An official website of the United States government
A .mil website belongs to an official U.S. Department of Defense organization in the United States.
A lock (lock ) or https:// means you’ve safely connected to the .mil website. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites.

Charleston crew delivers humanitarian aide

  • Published
  • By 2nd Lt Joe Simms
  • 315th Airlift Wing Public Affairs
RAMSTEIN, GERMANY --  Seven members of the 315th Airlift Wing, Charleston Air Force Base, S.C. delivered 11 pallets of soybean seeds to Ramstein Air Force Base, Germany over Memorial Day weekend as a part of the Denton Humanitarian Assistance Program.

The Denton Program allows non-governmental organizations to use space that is available on U.S. military assets to transport humanitarian goods and equipment to individuals in countries in need.

"These seeds will be used for planting to feed thousands of families is Afghanistan," said Jim Bailey, logistics manager with the Denton Program at Charleston AFB. "Many people in Afghanistan are undernourished and the products of the soybean harvest will provide high levels of protein to their diet."

Captain Brennan McDonald was one of the 315th AW pilots spending their Memorial Day weekend on this mission.

"I like the humanitarian aspect of these missions," said Capt. McDonald. "I think this is a great program and it's nice to be able to have a positive impact on the people of Afghanistan."

The Denton Humanitarian Assistance Program was created by former Alabama Senator and Vietnam prisoner of war, Jeremiah Denton. Mr. Denton understood the need for humanitarian assistance in developing third-world countries and in 1985 his program was implemented.

Categories of cargo include medical and dental equipment, education materials, food and clothing and emergency vehicles.

Soybean planting programs are now active in 31 provinces in Afghanistan and this shipment will be planed immediately to produce the needed supply for the September harvest.

"The buckets of soybeans will be taken to Kabul and distributed to farmers, by the Nutritional and Education International Foundation in conjunction with the Afghan Ministry of Agriculture," said Jim Bailey.

This mission was the final leg of a five-day, four-city tour where men and women of the 315th AW traveled from Panama City, Panama to Germany.

"This weekend is an example of the versatility of the C-17 and the wide-ranging missions Reservists are accomplishing every day," said 1st Lieutenant Mike Hart, pilot with the 317th Airlift Squadron. "I couldn't think of a better way of spending Memorial Day weekend."

Stay up to date with the 315th Airlift Wing at http://www.315aw.afrc.af.mil/. Follow the 315th on Facebook and Twitter.