Andersen Airmen keep HARRT beating

  • Published
  • By Staff Sgt. Veronica Pierce
  • 374th Airlift Wing Public Affairs
PADANG, Indonesia --  While U.S. Air Force medical professionals here provide care to victims of the recent Indonesian earthquakes, a group of Airmen are working behind the scenes to keep the operation running smoothly.

The 36th Contingency Response Group from Andersen Air Force Base, Guam, is providing operations support for the U.S. Air Force Humanitarian Assistance Rapid Response Team here. The team deployed to Indonesia Oct. 5 to provide medical assistance to local hospitals flooded with patients.

The CRG has Airmen from the 736th Security Forces Squadron, 36th Mobility Response Squadron, 644th Combat Communications Squadron and 554th RED HORSE Squadron, all from Andersen.

"This mission -- the HARRT package -- takes the communication control, base operations, and rapid deployment capabilities that are an inherent part of the air base opening mission, and allows us the ability to rapidly establish a medical capability anywhere in the theater," said Col. Dan Settergren, 36th CRG commander.

Although all HARRT members took part in setting up the mobile field hospital and living facilities, Airmen from the 554th RED HORSE continue to provide the expertise needed maintain the structures in an austere environment.

"Everything we have done here is what we train for," said Tech. Sgt. Eric Menard, 554th RED HORSE structural craftsman. "To be able to support the HARRT mission in any way possible makes it all worth it."

To maintain a stable working environment and a partnership with the local hospitals, the HARRT set up in an open field located close to the D. Jamil Hospital here. HARRT members were able to erect a base of operations -- complete with a mobile field hospital capable of providing care to patients with acute-to-major medical conditions -- living quarters, shower units and latrine facilities.

Sustaining an environment in which to live and work play a key role in successfully completing the mission, according to Colonel Settergren.

"It's really about looking at the big picture, looking at what we really need to do, taking the advice of your NCOs and the experts in the field, and getting the mission done," he said