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FORWARD OPERATING BASE SALERNO, Afghanistan (June 23, 2008) -
Imagine being a soldier out on the border of eastern Afghanistan
and your only connection to the rest of the world is a pallet of
supplies on the back of a foreign helicopter. That is what it is
like for coalition forces cut off and isolated throughout parts of
Afghanistan.
With the troops focused on combat missions, the Mesopotamia
Group created "Jingle Air" to move cargo in and out of
hard-to-reach locations.
Jingle Air offers helicopter services throughout
Afghanistan.
The name comes from Afghanistan's popular culture. People often
decorate with colors, ornaments, bells and paintings just about
anything they posses, including their transportation. The trucks of
Afghanistan are the most ornamented of all.
"Jingle Air is a key logistic enabler, which allows 4th Brigade,
Currahee Combat Team to conduct counterinsurgency operations in an
area roughly the size of West Virginia," said Army Maj. Jon Beale
of 801st Brigade Support Battalion, 4th Brigade Combat Team, and
Combined Task Force Currahee.
With a fleet of Mi-8 HIP heavy-duty helicopters and five flight
teams, Jingle Air can move up to 3.2 million pounds of cargo
throughout Afghanistan, said Army Capt. James E. Fager, officer in
charge of transportation and logistical operations for 801st BSB in
Forward Operating Base Sharana, Afghanistan.
"Jingle Air's track record speaks for itself," said Fager, who
explained the crew has conducted 20 emergency resupply missions in
conjunction with supporting many areas of operations. Last month
alone, Jingle Air moved 1.53 million pounds of cargo to troops out
in the field and to forward operating bases throughout
Afghanistan.
"The pilots of Jingle Air are very motivated to fly, and they
take a personal interest in making sure the operations go well,"
Fager said.
Jingle Air pilots hail from different countries and
nationalities. Still, they all work together toward a common goal:
to ensure the cargo gets to its destination.
"Jingle Air is a force multiplier, and it allows us to move
much-needed supplies and equipment," Fager said.
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