News/Features

USTRANSCOM’s motto embodied in Operation Fly Formula

United States Transportation Command

SCOTT AIR FORCE BASE, Ill. (AFNS)—“Together, we deliver” is U.S. Transportation Command’s motto, and it played out in real time in May 22. The first airplane importing 132 pallets, or 78,000 pounds, of specialty infant formula arrived at Indianapolis International Airport. The C-17 Globemaster III military transport aircraft was loaded the day before at Ramstein Air Base, Germany, kicking off Operation Fly Formula.

“Whether the needs are in Ukraine, India, or even right here at home; from deploying combat-credible forces, to providing vaccines, food, water and supplies during a pandemic or natural disaster, USTRANSCOM will deliver,” said Gen. Jacqueline D. Van Ovost, commander, USTRANSCOM. “Together with our industry partners, and allies and partners, we not only project and sustain the joint force to help ensure national security, but we continue to deliver hope, whenever and wherever.”

Typically, the process to transport this product from Europe to the U.S. would take two weeks. President Joe Biden announced Operation Fly Formula May 18, when he requested the Departments of Agriculture and Health and Human Services to “work expeditiously to identify any and all avenues to speed importation…” Biden further requested that over the next week to work with the Department of Defense to use contracted airlift to import the needed formula. In military jargon, that was an implied task and a warning order to USTRANSCOM, and planning started immediately.

Hours before the president’s announcement, U.S. Navy Vice Adm. Dee Mewbourne, USTRANSCOM deputy commander, learned of the impending mission.

“There is an emerging requirement to move baby formula into CONUS (continental U.S.) and it is anticipated that an EXECSEC memo (a document directing and authorizing the task) will be signed tonight or tomorrow to have formula moved via DoD-procured airlift,” he shared

Photo by Staff Sgt. Jacob Wongwai

A C-17 Globemaster III assigned to Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam, Hawaii carries pallets of infant formula at Ramstein Air Base, Germany, May 22. Hundreds of boxes of infant formula arrived from Switzerland and were unloaded, palletized and loaded on a C-17 for transport during Operation Fly Formula, an operation to quickly import infant formula to the United States that meets U.S. health and safety standards.

See USTRANSCOM, Page 13

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