Aerial porters support little known program Published Aug. 2, 2006 By SrA Chris Bolen 434th ARW Public Affairs GRISSOM AIR RESERVE BASE, Ind -- Just outside Grissom's fence is the warehouse of an innovative joint-service, inter-agency, civil/military operation that most don't know exists. A multi-agency operation that utilizes the talent of Air Force Reserve personnel to aid in improving the health and welfare of thousands of Native Americans throughout the fifty states. That operation is TRANSAM, more commonly abbreviated TRANS AM. TRANS AM evolved from a pilot program in the 1990's, and is a cooperative program involving: the Army Reserve, Air Force Reserve, Indian Health Service, the Director of Civil Military Cooperation in the Office of the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Reserve Affairs, and other civilian agencies. In a nut-shell it acquires surplus medical equipment, vehicles, and other medical supplies and transfers this material to native American tribes. At the same time TRANS AM provides solid joint service training to all participants. Although assigned to the 49th Aerial Port Flight, Master Sgt. Gary Hochenberger serves as project chief, and manages the warehouse next to Grissom's base supply. "Material is procured from the Defense Reutilization and Marketing Office, Veteran's Administration hospitals, and donations from hospitals, ambulance services, -- anyone who deals with medical supplies," he added. The material is brought here, refurbished, repackaged, and shipped out to reservations through out the fifty states, he explained. Basically, we accept "anything for improving the quality of life for American Indians," he continued. The agency utilizes reservists from all over the nation. "We strictly utilize reservists," Sergeant Hochenberger emphasized, "and the only non-reservists involved are the instructors for each of the functional areas." Because the program is logistically complex and work intensive, training is a key by-product Sergeant Hochenberger noted. Aerial Port performs all the required activities for aerial transport including unloading at the material's final destination, Transportation Management Office personnel process ground and commercial transportation requirements and supply personnel handle all processing of the material. A recent example of the program's outreach is the Mad River Tribal Clinic in Odanah, Wisc. The clinic was completely gutted by a fire. The TRANSAM program swung into action and sent a semi-truck load of medical equipment that is being used to set up a temporary clinic until a new one is built.Grissom has been involved with the program since the agency moved to the base in 2000.
