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1st SOW among first military units on the ground in Haiti

  • Published
  • By Amy Oliver
  • 1st SOW Public Affairs
HURLBURT FIELD, Fla. --  The 1st Special Operations Wing put their readiness training to good use this week as they became among the first military responders to provide humanitarian assistance to Haiti after the devastating earthquake that rocked the island Tuesday evening.

Tuesday night, the 1st SOW put aircrew members into crew rest. They received the official tasking to support relief efforts early Wednesday morning. Their mission was to set the stage for the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) and other humanitarian assistance groups by clearing runways, establishing air traffic control operations and rendering medical aid as appropriate.

"The 1st SOW is postured to respond to worldwide contingencies at a moment's notice," said Col. Greg Lengyel, 1st SOW commander. "Southern Command tasked us to be among the first military units on the ground because they knew we could."

Twenty-six hours after the earthquake occurred, a 1st SOW MC-130H Combat Talon II arrived in Port-au-Prince, Haiti, with a Special Tactics Team from Air Force Special Operation Command's 720th Special Tactic Group, a security team and planners, and a small satellite communications package that provided rapid-response communications capabilities.

Twenty-eight minutes later, combat controllers with the Special Tactics team took control of the airfield.

Since then, MC-130H Combat Talon II's, MC-130PCombat Shadows and C-130E's from the 1st SOW have continued to deliver equipment to Haiti, such as generators, vehicles, fuel, food and water, and communications packages, as well as specialty teams like Special Operations Medical units and Special Tactics Teams.

"It's been a tremendous effort by the Wing to support the humanitarian operations in Haiti," said Colonel Lengyel. "The men and women of the 1st SOW are well-trained and equipped for these types of situations, and it shows."