jrtc adventure day 3

This morning started at 3:15 a.m.  And it hurt, but I made it and I loved every minute of it.  Well, except for the minutes with the bugs, I could have done without the bugs, but I digress.   Today we hung out with the C-17 fellas and we had a 4:30 a.m. showtime at the training squadron to sit in on the aircrew's mission planning. Since I had to check out of lodging, I had the pleasure of waking extra early to deal with that ball of wax and then get to the squadron on time, which still didn't happen because of a lodging glitch, but they forgave my slight tardiness.  After the mission planning, they called for a crew bus and we were on our way to the flightline.  We arrived at the aircraft, and while the aircrew prepped for take-off, me and my fellow PA, SSgt Torres, poked around taking pictures, listening in to what they were talking about, and basically getting an overall feel for what they were doing.  While I've never underestimated the job of an aircrew member, it wasn't until today that I realized how detail INTENSIVE the job is.  Oh. my. Lord.  The numbers, the letters, the acronyms, making sure things are this and that and the other.  My brain hurt, and I was just watching.

So we took off from Little Rock and had a short enjoyable flight down to Alexandria, La. where we picked up members and equipment from the 621st Contingency Response Wing (located at McGuire AFB) that had come down to La. for the exercise.  They loaded the aircraft, which was absolutely not a small feat.  The had a multiple pallets of equipment, a pick up truck, a command and control center, and a lot more.  After everything was in place, it looked like they had put a puzzle together - everything fit perfectly.  I wish I had gotten a better aerial shot, so I could show you how packed it was, but they made it happen.

After the plane was loaded with the equipment and the 621st folks we took off to Fort Polk.  By this point, 3:15 a.m. was catching up with me, and the motion of the plane taking off put me right to sleep.  I was awoken about 45 minutes to an hour later by the aircraft making a hard left turn, I looked at my watch and noticed it was past the time we were supposed to have landed.  A few minutes later, the loadmaster told us we were turning around, the ground was too wet to land on safely.  So we went back to Alexandria, and they began unloading the plane.  In the meantime, other members of the 621st came up with another plan.  They had to get the equipment to Fort Polk, and the only way they could do it today was to drive it.  So they did.  They loaded what they could on trucks, the rest of the equipment would be delivered later by aircraft.  It was really cool to see everyone work together as a team.  And even when things hit a snag, they regrouped quickly and smoothly and figured it out together.

So here I am, at 10:00 p.m. in a hotel somewhere in Louisiana, absolutely exhausted.  Tomorrow I'll head back to see what the Contingency Response Wing folks are doing, and also check out the aeromedical evacuation portion of the mission.  I can't wait.  The best part about tomorrow?  I don't need to show until at least 9.  Hurray for catching up on sleep.

Major thanks to the Captains Thackaberry, Greeson and Freeman, and to the Staff Sergeants Jones and Hardesty for letting us hang out, poke around, climb on, and take pictures in your aircraft today.  And also thank you to the 621st Contingency Response Wing folks who were so helpful today in not only getting SSgt Torres and me down to Fort Polk, but also for making sure that we got lunch.

Until tomorrow, here's some pictures.  Enjoy!

[caption id="" align="alignnone" width="688" caption="This was just as we were preparing to leave for Little Rock. The sun was rising just behind the planes, it was a good morning for flying."][/caption]

[caption id="" align="alignnone" width="689" caption="Two members of the 621st CRW look on as a loader brings cargo to be put on the C-17."][/caption]

[caption id="" align="alignnone" width="693" caption="Just one of the massive pieces of machinery that team put aboard the C-17. This is box serves is where the 621st CRW operates command and control functions out of."][/caption]

[caption id="" align="alignnone" width="699" caption="This sign was on the side of one of the pieces of the equipment in the plane. I just thought it was funny."][/caption]

[caption id="" align="alignnone" width="685" caption="While the C-17 continued to be loaded with equipment. "][/caption]

[caption id="" align="alignnone" width="685" caption="This is me hanging out of the roof of a C-17. It's definitely not the best picture of me ever, but I was too geeked out at the fact that a C-17 had, what i've lovingly dubbed a "sunroof," to care."][/caption]