Operation Deep Freeze 2010-11 concludes in Antarctica

  • Published
  • By Master Sgt. Kerry Jackson
  • 13th Air Force Public Affairs
JOINT BASE PEARL HARBOR-HICKAM, Hawaii --  The U.S. military concluded its 55th year of support to the U.S. Antarctic Program and National Science Foundation activities as part of Operation Deep Freeze 2010-2011 in Antarctica on March 1.

Operation Deep Freeze 2010-2011, the U.S. military's operational and logistic support of the NSF's scientific research activities in Antarctica, began on Aug. 5 when a C-17 Globemaster III from Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Wash., deployed to Christchurch, New Zealand. During winter fly-in operations, the total force 304th Expeditionary Airlift Squadron transported 493 passengers and 442, 000 pounds of cargo between Christchurch, New Zealand, and McMurdo Station, Antarctica.

"Year after year, the men and women of the Joint Task Force execute their mission in this challenging environment, whether by land, sea, or air. Their work supports important scientific research by the NSF and the USAP." said Col. Paul Sheppard, Deputy Commander, Joint Task Force-Support Forces Antarctica (JTF-SFA). "Antarctica is no place for complacency. The impressive safety records of the LC-130, C-17, and heavy sealift assets are evidence that our military support forces do their jobs smartly."

This was an historic first for the ODF mission, as this was the first time the USAP requested Night Vision Goggles be used with the C-17 to transport mission essential personnel and equipment in complete darkness. In two previous seasons, the 304th EAS trained with NVGs to refine and demonstrate their ability to land at McMurdo in total darkness. Following the success of these missions, the USAP and JTF-SFA have an important new capability on the ice.

"As in the fighter community, NVGs offer ODF a vital capability and an extraordinary force multiplier.," said Lt. Col. Ed. Vaughan, McMurdo detachment commander and deputy commander of the 13th Air Expeditionary Group here. "NVGs make it possible for our crews to operate anytime from their staging area in Christchurch, New Zealand, giving the NSF and USAP year-round airpower access to McMurdo if required."

Main-season operations began Sept. 28 with C-17 crews delivering personnel and cargo on 69 roundtrips from Christchurch to McMurdo. The ODF main season corresponds to the austral spring and summer in Antarctica, roughly October through February, with early season activities prior to that.

The Joint Task Force Support Forces Antarctica team is comprised of active, Guard and Reserve servicemembers from the U.S. Air Force, Army, Navy and Coast Guard. The team supported the NSF and USAP by providing C-17 Globemaster III strategic inter-theater airlift, LC-130 Ski-Bird airlift and air-drop support, aeromedical evacuation support, emergency response, sealift, seaport access, bulk-fuel supply, port-cargo handling, and transportation requirements.

This unique joint and total force mission has supported the NSF and USAP since 1955 and is led by 13th Air Force here. Lieutenant General Stanley Kresge serves as both the 13th Air Force and JTF-SFA commander.

To provide this logistical support, JTF-SFA employed C-17s from Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Wash.; LC-130 Ski-Birds from Stratton Air National Guard Base, N.Y.; both a tanker ship and chartered container ship from the Military Sealift Command, headquartered in Washington D.C., as well as specialized cargo handlers from Navy Cargo Handling Battalion-One at Naval Weapons Station Yorktown Cheatham Annex, Va., and the 834th Transportation Battalion in Port Hueneme, Calif.

During the 2010-2011 season, LC-130 aircrews from the 109th Airlift Wing at Stratton flew 406 on-continent missions, transporting thousands of passengers and 11.3 million pounds of cargo and fuel from the main U.S. base at McMurdo Station, Antarctica, to the South Pole and other research outposts on the continent.

Additionally, C-17 aircrews from the 62nd and 446th Airlift Wings at Joint Base Lewis-McChord flew 69 missions between Christchurch, New Zealand, and McMurdo Station, transporting 5,494 passengers and more than 4.9 million pounds of cargo. They did this while also demonstrating an on-time, on-target South Pole airdrop capability.

"The Airmen, Soldiers and Sailors who support the ODF mission continue to ratchet up the level and quality of support they provide to the NSF and USAP. They should be proud of the great work they do." said Colonel Sheppard.