BACK FROM GAZA AID AIRDROP MISSION
//STORY BY DARREN KHO /PHOTOS BY CHAI SIAN LIANG & COURTESY OF INTERVIEWEES & RSAF
On 25 Aug, the Republic of Singapore Air Force's (RSAF's) C-130 transport aircraft returned to Singapore after completing the Singapore Armed Forces’ (SAF’s) delivery of the ninth tranche of humanitarian aid to Gaza. This was also the second airdrop operation to send aid to the region.
During the two-week mission, which involved 58 personnel from the SAF and other defence partners such as ST Engineering, the C-130 transport aircraft flew five sorties to deliver a total of 14.9 tons of humanitarian load.
The relief aid was consolidated by the Changi Regional Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief Coordination Centre and included medical supplies from the Ministry of Health and food supplies from Non-Governmental Organisations Humanity Matters; Caritas Humanitarian Aid and Relief Initiatives Singapore; Mercy Relief; and the Rahmatan Lil Alamin Foundation.
At the helm
Lieutenant Colonel (LTC) C Teeneshwaran, Commanding Officer of 122 Squadron (SQN), was the Air Mission Commander, overseeing the planning, coordination, and execution of the airdrop.
This involved working with various teams within the SAF, as well as foreign militaries that had different operating norms.
"A lot of things were new for us – the climate and operating environment were different," said the 37-year-old C-130 pilot.
“The biggest challenge was ensuring the loads reached their intended area without hitting buildings, infrastructure, or people (because) unlike in a training environment, we did not have the luxury of a sanitised drop zone,” he added.
LTC Teeneshwaran credits his previous overseas missions with preparing him for the demands of this deployment. These include the delivery of humanitarian aid to Myanmar in April following an earthquake, and the delivery of oxygen cylinders to India during the COVID-19 pandemic.
For the soldiers, the challenge was not only in learning to operate in an unfamiliar environment, but also in contending with the extreme heat – temperatures could range from 40 to 44 degrees Celsius!
Loadmaster 3rd Warrant Officer (3WO) Keith Ho from 122 SQN noted that special measures were put in place to prevent heat injuries and enable the troops to work safely and efficiently.
He explained: “To overcome (the heat), the team used cooling vests and followed the SAF's work-rest cycle with proper hydration routines.”
The 33-year-old was responsible for inspecting the loads to make sure they were correctly rigged, and readying the aircraft for flight ahead of the airdrop.
Working together for a common goal
For aerial cargo rigger 1st Sergeant (1SG) Muhammad Faisal Bin Sharudin, teamwork was key to overcoming the punishing temperatures.
The 27-year-old was part of the team from the Singapore Army’s 3rd SAF Transport Battalion (3TPT) who saw to the safe and secure rigging of the humanitarian loads before each airdrop.
“Due to the hot climate, we took turns to rig up the loads so that we have time to both work and rest,” said the 27-year-old, who was grateful for the unity displayed by his fellow riggers.
As Load Inspector, 1SG Faisal was also responsible for carrying out stringent checks on the loads before they were moved onto the aircraft.
Mission accomplished
This was 1SG Faisal’s first overseas mission, and the deployment has been an eye-opening experience.
“The most memorable part was the feeling of joy and satisfaction in knowing that our hard work had paid off. My heart was full,” he said, adding that he now knew not to take basic supplies for granted, understanding that civilians in a conflict zone did not have access to them.
The groom-to-be, who will be getting married at the end of September, also thanked his family for their support, and especially his fiancée who handled the wedding planning while he was away.
Likewise, 3WO Ho was happy to see his loved ones again after two weeks and assuage their worries.
“My wife was supportive but anxious (when I left for this mission). My mother was worried about me going to a conflict zone, but I reassured her by (explaining to her) the training I had undergone.”
As for LTC Teeneshwaran, he was heartened to see the professionalism and adaptability of his team, which allowed everything to come together like clockwork.
“Our training and high standards seamlessly materialised in allowing us to achieve what we set out to accomplish.”
