Army North teams continue to assist military families returning from Japan

By Don Manuszewski, U.S. Army North PAOSeptember 28, 2011

Families at Denver International Airport
1 / 4 Show Caption + Hide Caption – More than 140 military family members prepare to process through the Denver International Airport aerial port of debarkation March 24. Denver International Airport, Seattle-Tacoma International Airport, Wash., and Travis Air Force Base, Calif., are r... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
Medic speaks with family members at SEATAC
2 / 4 Show Caption + Hide Caption – A medic meets with family members as they process through the Joint Reception Coordination Center inside the Seattle-Tacoma International Airport, Wash., March 22, as part of a Voluntary Authorized Departure from Japan. U.S. Army North is heading up ... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
Family members
3 / 4 Show Caption + Hide Caption – Family members take a few moments to relax as their parents or guardians process through the Joint Reception Coordination Center inside the Seattle-Tacoma International Airport, Wash., March 22, as part of a Voluntary Authorized Departure from Japan.... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
Hutson briefs the media
4 / 4 Show Caption + Hide Caption – Col. Marc Hutson, U.S. Army North’s defense coordination officer for Federal Emergency Management Agency Region 8, briefs members of the media about flights coming into Denver International Airport from Japan as part of Operation Pacific Passage. Den... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL

FORT SAM HOUSTON, Texas -- Military and civilian members of U. S. Army North took the lead in setting up three reception centers on the U.S. West Coast and one in Denver to assist nearly 4,000 military family members who voluntarily returned to the United States in the aftermath of the Japanese earthquake and tsunami March 11.

With short notice, Army North's Defense Coordinating Element in Federal Emergency Management Agency Region X set-up a Joint Reception Coordination Center March 19, at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport, Wash., while the Defense Coordinating Element in Federal Emergency Management Agency Region IX set up a Joint Reception Coordination Center the following day at Travis Air Force Base, Calif. - both within 24 hours of being notified of the requirement.

The Denver Joint Reception Coordination Center, or JRCC, was set up by the Defense Coordinating Element from FEMA Region VIII and has been ready to start receiving the families since March 22, with a flight of family members and pets arriving March 24.

"We have an amazing team here," said Col. Michael McCormick, Army North's defense coordinating officer in the FEMA (Federal Emergency Management Agency) Region X. "From the people at Joint Base Lewis-McChord and Naval Region Northwest to the many civilian agencies like the Red Cross and the USO, we're all working together to make this happen for the Department of Defense family members returning from Japan. Their care, comfort and rapid transit to safe haven destinations is our mission."

The team at SEATAC was the first to stand-up and started receiving its first families March 20. As of March 23, the team had welcomed back more than 2,000 family members and nearly 100 pets.

The second team at Travis Air Force Base, Calif., began operations March 22, and has already assisted about nearly 2,000 people and numerous pets. The majority of that team is made up from the many servicemembers who make Travis home on a day-to-day basis.

"It's a great experience and a great opportunity," said Capt. Matt Reed, Travis AFB veterinarian, who is on hand should any of the pets traveling with the families need his services.

With so many people transiting through the facilities at the JRCCs, it's been quite a feat to help the families get to their ultimate destination, but everyone is working together to make sure the affected families have the best customer service possible.

"This is absolutely wonderful," said Katie Coleman, whose husband, Navy Petty Officer 2nd Class James Coleman, stayed behind at Misawa Air Base, Japan. "Everything and anything we wanted to know, they had an answer for. This has been above and beyond what I expected."

In Denver, the JRCC team was all set to assist the military family members as they disembarked the aircraft the afternoon of March 24. The Denver JRCC received two flights and was set to receive about two more.

"I am confident we are ready to receive the families because they are our own," said Col. Marc Hutson, deputy commanding officer for Region VIII.

All teams understand the impact they can have on not only those families but the bonds they are making within the teams.

"We want to smooth this out the best we can so we can relieve the stress (the families) are experiencing," said Air Force Col. Jeff Snyder, from the 60th Medical Group at Travis AFB. "I'm enjoying working with the defense coordinating element to make this work."

The JRCCs are expected to continue receiving the military families voluntarily leaving Japan as those families decide to leave.

Lt. Col. Randy Martin, Army North Public Affairs Officer; Tom Saunders, Air Force Northern; Sgt. 1st Class Marshall Smith, DCE Region 8, contributed to this story

Related Links:

Helping Japan is Pacific Command's top priority

U.S. Army Pacific

Army.mil: Asia and Pacific News

U.S. Army North

DoD: Special Report on the 2011 Japan Eathquake

U.S. Army Garrison - Japan on Facebook

US Army Japan & I Corps Forward on Facebook