DoDLive Bloggers Roundtable: HM-15 Pilots Discuss Pakistan Relief Efforts

Lt. Sean Snyder, pilot, left; and Naval Air Crewman Second Class Kevin Strickhouser, right. Photo courtesy of Office of the Defense Representative Pakistan.

U.S. Navy Lt. Sean Snyder, pilot, and Naval Air Crewman Second Class Kevin Strickhouser, members of the U.S. Navy’s Helicopter Mine Countermeasures Squadron 15 (HM-15) Detachment 2 participated in a DoDLive Bloggers Roundtable, Aug. 19, and are supporting the Government of Pakistan by flying relief missions from the Ghazi Air Force Base in Pakistan.

HM-15 pilots, who fly the MH-53E “Sea Dragon” discussed their participation in the relief effort. The United States has responded immediately and generously to Pakistan’s call for assistance following the tragic and devastating floods that began July 29. To date, the U.S. has pledged to provide approximately $76 million in assistance to flood-affected populations in Pakistan.

There currently are 22 U.S. military and civilian aircraft in Pakistan in support of flood relief operations. U.S. helicopters have evacuated more than 4600 people and delivered more than 500,000 pounds of relief supplies. In addition, U.S. military cargo aircraft based in Afghanistan have transported more than 194,000 pounds of international aid from the Pakistan Air Force’s Central Flood Relief Cell in Rawalpindi, Pakistan, to required locations throughout the country in support of Government of Pakistan airlift support requests.

Listen to the interview.

Read the transcript.

Read the Defense.gov story: “Navy Choppers Provide Aid to Pakistani Flood Victims

To learn more about U.S. military relief operations in Pakistan, visit Defense.gov.

Video/Photo coverage:
DVIDs Latest video on Pakistan floods
Photos from Pakistan Disaster Relief

Joining us on the call were Chris Albon, of Conflict Health; Chuck Simmins, of America’s North Shore Journal; Andrew Lubin, of the Military Observer; Maggie of Boston Maggie; Thomas Goering, of Navy Cyberspace; Philip Ewing of Scoop Deck; Craig Hooper, of the U.S. Naval Institute; John Doyle, of 4Gwar; Andrew Miller, of ABC News; Gail Harris, of Foreign Policy Association; Jeff Schogol, of Stars and Stripes; and Ali Chishti, of AK Chishti.

Check out these other posts:

  • http://navylive.dodlive.mil/2010/08/18/listen-live-to-navy-helicopter-pilots-assisting-in-pakistan/ 2010 08 18 Listen-live-to-navy-helicopter-pilots-assisting-in-pakistan

    Two pilots from U.S. Navy Helicopter Mine Countermeasures Squardron (HM-15) Detachment 2, who fly the MH-53E “Sea Dragon” will discuss their participation in the Pakistan relief effort Thursday, August 19 at 9:00 a.m. EDT live on DoDLive Bloggers Roundtable.

  • http://oscilent.com/catalog/Category/crystal_filter.html Crystal Oscillator

    “more than 194,000 pounds of international aid from the Pakistan Air Force’s Central Flood Relief Cell in Rawalpindi, Pakistan, to required locations throughout the country in support of Government of Pakistan airlift support requests.”I have no idea why we don't hear more about theses kind of great efforts on our news stations.Keep Up The Good Work!

  • Bounce House Rental

    Great work Guys! I agree let's get more of this in the news!

  • SEO Seattle

    $76 million in assistance to flood-affected populations in Pakistan would do a lot to help the Pakistan. That is awesome!

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