Naval Station Guantanamo Bay (GITMO) Playing Critical Role in Haiti Relief – DoD Roundtable

Naval Station Guantanamo Bay (GTMO) has become a critical link in the logistics flow of supplies to Haiti in support of relief efforts. Located just 170 miles from Port-au-Prince the installation’s Task Force (TF) 48 commanded by U.S. Navy Rear Adm. Patricia E. Wolfe Supply Corps has been established with a joint Navy and Army team. The admiral spoke to the DoD Blogger’s Roundtable this morning to provide insight into the mission and contribution of the Task Force at Guantanamo Bay, and the criticality of the logistical effort to deliver life-saving humanitarian assistance to Haiti.

The admiral noted that Cuba has opened its airspace to over flight allowing international relief flights easier access to GTMO. This has aided their efforts with 15-30 aircraft a day transiting their field. The TF with over 100 personnel provides transhipment of supplies from ship to air and air to ship and responds to requests for specific supply needs from the Haitian government through TF Haiti. Aircraft and ships arriving at GTMO include commercial, US military and other military. The Dutch amphibious vessel, Pelican, arrived yesterday and took on a Navy dive team and supplies bound for Haiti demonstrating the continued international cooperation.

The USS Carter Hall, another amphibious ship with direct delivery capability to the shore with much needed supplies will arrive tomorrow. The admiral stated that the pier capability to receive supplies in Haiti improves daily and that they expect to receive high speed ferries and cargo vessels at TF 48 for long term re-supply efforts in about 2 weeks. The internal distribution system in Haiti still remains a challenge for the entire country but is improving. Her biggest challenge is the sheer volume of supplies arriving and passing through GTMO.

I asked her about morale at TF 48 and she said the sailors and soldiers were extremely proud of their efforts and are working with smiles on their faces as they realize how critical their efforts are for the citizens of Haiti! A big thank you to Admiral Wolfe and her TF 48 team at GTMO! Sometimes forgotten in the background, the logisticians continue to make us proud of their exceptional efforts to help the people of Haiti!

For the latest reports on DoD efforts in Haiti please go to the following MilitaryAvenue Article: Index of the US Military Response (chronologically listed).

To listen to the Roundtable please go to DoDLive!

Photo Credit: 100121-N-8241M-007 GUANTANAMO BAY, Cuba (Jan. 21, 2010) A Sailor assigned to Task Force (TF) 48 moves pallets of relief supplies at the airfield at Naval Station Guantanamo Bay (GTMO). TF-48 is leading the joint logistics hub at GTMO in the effort to transport humanitarian relief supplies to support Operation Unified Response after a 7.0 magnitude earthquake cause severe damage near Port-au-Prince on Jan. 12, 2010. (U.S. Navy photo by Chief Mass Communication Specialist Bill Mesta/Released)byColonel KonSaturday, January 23, 2010Email ThisBlogThis!Share to TwitterShare to FacebookShare to PinterestMilitary Life:Col K,DoD Roundtable,Haiti