'I do my job because I believe in goodness' Published Nov. 4, 2009 By Staff Sgt. Stephen J. Collier 302nd Airlift Wing Public Affairs BARBADOS -- Years ago, I had a lot of preconceived notions about humanitarian missions. I see in my head the military responding to an African village struck by disease, famine or war, or perhaps even airlifting precious supplies to an area in the Pacific struck by a natural disaster, like a tsunami or typhoon. But these are just the 24-hour cable news visuals. More often than not, how much thought do we give to those in need closer to home? But if any of those notions still existed, those visuals were swiftly debunked on Oct. 30. Over that weekend, I had the honor of traveling with some of my fellow Air Force Reservists (and even one Active Duty crew chief) to the small, Caribbean island of St. Vincent. This miniscule, 110,000-plus populated island is that of a postcard; pristine beaches, far-off sails of passing boats and sparkling ocean as far as the eye can see. But a different picture exists on the island. One of need, one of despair, one of the downtrodden. That's where my ride in an AF Reserve C-130 Hercules comes in. A quick bank and we've landed on the very short runway of this very small island. And in the fully-loaded cargo bay of the aircraft holds the key to salvation for some of the island's needy: school supplies, medical equipment, bicycles -- and even a popcorn popper. Those nameless, faceless humans somewhere on this island now have these things for which many of us take for granted. And I had the chance to be a part of that. And I tell you, it never gets old. My first taste of reporting on a humanitarian mission began Sept. 3, 2005, after members of my New Mexico-based 49th Fighter Wing were called up to support Hurricane Katrina relief throughout the Gulf Coast. And the feelings of hope and despair, as well as the thoughts of being downtrodden, ran rampant through the halls of Louis Armstrong International Airport right outside of 'The Big Easy.' But with Air Force personnel in charge of medical, security, logistics, airfield management and also involved in continued search and rescue operations, those 'displaced citizens' filling the once bustling terminal-turned-demarcation-point couldn't hide the look of relief on their faces -- because help had come. And so the recipients of another bundle of aid, this time in St. Vincent, share in their Katrina-affected brethren the feeling of relief and all the emotions that come with it. As one of the aid coordinators in St. Vincent put it: "I do my job because I believe in goodness. You guys put the 'human' in humanity." Indeed.