Airmen Help Iraqis Mature Airdrop Capability

As Iraqi security forces and military units roll back the advances of ISIS terrorists across their country, Iraqi airmen, with the support of US airmen, have expanded the use of airdrops with their nation’s C-130 fleet. Over the last several months, airmen with the 386th Air Expeditionary Wing, which operates from an undisclosed air base in the Middle East, have worked with Iraqi airmen, according to a wing release. Last August, the Iraqis conducted a humanitarian aid airdrop, delivering five bundles of food to Amirli, Iraq. Since then, with training and advising assistance from the 737th Expeditionary Airlift Squadron, the Iraqis have flown more airdrops, including missions between Nov. 10 and Nov. 24, when they delivered 153 bundles with 168,300 pounds of humanitarian aid near Sinjar, Iraq, states the release. The airdrops have allowed food, medicine, and other supplies to reach Iraqi civilians who could not otherwise access it, and have served as a resupply method for Iraqi troops, said Lt. Col. Greg Young, 386th Expeditionary Operations Support Squadron commander. Airmen have assisted Iraqi riggers and loadmasters to prepare flights, assess goals, and develop operations plans.