DoDLive Bloggers Roundtable: U.S. SOUTHCOM’s Support to Relief Operations in Chile

On an earlier DoDLive Bloggers Roundtable, U.S. Air Force Col. Byron Mathewson, commander of U.S. military forces deployed to Chile in support of earthquake relief operations provided bloggers with an update on U.S. SOUTHCOM’s support to relief operations in Chile.

During the roundtable, Mathewson discussed ongoing relief operations, but also included a summary of USAF C-130 relief support, Navy Assessment Team, and USAF Expeditionary Medical Support operations.

At the request of the Chilean government, the U.S. military is providing support to the ongoing relief efforts in Chile following the 8.8-magnitude earthquake that struck the nation Feb. 27.   About 150 U.S. military personnel have been working with local and international responders to provide relief to hard-hit areas.  All military operations are in support of USAID, which is orchestrating U.S. government contributions to the relief mission.

To listen to the podcast, click here.

To read transcript, click here.

To read the Defense.gov story, click here.

Joining us for the roundtable were Dale Kissinger, Military Avenue.com; Jim Dolbow, U.S. Naval Institute blog; and U.S. Air Force Live.mil.

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