BASSETERRE, St. Kitts and Nevis — Members from the 315th and 437th Airlift Wings delivered nearly 10,000 pounds of humanitarian aid April 6, 2019, to St. Kitts-Nevis. The condensed missions provided active-duty Airman and Reservists the opportunity to accomplish required training, as well as the opportunity to give back through the humanitarian mission.
“This is a win-win,” said Senior Master Sgt. Ken Hundemer, loadmaster with the 317th Airlift Squadron, Joint Base Charleston. Hundemer works as the Denton Program manager in Charleston in his civilian career.
The aid was coordinated through the Denton Program, a program enacted in 1985 that provides non-governmental agencies, international organizations and private voluntary donors the opportunity use military aircrafts when there is space available to transport humanitarian aid.
According to the Denton application, it is estimated 13,000 St. Kittitian households are classified as poor with approximately 25 percent of the population generating less than $53 of weekly income.
“Seeing the smiles on the people’s face when they receive the meals make it all worthwhile,” said Chris Findlay, aid partner, CEO and President of Source Global purchasing and logistics of Mount Pleasant, S.C. who was on hand to help accept the delivery.
These food packets will provide 70,000 safe and nutrition enriched meals to 5,952 men, women and children of St. Kitts and Nevis, as stated by the community-based organizations of ATime4US Foundation, Incorporated, Mickey’s HOPE, and the Ministry of Social Services and Community Development.
In addition to providing aid to those in need, the mission provided the opportunity for a joint aircrew to obtain required mission training.
“This is an excellent opportunity to enhance the Air Force’s training mission, as well as meeting the humanitarian aspect,” Hundemer said.
The mission provided Capt. Amanda Harman, 14th Airlift Squadron C-17 pilot, the chance to receive cross-ocean training, which is mandatory for pilots to accomplish at least twice a year. Cross-ocean training is normally conducted on a longer timeline of five to 10 days, but this mission allowed Harman the opportunity to accomplish it in two days.
“I’m grateful to have had the opportunity to train with the experienced pilots of the 315AW and I look forward to future missions,” Harman said.