9th ESOS delivers humanitarian aid in Iraq

  • Published
  • By 2nd Lt. Lauren Johnson
  • 1st SOW Public Affairs
HURLBURT FIELD, Fla. --  The 9th Expeditionary Special Operations Squadron out of Hurlburt Field recently performed a mission most people wouldn't expect in Operation Iraqi Freedom - instead of dropping bombs, they dropped food and school supplies.

A 9th ESOS crew flew near two villages in Iraq, where they dropped four bundles containing 100 pounds of sugar and flour, 92 cases of Meals, Ready to Eat, 92 cases of bottled water, 300 packets of school supplies and 30 backpacks.

The 9th ESOS, which flies the MC-130P Combat Shadow, specializes in the insertion, extraction and resupply of special operations forces, as well as providing air refueling of special operations helicopters.

They also airdrop supplies to areas where landing isn't possible or safe, and a captain mission navigator said the crew was ready for the challenge.

"We would love to do more airdrops out here, whether they are humanitarian or material resupply to our troops in the field," he said.

A fellow navigator agreed, saying "it felt great to be a part of such a worthy mission," but that it felt even better to have "hit the bull's-eye" with their drop.

The 9th ESOS planned the entire mission, including the route of flight and coordination with supporting ground forces.

The mission's pilot, a major Reservist from the 5th Special Operations Squadron at Duke Field, Fla., said the crew did a great job and handled the mission "flawlessly."

In order to achieve such precision, the captain said the 9th ESOS practices airdrops on every local mission back at Hurlburt Field.

The mission itself was a combined effort between air and ground forces and coalition partners. U.S. Special Forces standing by at the drop zone received the bundles and then turned the supplies over to Iraqi Security Forces, who distributed them to local villagers.

The captain said helping the Iraqi Security Forces distribute food, water and school supplies to the local population helps create a "positive atmosphere" between them and the locals, who in turn help "flush out the bad guys" to the security forces.

That effect is precisely what this mission was aiming for.

The two villages northeast of Baghdad were former staging areas for terrorist attacks against U.S. and Iraqi forces. After the area was cleared of al-Qaida during an Iraqi army operation in September, security forces immediately set up outposts in the villages to guard against their return.

This clear and hold strategy, combined with assisting the local population, has proven effective in other parts of Iraq, and there are high hopes for these two villages as well.

The captain summed it up for the crew when he said they were happy to support ground forces and to do their part in the Global War on Terrorism.

(The Multi-National Corps-Iraq Public Affairs Office contributed to this article)