Briefs
Advertiser Staff and News Services
AIR FORCE
Tripler to treat typhoon victims
An Air Force C-17 Globemaster III was scheduled to bring four injured civilians from Micronesia to Hickam Air Force Base at 2 a.m. today on a flight from Guam.
The patients, who have injuries sustained during Typhoon Chata'an, will be taken to Tripler Army Medical Center.
Hickam has sent a relief team to Guam to assist in cleanup and recovery efforts in the aftermath of the typhoon. A 20-member team from the 15th Civil Engineer Squadron left Hickam for Andersen Air Force Base on Thursday.
The active-duty troops deployed on a Hawai'i Air National Guard KC-135 aircraft to assist on Guam, which was hit July 5 by more than 100-mile-per-hour winds that knocked out power across the island and damaged buildings.
A second typhoon, Halong, barely missed Guam on Wednesday.
"We're anxious to do what we can to help," said Tech Sgt. Moses Pauole as he boarded the KC-135. "This is a real-world mission."
Pauole and his fellow engineers are setting up generators across the island to help in the recovery effort.
Prior to the team's arrival, the 15th Logistics Support Division, the 735th Air Mobility Squadron and the Hawai'i Air National Guard 154th Wing processed 263,000 pounds of supplies in a joint effort throughout the week.
Three C-5 Galaxy aircraft loaded with nearly 400 pallets of relief supplies from the Federal Emergency Management Agency followed the engineers on Thursday. More relief was sent on a C-5 on Friday. Compact stoves, chain saw, Meals Ready to Eat, camping kits, generators, air conditioners and bottled water were among the items being flown to Guam.
The Hickam troops deployed to Guam are expected to return within 30 days.
NATIONAL GUARD
Army Guard in annual training
Soldiers from the Hawai'i Army National Guard are spending two weeks of annual training with their units. The training began Saturday and continues until July 27.
Exercises this year include live-fire training at Pohakuloa Training Area on the Big Island, infantry training at Schofield Barracks, and combat support troop encampments at Dillingham Airfield.
Hawai'i Army National Guard soldiers devote one weekend every month and 15 additional days per year to training in support of federal or state missions.
Commanded by Brig. Gen. Clarence M. Agena, the Hawai'i Army National Guard has three major commands: the 29th Separate Infantry Brigade at Kalaeloa; the 103rd Troop Command in Pearl City; and the 298th Regiment, Regional Training Institute at Bellows Air Force Station.
New helicopters for Army Guard
The Hawai'i Army National Guard recently conducted induction and blessing ceremonies on the Big Island for four new UH-60L Black Hawk utility helicopters at the Guard's Army Aviation Support Facility 2.
The four all-weather Black Hawks belong to Company D, 1st Battalion, 207th Aviation. The 35-member unit's mission is to provide command and control air transport of personnel and equipment for combat support and combat service support.
The Guard is expected to receive four additional new Black Hawks.
