Story by U.S. Air Force Tech. Sgt. Kevin Wallace
Video by Pearl, John A MC1 USN
Regional Command-West Public Affairs
HERAT, Afghanistan (Feb. 28, 2011) – I’m a high-grade composite metal pallet specially constructed to be dropped out of high-flying aircraft and parachuted to a wide-array of various landing zones.
I’m quite certain there are many pallets just like me at Aeronautica Militare (Italian air force) bases across Italy and other coalition nations.
Italian army 1st Cpl. Maj. Ida Greco, 186th Parachute Regiment “Folgore,” from Pisa, Italy, prepares to inspect pallets prior to them being loaded onto an Italian C-130J Hercules at Camp Arena, Herat Province, Afghanistan, Feb. 25, 2011. The following day, the C-130 crew airdropped cargo pallets to forward operating bases in Badghis and Farah Provinces. (U.S. Air Force photo/Tech. Sgt. Kevin Wallace)
However, I relish in the knowledge that I’m a special pallet because
I am currently being used in Western Afghanistan, and will soon be loaded with vital life-sustaining supplies and dropped out of a C-130J Hercules to 8th Alpini Regiment (Italian mountain), and U.S. 7th Squadron, 10th Cavalry Regiment Soldiers at remote forward operating bases and combat outposts.
My mission is a grand one because I’m the artery that pumps vital supplies to servicemembers at isolated locations.
Merely days ago I was empty and piled along a wall with fellow pallets at a hanger on Camp Arena, Herat Province.
Italian soldiers and airmen prepare to load cargo pallets onto an Italian air force C-130J Hercules at Camp Arena, Herat Province, Afghanistan, Feb. 25, 2011. All Italian airdrops at Camp Arena are a joint mission with soldiers from the 186th Parachute Regiment “Folgore,” packing the pallets and parachutes, and airmen from the 46th Air Brigade, Task Group Albatros flying the missions. (U.S. Air Force photo/Tech. Sgt. Kevin Wallace)
Then my time came and I answered my nation’s call when Italian army 1st Cpl. Ida Greco, moved me to the hanger’s centre and began loading me with food and other supplies. “We provide logistic materials to the local population and Soldiers on the ground,” said Greco, who said her unit prepares for airdrops every week.
Though rolling out of the back of a C-130 and falling to the ground scares me, I believe the Soldiers here are dedicated to their task and prepared me properly.
Parachutes attached to cargo pallets begin to open, and slow the pallet descent as they fall toward a forward operating base in Badghis Province, Afghanistan, Feb. 26, 2011. The pallets were airdropped from an Italian C-130J Hercules to resupply the FOB and 16 surrounding combat outposts. (U.S. Air Force photo/Tech. Sgt. Kevin Wallace)
“Our job is difficult because we must take every precaution to properly pack pallets and get them airdrop ready,” said Italian army Cpl. Matteo Felli. We not only supply my army, but Americans and Afghans rely on us for food, medicine and gasoline.”
Once I was loaded with supplies and the contents were secured, soldiers placed me on a transport device they called a “K-Loader,” which they used to move me from the hangar directly to the rear of the C-130.
An Italian army soldier uses a forklift to move cargo pallets from a hanger to a ‘K-Loader’ at Camp Arena, Herat Province, Feb. 25. The pallets were then loaded onto a C-130J Hercules and airdropped to forward operating bases in Badghis and Farah Provinces Feb. 26. (U.S. Air Force photo/Tech. Sgt. Kevin Wallace)
There, the soldiers worked together with Italian airmen and secured me, along with 11 other pallets, into the aircraft.
Italian Maj. Andrea Quaglia, 46th Air Brigade, Task Group Albatros commander, explained the joint process. “My crew will check it, make sure everything is collected properly and then all together we will upload the airplane,” said Quaglia. “When everything is done, we are almost ready for the mission.”
Loadmasters push a cargo pallet into place aboard their Italian C-130J Hercules at Camp Arena, Herat Province, Afghanistan, Feb. 25, 2011. The following day, the C-130 crew airdropped cargo pallets to forward operating bases in Badghis and Farah Provinces. (U.S. Air Force photo/Tech. Sgt. Kevin Wallace)
Quaglia then described the challenges of flying an airdrop mission. “The most difficult thing is the location of the FOBs because they are inside valleys and it’s challenging to fly the airplane with cargo free to move – you have to maneuver to line up, to put the stuff on the point of impact,” said Quaglia. “Wind direction and intensity narrows the margin of error.”
That night I remained packed in the C-130 parked on the flighline. I relished in knowing that my day in the limelight would soon come, as the following day at around 5 a.m., air crews would be back to prepare the C-130 for flight.
Though the crews flew two airdrops Feb. 26, 2011, I was on the mission to a FOB in Bala Murghab Valley, Baghdis Province. The other mission was to a FOB in Gulistan, Farah Province.
As we cleared the mountains and entered the Bala Murghab Valley on approach to the drop zone, the loadmasters finished preparing us for the drop by removing the cargo straps securing us in place.
Gravity takes hold and pulls cargo pallets out of the back of an Italian C-130J Hercules above a forward operating base in Farah Province, Afghanistan, Feb. 26, 2011. The supplies were loaded at Camp Arena, Herat Province, Feb. 25. (U.S. Air Force photo/Tech. Sgt. Kevin Wallace)
Then, in mere seconds, the loadmaster pulled the final strap using a cable device and we quickly found ourselves rolling at high speeds to the tail of the plane, then out into the open skies, with a parachute slowing our fall.
As I fell to the ground, I saw Italian and U.S. Army Soldiers below, preparing to recover me. I knew that in the coming days, the contents packed upon me would be delivered to one of the 16 nearby COPs, and provide the Soldiers there much-needed supplies.
I felt my purpose was fulfilled.
Fourteen cargo pallets are airdropped from an Italian C-130J Hercules to resupply a forward operating base in Farah Province, Afghanistan, Feb. 26, 2011. The Italian air force not only supplies the Italian army. They also provide coalition partners and Afghans food, water, medicine and gasoline. (U.S. Air Force photo/Tech. Sgt. Kevin Wallace)
Though I’m merely a high-grade composite metal pallet on the surface, I was just part of sustaining coalition and Afghan lives, and I can scarcely think of anything more important.
On the final seconds of my fall, I recalled what Quaglia said the previous day about my role in supporting the ISAF mission.
“We’re delivering and transporting stuff all around Afghanistan as part of the ISAF coalition mission,” said Quaglia. “It looks like we are just supporting our FOBs but the job of FOBs is that of ISAF, to support Afghanistan people and make sure they can live inside their own country more freely.”
Video-Coalition Airdrops Sustain Security in Afghanistan
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