Supporting The Troops

In response to the question, “what do you do?”…The best answer is that we support the troops involved in the war fight. For every flight we complete, there is one less convoy on the road vulnerable to an IED attack. The motto around here is, if you are not actively fighting the war--you had better be helping.

In Iraq and Kuwait, we are the equivalent of a UPS or FedEx--except that we also haul passengers. We prioritize our missions around Blood, Medical Supplies, Ammunition, AOG Parts and Force Protection Equipment. When scheduling missions, we do not cater to rank…the focus is on priority cargo or personnel who have a need to support the troops in the field.

We fly under the radio call sign “BoxCar”. Due to our unusual flight tactics and the hard work of our predecessors, our Sherpa unit has inherited a legacy as THE workhorse aircraft in Iraq. When soldiers spot our ugly plane, view our unit patch or hear “BoxCar”, the reaction is typically one of the following; “You guys are crazy!” or “I love flying with you guys!” or “Man…did I get sick!” Although humbled by the positive response, we’re also amused by the perception that we fly reckless or with a “cowboy” attitude. The reality is we are conducting business in a professional manner when consideration is given to the threat.

Often our passengers travel “Space A”, which means unscheduled and load permitting. During fuel stops, we get a chance to mingle with our passengers and their stories cover a wide spectrum of the day-to-day duties in Iraq; soldiers transferring units or going on leave, traveling for medical procedures, interpreters, military lawyers, doctors, mechanics, inspectors, accident investigation teams, escorts transporting Iraqi Nationals, security personnel, engineers, civilian contractors, and my personal favorite—The Jingle Run—or bringing home the money. Since we travel all over the country, we get a unique perspective on the scope of Operation Iraqi Freedom (OIF).

The “BoxCar Guys” are no spring chickens—we are senior National Guard soldiers who have been around aviation awhile and are nearing the end of our military careers. For many unit members, this deployment serves as an opportunity to finally “do our part”. If you could see what we see…you would be impressed with the work ethic and conduct of the young American soldiers, some who must endure the stress of urban combat on a daily basis, and you would be very proud of the USA.