the Japanese

March 24, 2011

Just another 'dog day afternoon' for Airmen, Sailors

TRAVIS AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. - It was a 'dog day afternoon' March 23 for Air Force Staff Sgt. Chris Sawhill and Navy Petty Officer 2nd Class Aaron Green as they volunteered their time to help welcome transiting pets from Japan to the Joint Reception Coordination Center here. As family members made their way across the Pacific from various

March 23, 2011

Lewis-McChord assists family members back from Japan

JOINT BASE LEWIS-MCCHORD, Wash. -An influx of people arriving this week at the Seattle-Tacoma International Airport from the earthquake and tsunami-ravaged country of Japan have prompted a multi-agency response by the federal government.Thursday, the Defense Department offered eligible family members of United States servicemembers and some

March 22, 2011

Members voluntarily leave Japan in support of Operation Pacific Passage

TRAVIS AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. - More than 500 service members, dependants and civil service employees, who voluntarily departed Japan, arrived at Travis Air Force Base today aboard charted military flights in support of Operation Pacific Passage.U.S. Army North officials along with Team Travis members activated the Joint Reception Coordination