ST. KITTS AND NEVIS -- During a combined humanitarian and training mission, a C-17 Globemaster III from the 315th Airlift Wing, Joint Base Charleston, South Carolina, delivered educational supplies to St. Kitts and Nevis on July 25, 2020.
The mission was planned to maintain the aircrews flying readiness requirements, while also delivering school supplies to the citizens of St. Kitts and Nevis.
“I enjoy flying the Denton cargo missions because it’s a real win-win scenario,” said Major John Williams, Pilot with the 317th Airlift Squadron, Joint Base Charleston. “The reservists win by getting enhanced training for pilots and loadmasters so we are more proficient at our jobs, the donating organizations and the recipients win by receiving humanitarian cargo to improve people’s quality of life.”
The school supplies were donated by Source Relief Non-Profit Organization. The donated cargo totaled over 10,000 pounds and was valued at around $20,000. According to Source Relief, the donating organizations, the school supplies are estimated to touch the lives of nearly 1,000 people.
“It’s amazing to be able to help out the people in St. Kitts and Nevis,” said Chris Findlay, Founder of Source Relief. “We have had the opportunity to work with the people of St. Kitts and Nevis on multiple occasions and like to be able to give back to the community.”
These missions are planned in advance and are major peacetime functions of the Air Force Reserve’s airlift fleet. They allow for aircrews to accomplish training and readiness requirements and practicing their skills while also being involved with delivery of humanitarian aid.
The cargo was donated by charities in the U.S. and airlifted in conjunction with the Denton Amendment, a State Department/USAID program that enables humanitarian charities and U.S.-based nongovernmental organizations to use space available on military cargo aircraft to transport humanitarian goods to countries in need. Consequently, these missions are flown at no additional cost to the U.S. taxpayers. Once delivered, the cargo will be received by local outreach organizations, who then distribute the supplies. Special precautions are taken to ensure that the cargo benefits the intended recipients.
More information on the Denton program can be found at https://www.jbcharleston.jb.mil/News/Article-Display/Article/930963/denton-program-providing-worldwide-humanitarian-support/.