Out of Africa

  • Published
  • By Col. Mark J. Vijums
  • 934th Airlift Wing/404th Air Expeditionery Group
Ramstein AB, Germany --  Africa is more than three times the size of the United States
It is the second largest continent in the world, yet it is the world's poorest and most underdeveloped continent
The average income in the Sub-Sahara region is 70 cents per day
It harbors 90 percent of the malaria cases in the world
More than 25 million people in Africa have AIDS

Because of its vital importance on the world stage, a decision in 2007 led to the creation of the U.S. African Command which led to the stand up of 17th Air Force in October 2008.
I am currently two months into a six-month deployment to the 17 AR, AFAFRICA, as the 404th Air Expeditionary Group commander based at Ramstein Air Base, Germany. So far, it has been a wonderful experience not only jumping in on a newly formed component numbered Air Force, but also taking a direct role in Air Force flying operations for the 53 nations that comprise AFRICOM. 

Assigned to the 404 AEG, I have two C-130s as my steady-state operations. In addition, I command all the other temporary flying operations that take place on the continent. One past operation included supporting the United Nations African Union mission in Darfur through United Nations African Mission in Dafur. Five C-17 sorties moved 136 short-tons of equipment over a three-day period. The two C-130s support all types of operations on the continent. Most of the missions support Operation ENDURING FREEDOM-Trans Sahara. These missions support the goals of building the African security capacity and promoting strategic partnerships. We've also been involved in numerous African partnership exercises most recently AFRICAN LION and SHARED ACCORD. The Hercs also support the Combined Joint Task Force-Horn of Africa channel missions to Ethiopia and Kenya for two weeks a month. 

Initially, the airlift requirements were trickling in, but this past month we've doubled our flying allowing only one to two days between missions before the aircraft are back in the air flying down to the continent. 

To this date, the 404 AEG C-130s have hauled 500 tons and a 1,000 passengers logging nearly 1,000 hours of flying time. About two-thirds of these totals have taken place in the past two months. Currently, the active duty has been filling the 404 AEG C-130 requirements. But the transition to Reserve and Guard flying is coming in September with Niagara Falls Air Reserve Station, N.Y., filling the requirement.
On the horizon, operations like JOINT ENTERPRISE may disappear with the need for AFAFRICA flying rapidly taking over, providing additional Reserve and Guard opportunities. 

This has truly been a rewarding assignment as you can tell from my description above. But I miss my "home" at the 934th AW and can't wait to see you all in September.