Deployment Journal: More than just a pallet

  • Published
  • By Tech. Sgt. Kevin Wallace
  • 100th Air Refueling Wing Public Affairs
HERAT, Afghanistan --  I spent several days this week embedded with the Aeronautica Militare (Italian air force). Being that most of my deployment has been spent with Army units covering ground operations, it was a nice taste of 'blue,' to be back with crews of airmen, even if only for a few days.

During those days, I saw a couple of air drops, and was enthralled with what is usually a seemingly insignificant object.

Writing from the perspective of that object, I'll try to share what I feel it went through over the course of a few days.

I'm a high-grade composite metal pallet specially constructed to be dropped out of high-flying aircraft and parachuted to a wide array of various landing zones.

I'm quite certain there are many pallets just like me at Aeronautica Militare bases across Italy and other coalition nations.

However, I relish in the knowledge that I'm a special pallet because I am currently being used in Western Afghanistan. I'll soon be loaded with vital life-sustaining supplies and dropped out of a C-130J Hercules to 8th Alpini Regiment (Italian mountain), and U.S. 7th Squadron, 10th Cavalry Regiment Soldiers at remote forward operating bases and combat outposts.

My mission is a grand one because I'm the artery that pumps vital supplies to servicemembers at isolated locations.

Merely days ago I was empty and piled along a wall with fellow pallets at a hanger on Camp Arena, Herat Province.

Then my time came and I answered my nation's call when Italian army 1st Cpl. Maj. Ida Greco, 186th Parachute Regiment "Folgore," from Pisa, Italy, moved me to the hanger's center and began loading me with food and other supplies.

"We provide logistic materials to the local population and Soldiers on the ground," said Greco, who said her unit prepares for airdrops every week.

Though rolling out of the back of a C-130 and falling to the ground scares me, I believe the Soldiers here are dedicated to their task and have prepared me properly.

"Our job is difficult because we must take every precaution to properly pack pallets and get them airdrop ready," said Italian army Cpl. Maj. Matteo Felli, a Folgore parachutist soldier. "We not only supply my army, but Americans and Afghans rely on us for food, medicine and gasoline."

Once I was loaded with supplies and the contents were secured, soldiers placed me on a "K-Loader" transport vehicle, which they used to move me from the hangar to the rear of the C-130.

There, the soldiers worked together with Italian airmen and secured me, along with 13 other pallets, into the aircraft.

Italian Maj. Andrea Quaglia, 46th Air Brigade, Task Group Albatros commander, explained the joint process.

"My crew will check [the pallets], make sure everything is collected properly and then all together we will upload the airplane," said Quaglia. "When everything is done, we are almost ready for the mission."

Quaglia then described the challenges of flying an airdrop mission.

"The most difficult thing is reaching the location of the FOBs, because they're inside valleys and it's challenging to fly the airplane with cargo free to move - you have to maneuver to line up, to put the stuff on the point of impact," said Quaglia. "Wind direction and intensity narrows the margin of error."

That night I remained packed in the C-130 parked on the flighline. I relished in knowing that my day in the limelight would soon come, as the following day at the crack of dawn, air crews would be back to prepare the C-130 for flight.

The crews flew two airdrops Feb. 26, I was on the mission to a FOB in Bala Murghab Valley, Badghis Province. The other was to a FOB in Gulistan, Farah Province.

As we cleared the mountains and entered the Bala Murghab Valley on approach to the drop zone, the loadmasters finished preparing us for the drop by removing the cargo straps securing us in place.

Then, in mere seconds, the loadmaster pulled the final strap using a cable device and we quickly found ourselves rolling at high speeds to the tail of the plane, then out into the open skies, with a parachute slowing our fall.

As I fell to the ground, I saw Italian and U.S. Army Soldiers below, preparing to recover me. I knew that in the coming days, my contents would be delivered to one of the 16 nearby COPs, and provide the Soldiers there much-needed supplies.

I felt my purpose was fulfilled.

Though I'm merely a pallet on the surface, I was just part of sustaining coalition and Afghan lives, and I can scarcely think of anything more important.

On the final seconds of my fall, I recalled what Quaglia said the previous day about my role in supporting the International Security Assistance Force mission.

"We're delivering and transporting stuff all around Afghanistan as part of the ISAF coalition mission," said Quaglia. "It looks like we are just supporting our FOBs, but the job of FOBs is that of ISAF, to support Afghanistan people and make sure they can live inside their own country more freely."