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U.S. Marine Corps Master Gunnery Sgt. Scott H. Stalker, U.S. Space Command (USPACECOM) command senior enlisted leader, left, listens to U.S. Air Force Col. Karen Slocum, 9th Combat Operations Squadron (9 COS) commander, at Space Delta 1’s auditorium on Vandenberg Space Force Base, Calif., May 6, 2023. Stalker gave a mission brief of USSPACECOM and how the 9 COS plays a vital role in space operations. The 9 COS is an Air Force Reserve Command space operations unit and is the Reserve Associate unit to Space Delta 5, which augments intelligence, planning and operations at the Combined Space Operations Center. (U.S. Space Force photo by Tech. Sgt. Luke Kitterman)
U.S. Air Force Lt. Col. Jack Barnett, 9th Combat Operations Squadron (9 COS) chief, left, asks a question to U.S. Marine Corps Master Gunnery Sgt. Scott H. Stalker, U.S. Space Command command senior enlisted leader, at Space Delta ‘s auditorium on Vandenberg Space Force Base, Calif., May 6, 2023. Stalker opened the floor up for a Q &A portion after his brief to 9 COS members. The 9 COS is an Air Force Reserve Command space operations unit and is the Reserve Associate unit to Space Delta 5, which augments intelligence, planning and operations at the Combined Space Operations Center. (U.S. Space Force photo by Tech. Sgt. Luke Kitterman)
U.S. Marine Corps Master Gunnery Sgt. Scott H. Stalker, U.S. Space Command (USPACECOM) command senior enlisted leader, middle, sits with members of the 9th Combat Operations Squadron (9 COS) and other USSPACECOM attendees during a 9 COS mission brief at the Combined Force Space Component Command headquarters on Vandenberg Space Force Base, Calif., May 6, 2023. The 9 COS is an Air Force Reserve Command space operations unit and is the Reserve Associate unit to Space Delta 5, which augments intelligence, planning and operations at the Combined Space Operations Center. (U.S. Space Force photo by Tech. Sgt. Luke Kitterman)
U.S. Marine Corps Master Gunnery Sgt. Scott H. Stalker, U.S. Space Command (USPACECOM) command senior enlisted leader, briefs members of the 9th Combat Operations Squadron (9 COS) at Space Delta 1’s auditorium on Vandenberg Space Force Base, Calif., May 6, 2023. Stalker gave a mission brief of USSPACECOM and how the 9 COS plays a vital role in space operations. The 9 COS is an Air Force Reserve Command space operations unit and is the Reserve Associate unit to Space Delta 5, which augments intelligence, planning and operations at the Combined Space Operations Center. (U.S. Space Force photo by Tech. Sgt. Luke Kitterman)
U.S. Marine Corps Master Gunnery Sgt. Scott H. Stalker, U.S. Space Command (USPACECOM) command senior enlisted leader, left, listens to a 148th Space Operations Squadron mission brief from U.S. Air Force Maj. Ruben Carrillo, 148 SOPS director of operations, at the Vandenberg Tracking Station on Vandenberg Space Force Base, Calif., May 6, 2023. The 148 SOPS is an Air National Guard satellite control unit which operates the Air Force’s MILSATCOM systems providing the warfighter with communication capabilities. In time of emergency, by order of the Governor of California, the 148 SOPS can also provide military support to civil authorities to the California Joint Force Headquarters Operations Center (Command and Control) and Joint Incident Site Communications Capability for cyberspace. (U.S. Space Force photo by Tech. Sgt. Luke Kitterman)
U.S. Marine Corps Master Gunnery Sgt. Scott H. Stalker, U.S. Space Command (USPACECOM) command senior enlisted leader, middle, and other USSPACECOM members look at a timeline of newsworthy events pertaining to the 148th Space Operations Squadron (148 SOPS) at the Vandenberg Tracking Station on Vandenberg Space Force Base, Calif., May 6, 2023. The 148 SOPS is an Air National Guard satellite control unit which operates the Air Force’s MILSATCOM systems providing the warfighter with communication capabilities. In time of emergency, by order of the Governor of California, the 148 SOPS can also provide military support to civil authorities to the California Joint Force Headquarters Operations Center (Command and Control) and Joint Incident Site Communications Capability for cyberspace. (U.S. Space Force photo by Tech. Sgt. Luke Kitterman)
U.S. Marine Corps Master Gunnery Sgt. Scott H. Stalker, U.S. Space Command (USPACECOM) command senior enlisted leader, second from right, and gets an overview of the MILSATCOM mission the 148th Space Operations Squadron (148 SOPS) provides to the warfighter at the Vandenberg Tracking Station on Vandenberg Space Force Base, Calif., May 6, 2023. In time of emergency, by order of the Governor of California, the 148 SOPS can also provide military support to civil authorities to the California Joint Force Headquarters Operations Center (Command and Control) and Joint Incident Site Communications Capability for cyberspace. (U.S. Space Force photo by Tech. Sgt. Luke Kitterman)
U.S. Marine Corps Master Gunnery Sgt. Scott H. Stalker, U.S. Space Command (USPACECOM) command senior enlisted leader, gives a USSPACECOM mission brief to 148th Space Operations Squadron members at the Vandenberg Tracking Station on Vandenberg Space Force Base, Calif., May 6, 2023. The 148 SOPS is an Air National Guard satellite control unit which operates the Air Force’s MILSATCOM systems providing the warfighter with communication capabilities. In time of emergency, by order of the Governor of California, the 148 SOPS can also provide military support to civil authorities to the California Joint Force Headquarters Operations Center (Command and Control) and Joint Incident Site Communications Capability for cyberspace. (U.S. Space Force photo by Tech. Sgt. Luke Kitterman)

JB San Antonio Airmen support Türkiye, Syria earthquake relief efforts

  • Published
  • By Jim Bono
  • 502nd Air Base Wing Public Affairs

Airmen assigned to Joint Base San Antonio’s 502nd Logistics Readiness Squadron, in coordination with the Air Force Medical Readiness Agency, prepared approximately 68 short tons of medical equipment for movement to Incirlik Air Base, Türkiye, in less than 48 hours.

The medical supplies will be used to help the people affected by recent devastating earthquakes that struck south-central Türkiye and parts of Syria in recent weeks.

“This type of mission allows our team to demonstrate all our capabilities here at the air terminal,” said Capt. Joe Arguijo, 502nd Logistics Readiness Squadron director of operations. “At first, we needed to make sure all the teams participating were in concurrence with the plan, and once we came together, we executed the mission seamlessly.”


The team mobilized to build pallets for commercial transport from Kelly Field and conducted airfield operations functions in support of the movement.

According to the team, the support pallets included critical lifesaving medical supplies needed for the Türkiye humanitarian mission.

This was a combined operation involving four different squadron-level organizations including ground transportation, the traffic management office, air transporters and logistics planners. It took the team about 11 hours of thorough inspection to ensure the cargo was safe for flight.

“The team was motivated to support such an important mission given the health and trauma needs on the ground in Türkiye,” said Col. Shamekia Toliver, 502nd Installation Support Group commander. “They met the 48-hour need time with 12 hours to spare, and I could not be prouder of our team.”

The supplies were airlifted Feb. 22 to Incirlik Air Base, where they will be shipped to the affected region.

There have been multiple major earthquakes in Türkiye and Syria since Feb. 6. To date, nearly 50,000 people have died in both Türkiye and Syria, and many thousands more are injured. The United States has committed to providing humanitarian aid to the region.