Air Force Reservists from the 315th Airlift Wing at JB Charleston, S.C., recently delivered more than 124,000 pounds of humanitarian aid to Haiti, Panama, and Honduras. During their two-day mission in early February, the Reservists unloaded rice, water, and medical and school supplies, according to a wing release. Two C-17 Globemasters from the 300th Airlift Squadron and the 701st AS transported the aid. “These missions can be challenging with the mountainous terrain, language barriers, and any other [issues] that come up,” said Maj. Ronnie Schier, pilot and operations officer from the 701st AS. However, they keep “Reservists ready. And, if we can help people while staying current, that is a plus,” he added.
The emphasis on speed in the Pentagon’s newly unveiled slate of acquisition reforms may come with increased near-term cost increases, analysts say. But according to U.S. defense officials, the new weapons-buying construct provides the military with enough flexibility to prevent runaway budget overruns in major programs.
