Safety first, mission always Published Feb. 2, 2010 By Senior Airman Benjamin Stratton Minot Air Force Base Public Affairs MINOT AIR FORCE BASE, N.D. -- As Haiti recovers from the magnitude 7.0 earthquake, which rocked their island Jan. 12, the Air Force continues looking for volunteers to support ongoing relief efforts. In order to get the word out, an Air Force-wide email was sent out to all major commands' safety offices Jan. 26 looking for volunteers to support Operation Unified Response. The mission is focused on search and rescue and disaster relief. A 5th Bomb Wing ground safety Airman answered the call and is now scheduled to arrive for duty at the Port au Prince International Airport, Haiti Feb. 1. "I volunteered on Tuesday [Jan. 26] when an email came down the chain from the Air Combat Command safety office," said Tech. Sgt. Tawanna Sellars, 5th BW ground safety noncommissioned officer-in-charge. "I'm excited, but nervous." With only a couple of days to out-process and many items to get done, Sergeant Sellars said mission readiness is integral to the warrior mentality. "You need to have all your readiness equipment up to par," she said. "Ensure all your training is complete and your medical records are ready to go at a moment's notice." Mishap prevention has always been the main focus for ground safety. Sergeant Sellars will be assisting in the airlift operations and working alongside loadmasters and airport personnel to ensure the safety guidelines are followed to a "T". "She'll be in charge of making sure everything is being handled according to the books," said Rodney Krause, 5th BW ground safety safety occupational health manager. "She will be monitoring the game plan and guaranteeing ORM is always utilitized." One of the major issues currently affecting operations at the Haitian airport is air traffic control. This includes getting all the different aircraft to those who need the help, supplies and equipment. Sergeant Sellars will be there to ensure all this is done with safety in mind. "This really shows the one team, one fight concept," said Lt. Col. Douglas Warnock, 5th BW chief of safety. "We'll do whatever we can to assist whenever possible. It's really great our team here at Minot have been able to provide personnel and supplies in the relief efforts." Sergeant Sellars is currently the only member of Team Minot to have the opportunity to support her fellow volunteers during Operation Unified Response. Wherever Airmen travel from, they are all on the same team focused on helping their neighbors alongside members of a worldwide community. "Safety first, mission always," Krause concluded.