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An Airman from the 621st Contingency Response Wing, Travis Air Force Base, Calif., supports a chain with his boot while helping Airmen from the Arizona Air National Guard secure a vehicle in an Air Force C-17 Globemaster III at the Sky Harbor Air National Guard Base in Phoenix, Ariz., bound for New York to support Hurricane Sandy relief efforts, Nov. 3, 2012. The 621st CRW is specializes in training and rapidly deploying personnel to quickly open airfields and establish, expand, sustain and coordinate air mobility operations. (U.S. Air Force photo/Staff Sgt. Gustavo Gonzalez)

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An Airman from the 621st Contingency Response Wing, Travis Air Force Base, Calif., marshals an Air Force C-17 Globemaster III at the Sky Harbor Air National Guard Base in Phoenix, Ariz., bound for New York to support Hurricane Sandy relief efforts, November 3, 2012. The 621st CRW is specializes in training and rapidly deploying personnel to quickly open airfields and establish, expand, sustain and coordinate air mobility operations. (U.S. Air Force photo/Staff Sgt. Gustavo Gonzalez)

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Airman from the 621st Contingency Response Wing, Travis Air Force Base, Calif., and the Arizona Air National Guard, work together to secure a vehicle in an Air Force C-17 Globemaster III at the Sky Harbor Air National Guard Base in Phoenix, Ariz., bound for New York to support Hurricane Sandy relief efforts, Nov. 3, 2012. The 621st CRW is specializes in training and rapidly deploying personnel to quickly open airfields and establish, expand, sustain and coordinate air mobility operations. (U.S. Air Force photo/Staff Sgt. Gustavo Gonzalez)

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An Airman from the 621st Contingency Response Wing, Travis Air Force Base, Calif., tightens a chain while helping Airmen from the Arizona Air National Guard secure a vehicle in an Air Force C-17 Globemaster III at the Sky Harbor Air National Guard Base in Phoenix, Ariz., bound for New York to support Hurricane Sandy relief efforts, Nov. 3, 2012. The 621st CRW is specializes in training and rapidly deploying personnel to quickly open airfields and establish, expand, sustain and coordinate air mobility operations. (U.S. Air Force photo/Staff Sgt. Gustavo Gonzalez)

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A U.S. Air Force C-17 Globemaster III from Stewart Air National Guard Base, N.Y., takes off at the Sky Harbor International Airport in Phoenix, Ariz., bound for New York, containing electrical equipment and vehicles to support the Hurricane Sandy relief efforts, Nov. 3, 2012. The aircraft was loaded by aerial porters from Arizona Air National Guard's 161st Maintenance Group and the 621st Contingency Response Wing from Travis Air Force Base, Calif. The 621st CRW is specializes in training and rapidly deploying personnel to quickly open airfields and establish, expand, sustain and coordinate air mobility operations. (U.S. Air Force photo/Staff Sgt. Gustavo Gonzalez)

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621st CRW supports AZANG with Hurricane Sandy relief efforts

Published Nov. 6, 2012
By Staff Sgt. Gustavo Gonzalez
621st Contingency Response Wing Public Affairs

PHOENIX SKY HARBOR AIR NATIONAL GUARD BASE, ARIZ. -- -- The 621st Contingency Response Wing sent a Contingency Response Element to work closely with Arizona Air National Guard's 161st Air Refueling Wing to support them in their efforts to help restore power to the East Coast since Nov. 2.

The Travis Air Force Base, Calif., CRE from helped launch 16 aircraft in support of the Hurricane Sandy relief efforts. The C-5 Galaxy's and C-17 Globemaster III's contained utility vehicles, equipment and personnel from Arizona's Salt River Project and Arizona Public Service bound for New York. SRP and APS will support local utility companies and work to restore power to more than two million New Yorkers who have been without electricity since Monday.

Chief Master Sgt. Charles Monk, 621st CRW Command Chief was present to witness the CRE in action.

"I am really impressed with all of you," Monk said. "Everyone I've talked to has a great attitude and is enthused about the mission here to help support the Arizona Air National Guard in their hurricane relief efforts."

The CRE provides the command and control functions required to support Air Mobility Command's worldwide mobility operations. CREs normally conduct autonomous operations from austere locations but can also augment the infrastructure at established civilian or military airfields. CREs also provide minimum cargo loading and quick turn en route AMC mission support during mobility operations.

The CRE has been working 24-hour operations since arriving.