535th C-17s deliver armored vehicles to Bagram Published Sept. 14, 2010 By Tech. Sgt. Elicia Summerville Defense Media Activity - Hawaii BAGRAM AIR BASE, Afghanistan -- Aircrews from 535th airlift squadron operates out of Joint Base Pearl Harbor Hickam in Hawaii fly the C-17 Globemaster III aircraft throughout the world - including missions supporting Operation Enduring Freedom in Afghanistan. It's a prime example of how 535th crews use the long legs of the C-17 to go halfway around the world in support of NATO allies. The goal of this mission is to deliver new armored modular vehicles to Coalition Forces downrange. "We have really good allies and that it was pretty easily coordinated for us to go in to their airport, pick up their vehicles, that had already been certified for airlift," said Staff Sgt. Lucas Crumpton, 535th AS loadmaster. Sergeant Crumpton is a C-17 loadmaster making sure this multi-million dollar load gets downrange securely. "These vehicles there where right off the assembly line, on to our jet then downrange," he said. "Better armor, better vehicles, the new technology, help keep the troops on the ground there safe." The C-17 crew delivered these up-armored vehicles to Polish troops at Bagram Air Base. The heavily fortified machines will make the Polish soldiers safer as they conduct combat missions against enemy insurgents. "Anytime I can take in new equipment or supplies in there that can just help the guys that are there," he said. "I do enjoy because it is definitely going to be protecting and keeping people safe." Combat support missions like these continue to build strong relationships between our Joint Coalition Forces as we work together to build a safer and more secure Afghanistan. NOTE: The story is based on the multimedia script for a video created by Tech. Sgt. Elicia Summerville. For the full video story, click here.