A07 Paraglide

February 11, 2010 7APARAGLIDEPARAGLIDE

by Spc. A.M. LaVeyXVIII Abn. Corps PAO

PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti — JointTask Force – Haiti is continuing itsefforts to support the World FoodProgram’s structured bulk fooddistribution program here.“February 5, elements of the task

force supported nongovernmentalorganizations in distributing 1.4millionbulk rations to165,000Haitiancitizens at 16 main distributionpoints,” said Col. Gregory Kane,director of operations for the JTF-Hand XVIIIAirborne Corps.Task force operations have gone

according plan, with U.S. forcesworking in cooperation with theUnited Nations, the government ofHaiti, andNGOs.

Most distribution points openaround 7 a.m. and are finishedissuing rations by 9 a.m. The processends around 2 p.m., and preparationfor the next day begins.“At the end of the day, we sit

down and assess what happenedthat day and when necessary, makeadjustments to make the wholeprocess better,” said Kane.“U.S. forces will move to where

there is still a need for us and we willgo where there are no other assets toassist,” said Kane. “In the upcomingdays, when more coalition forcesarrive, we will reorient ourselvesto the areas with less NGO and aidrepresentation.”“These techniques, capabilities

and levels of organization that weare employing here is what allows

the U.S. military to respond todomestic national emergencies,”Kane said. “This same infrastructurelends itself to immediate responseto international humanitarian aidmissions, as well.”The task force will remain here,

supporting the U.S. Agency forInternational Development as long asit is needed.“The military portion of the

operation, if you follow historicaltrends, will probably last 45 to 50days,” said Kane. “Then you will seeother agencies, both international andAmerican, step forward and take on alarger role.“Everyone here is working for

one effort and that is to provide aid,humanitarian relief and disasterassistance to the Haitian people.”

Soldiers continue to aid Haiti effortMail to Haitito begin soonby Spc. A.M. LaVeyXVIII Abn. Corps PAO

PORT-AU -PR INCE ,Haiti — U.S. postalinspectors have arrivedhere to conduct securityassessments and to helpset up an Army postoffice, as well as to assistwith the restorationof mail service to thee a r t h qu a k e - r a v a g edcountry.“We have 30 days from

the time we arrive incountry to set up militarymail service,” said Sgt. 1stClass Matthew Nelson,Joint Task Force - HaitiJ-1 noncommissionedofficer in charge. “Thecivilian postal inspectorswill determine whatneeds to be done beforewe have an Army postalunit arrive.”According to a U.S.

Postal Service pressrelease, this experiencedteam of postal inspectorshas sharpened its skillsin the aftermath of suchlarge-scale disasters asHurricane Katrina.One of the inspectors,

Kenneth Miller, has alsobeen battle-tested as theformer chief of postaloperations for the Iraqtheater, before he retiredfrom the Army.“This mission is a

lot different becausethe Haitian postalinfrastructure isnonexistent,” explainedMiller.Nelson also highlighted

the challenges ofimplementing mailservices in Haiti.“Postal service was

stopped because the mainfacility was destroyed, sothere is currently no mailcoming in or going out atthis time,” Nelson added.For this reason, the

postal inspectors andSoldiers have their workcut out for them.“We are going to have

to build this Army postoffice from the groundup,” said Miller.Re-establishing postal

services in Haiti requiresclose coordination withthe Department ofState, the U.S. Agencyfor InternationalDevelopment andvarious componentsof the Department ofDefense.The process of setting

up an Army post office

is a joint effort betweenthe DoD, the U.S. PostalService, and the liaisonbetween the two - theMilitary Postal ServiceAgency.“When the postal

inspectors turn in theirreport, the JTF-H willwork with MPSA andthe USPS to do whatneeds to be done to getpostal operations upand running,” said Lt.Col. Edward Allen, chiefof postal operations forJTF-H.There must be facilities

and personnel toaccomplish the mission.Transportation needsto be secured andcoordinated, postalSoldiers need to be incountry, routes needto be cleared, securitymeasures must be inplace, unit mail clerksmust be trained and thenecessary equipmentmust be in place.“To get to the point

where a Soldier canreceive mail here, wehave to build the airmailterminal at the airport sothat we can receive theincoming mail,” said.Allen. “From there, wetake the mail, receive itand sort it so that themail can be transportedto the units. The lackof postal infrastructurein Haiti will make itdifficult to meet the 30days guidance. In thebeginning, the post willbe limited in scale towhat can be sent andreceived.”The Soldiers tasked

with setting up the JTF-HArmy Post Office arefrom the 502nd PostalPlatoon, 502nd HumanResources Company,Brigade Troops Battalion,4th SustainmentBrigade, 13thSustainment Command(Expeditionary), FortHood, Texas.The postal platoon,

whose mission is to runa military post office andassist in mail terminaland distribution facilities,will have 48 hours to setup the APO, said Miller.“The middle of

February is the targetdate for postal operationsto begin. The ground hasalready been broken ona military mail terminaland the troops are ontheir way,” Miller said.