Headquarters Emergency Relocation Team (HERT)
| Tracking # |
2017-01712-F |
| Submitted | Feb. 1, 2016 |
| Est. Completion | None |
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Communications
From: Michael Best
To Whom It May Concern:
This is a request under the Freedom of Information Act. I hereby request the following records:
Records pertaining to the Headquarters Emergency Relocation Team (HERT), which was an subordinate unit to the United States' Strategic Air Command during the Cold War, poised to provide command and control (C2) of SAC forces in the event of a national emergency (i.e. nuclear war). The personnel and equipment were stationed at Offutt AFB, Nebraska, with temporary deployment locations at the Cornhusker Army Ammunition Plant, Grand Island, Nebraska. The term HERT was superseded by Enduring Battle Management Support Center (EBMSC) circa 1982. The unit was redesignated 55th Mobile Command and Control Squadron, after SAC was inactivated in 1992. Please include the first page of reports relating to training and readiness exercises which HERT has taken part in.
The requested documents will be made available to the general public, and this request is not being made for commercial purposes. These materials will be made publicly and freely available in a variety of formats on the Internet Archive's National Security collection.
In the event that there are fees, I would be grateful if you would inform me of the total charges in advance of fulfilling my request. I would prefer the request filled electronically, by e-mail attachment if available or CD-ROM if not.
Thank you in advance for your anticipated cooperation in this matter. I look forward to receiving your response to this request within 20 business days, as the statute requires.
Sincerely,
Michael Best
From: Velazquez, Candice
Dear Mr. Best,
This is an acknowledgement for receipt of your 1 February 2016 Freedom of Information Act request for the following records pertaining to the Headquarters Emergency Relocation Team (HERT), which was an subordinate unit to the United States' Strategic Air Command during the Cold War, poised to provide command and control (C2) of SAC forces in the event of a national emergency (i.e. nuclear war). The personnel and equipment were stationed at Offutt AFB, Nebraska, with temporary deployment locations at the Cornhusker Army Ammunition Plant, Grand Island, Nebraska. The term HERT was superseded by Enduring Battle Management Support Center (EBMSC) circa 1982. The unit was redesignated 55th Mobile Command and Control Squadron, after SAC was inactivated in 1992. Please include the first page of reports relating to training and readiness exercises which HERT has taken part in..
We received your request from Air Combat Command (ACC), Joint Base Langley-Eustis, VA. Your case has been assigned case number 2016-01652-F. We find we are unable to meet the time limits imposed by the FOIA in this instance because the records are classified and must be reviewed for possible declassification by other agencies. We anticipate it taking approximately 2 years; therefore we will continue to update you on the progress. If you have any questions concerning your request, you may contact us at 618-395-8232/0995 or email us at AFIMSC.FOIA.Workflow@us.af.mil. Please reference your assigned case number when making inquiries. Sincerely, //SIGNED// CANDICE VELAZQEZ, CIV, DAF Government Information Specialist AFIMSC/IZSI
FOIA Case 2016-01652-F
From: VELAZQUEZ, CANDICE M GS-12 USAF AFMC AFIMSC/IZSI
Mr. Best,
This email is in reference to your 1 February 2016 request for records
pertaining to the Headquarters Emergency Relocation Team (HERT), which was an
subordinate unit to the United States' Strategic Air Command during the Cold
War, poised to provide command and control (C2) of SAC forces in the event of
a national emergency (i.e. nuclear war). The personnel and equipment were
stationed at Offutt AFB, Nebraska, with temporary deployment locations at the
Cornhusker Army Ammunition Plant, Grand Island, Nebraska. The term HERT was
superseded by Enduring Battle Management Support Center (EBMSC) circa 1982.
The unit was re-designated 55th Mobile Command and Control Squadron, after SAC
was inactivated in 1992. Please include the first page of reports relating to
training and readiness exercises which HERT has taken part in.
We are unable to determine what your are asking for. Please review the link
to the Air Force Historical Research Agency (AFHRA)
(http://airforcehistoryindex.org/) and clarify which IRIS numbers you are
seeking concerning the HERT.
Your request will be placed on hold until we hear from you. If we do not
hear from you within 10 days from the date of this notification we will assume
you are no longer interested in the processing of your request, and will close
your file.
If you have any questions concerning your request, you may contact us at
618-395-8232/0995 or email us at AFIMSC.FOIA.Workflow@us.af.mil. Please
reference your assigned case number when making inquiries.
v/r
//SIGNED//
CANDICE M. VELAZQUEZ, Civ, DAF
Government Information Specialist
Air Force Installation & Mission Support Center (AFIMSC)
Commercial Phone: (210) 395-8232
DSN 969
From: Michael Best
As an initial response, please perform the two hours of search time provided free for FOIA requesters under the Freedom of Information Act for documents matching the description I originally provided to include documents not listing on the website you linked to, which does not include "[c]ertain materials in AFHRA's collection that were not in the index, [h]istorical documents obtained by AFHRA after 2001, [d]ocuments created after 2000."
Additionally, I am requesting the following IRIS numbers:
01044022, 01002444, 1068189, 1064296, 1066539, 1094489, 1075202, 1044017,
1068185, 1041818, 1063203, 1063857, 1063858, 1063856, 1059547, 1059913, 1039832, 887232, 873035.
Please provide a page count estimate before proceeding with duplication and assessing fees.
I will wait for the full release described in your initial response, where you said you "are unable to meet the time limits imposed by the FOIA in this instance because the records are classified and must be reviewed for possible declassification by other agencies. We anticipate it taking approximately 2 years; therefore we will continue to update you on the progress."
From: Bufano, Valerie
Dear Mr. Best
This is an acknowledgement for receipt of your 8 February 2016 Freedom of Information Act Request for "This is a request under the Freedom of Information Act. I hereby request the following records: IRIS # 1041818 Records pertaining to the Headquarters Emergency Relocation Team (HERT), which was an subordinate unit to the United States' Strategic Air Command during the Cold War, poised to provide command and control (C2) of SAC forces in the event of a national emergency (i.e. nuclear war). The personnel and equipment were stationed at Offutt AFB, Nebraska, with temporary deployment locations at the Cornhusker Army Ammunition Plant, Grand Island, Nebraska. The term HERT was superseded by Enduring Battle Management Support Center (EBMSC) circa 1982. The unit was redesignated 55th Mobile Command and Control Squadron, after SAC was inactivated in 1992. Please include the first page of reports relating to training and readiness exercises which HERT has taken part in." IRIS 1#041818
We received your request on 9 February 2016. Your case has been assigned case number 2016-01677-F.
If you have any questions concerning your request, you may contact us at 210-395-0995 or email us at
AFIMSC.FOIA.WorkFlo@us.af.mil. Please reference your assigned case number when making inquiries. (mailto:AFIMSC.FOIA.WorkFlo@us.af.mil)
Sincerely
Valerie Bufano
Freedom of Information Act Manager
AFIMSC/IZSI
FOIA Case 2016-01677-F
From: Bufano, Valerie
Dear Mr. Best This is an acknowledgement for receipt of your 8 February 2016 Freedom of Information Act Request for "This is a request under the Freedom of Information Act. I hereby request the following records: IRIS # 1041818 Records pertaining to the Headquarters Emergency Relocation Team (HERT), which was an subordinate unit to the United States' Strategic Air Command during the Cold War, poised to provide command and control (C2) of SAC forces in the event of a national emergency (i.e. nuclear war). The personnel and equipment were stationed at Offutt AFB, Nebraska, with temporary deployment locations at the Cornhusker Army Ammunition Plant, Grand Island, Nebraska. The term HERT was superseded by Enduring Battle Management Support Center (EBMSC) circa 1982. The unit was redesignated 55th Mobile Command and Control Squadron, after SAC was inactivated in 1992. Please include the first page of reports relating to training and readiness exercises which HERT has taken part in." IRIS 1063203
We received your request on 9 February 2016. Your case has been assigned case number 2016-01679-F.
If you have any questions concerning your request, you may contact us at 210-395-0995 or email us at AFIMSC.FOIA.WorkFlo@us.af.mil. Please reference your assigned case number when making inquiries. Sincerely
Valerie Bufano
Freedom of Information Act Manager
AFIMSC/IZSI
FOIA Case 2016-01679-F
From: Bufano, Valerie
Dear Mr. Best
This is an acknowledgement for receipt of your 8 February 2016 Freedom of Information Act Request for "This is a request under the Freedom of Information Act. I hereby request the following records: IRIS # 1063857 Records pertaining to the Headquarters Emergency Relocation Team (HERT), which was an subordinate unit to the United States' Strategic Air Command during the Cold War, poised to provide command and control (C2) of SAC forces in the event of a national emergency (i.e. nuclear war). The personnel and equipment were stationed at Offutt AFB, Nebraska, with temporary deployment locations at the Cornhusker Army Ammunition Plant, Grand Island, Nebraska. The term HERT was superseded by Enduring Battle Management Support Center (EBMSC) circa 1982. The unit was redesignated 55th Mobile Command and Control Squadron, after SAC was inactivated in 1992. Please include the first page of reports relating to training and readiness exercises which HERT has taken part in." We received your request on 9 February 2016. Your case has been assigned case number 2016-01680-F.
If you have any questions concerning your request, you may contact us at 210-395-0995 or email us at AFIMSC.FOIA.WorkFlo@us.af.mil. Please reference your assigned case number when making inquiries. Sincerely
Valerie Bufano
Freedom of Information Act Manager
AFIMSC/IZSI
FOIA Case 2016-01680-F
From: Bufano, Valerie
Dear Mr. Best
This is an acknowledgement for receipt of your 8 February 2016 Freedom of Information Act Request for "This is an acknowledgement for receipt of your 8 February 2016 Freedom of Information Act Request for "This is a request under the Freedom of Information Act. I hereby request the following records: IRIS # 1063858 Records pertaining to the Headquarters Emergency Relocation Team (HERT), which was an subordinate unit to the United States' Strategic Air Command during the Cold War, poised to provide command and control (C2) of SAC forces in the event of a national emergency (i.e. nuclear war). The personnel and equipment were stationed at Offutt AFB, Nebraska, with temporary deployment locations at the Cornhusker Army Ammunition Plant, Grand Island, Nebraska. The term HERT was superseded by Enduring Battle Management Support Center (EBMSC) circa 1982. The unit was redesignated 55th Mobile Command and Control Squadron, after SAC was inactivated in 1992. Please include the first page of reports relating to training and readiness exercises which HERT has taken part in."
We received your request on 9 February 2016. Your case has been assigned case number 2016-01681-F.
If you have any questions concerning your request, you may contact us at
210-395-0995 or email us at AFIMSC.FOIA.WorkFlo@us.af.mil.. Please reference your assigned case number when making inquiries.
Sincerely
Valerie BufanoFOIA Case 2016-01681-F Freedom of Information Act Manager
AFIMSC/IZSI
From: Bufano, Valerie
Dear Mr. Best
This is an acknowledgement for receipt of your 8 February 2016 Freedom of Information Act Request for "This is a request under the Freedom of Information Act. I hereby request the following records: IRIS # 1039832 Records pertaining to the Headquarters Emergency Relocation Team (HERT), which was an subordinate unit to the United States' Strategic Air Command during the Cold War, poised to provide command and control (C2) of SAC forces in the event of a national emergency (i.e. nuclear war). The personnel and equipment were stationed at Offutt AFB, Nebraska, with temporary deployment locations at the Cornhusker Army Ammunition Plant, Grand Island, Nebraska. The term HERT was superseded by Enduring Battle Management Support Center (EBMSC) circa 1982. The unit was redesignated 55th Mobile Command and Control Squadron, after SAC was inactivated in 1992. Please include the first page of reports relating to training and readiness exercises which HERT has taken part in..
We received your request on 9 February 2016. Your case has been assigned case number 2016-01682-F.
If you have any questions concerning your request, you may contact us at (
210-395-0995 or email us at Please reference your assigned case number when making inquiries. . (mailto:AFIMSC.FOIA.WorkFlo@us.af.mil) AFIMSC.FOIA.WorkFlo@us.af.mil
Sincerely
Valerie Bufano
Freedom of Information Act Manager
AFIMSC/IZSI
FOIA Case 2016-01682-F
From: Bufano, Valerie
Dear Mr. Best
This is an acknowledgement for receipt of your 8 February 2016 Freedom of Information Act Request for "This is a request under the Freedom of Information Act. I hereby request the following records: IRIS # 887232 Records pertaining to the Headquarters Emergency Relocation Team (HERT), which was an subordinate unit to the United States' Strategic Air Command during the Cold War, poised to provide command and control (C2) of SAC forces in the event of a national emergency (i.e. nuclear war). The personnel and equipment were stationed at Offutt AFB, Nebraska, with temporary deployment locations at the Cornhusker Army Ammunition Plant, Grand Island, Nebraska. The term HERT was superseded by Enduring Battle Management Support Center (EBMSC) circa 1982. The unit was redesignated 55th Mobile Command and Control Squadron, after SAC was inactivated in 1992. Please include the first page of reports relating to training and readiness exercises which HERT has taken part in."
We received your request on 9 February 2016. Your case has been assigned case number 2016-01683-F.
If you have any questions concerning your request, you may contact us at
210-395-0995 or email us at . Please reference your assigned case number when making inquiries. AFIMSC.FOIA.WorkFlo@us.af.mil
Sincerely
Valerie Bufano
Freedom of Information Act Manager
AFIMSC/IZSI
FOIA Case 2016-01683-F
From: Bufano, Valerie
Dear Mr. Best
This is an acknowledgement for receipt of your 8 February 2016 Freedom of Information Act Request for "This is an acknowledgement for receipt of your 8 February 2016 Freedom of Information Act Request for "This is a request under the Freedom of Information Act. I hereby request the following records: IRIS # 873035 Records pertaining to the Headquarters Emergency Relocation Team (HERT), which was an subordinate unit to the United States' Strategic Air Command during the Cold War, poised to provide command and control (C2) of SAC forces in the event of a national emergency (i.e. nuclear war). The personnel and equipment were stationed at Offutt AFB, Nebraska, with temporary deployment locations at the Cornhusker Army Ammunition Plant, Grand Island, Nebraska. The term HERT was superseded by Enduring Battle Management Support Center (EBMSC) circa 1982. The unit was redesignated 55th Mobile Command and Control Squadron, after SAC was inactivated in 1992. Please include the first page of reports relating to training and readiness exercises which HERT has taken part in."
We received your request on 8 February 2016. Your case has been assigned case number 2016-01684-F.
If you have any questions concerning your request, you may contact us at
at 210-395-0995 or email us at Please reference your assigned case number when making inquiries. AFIMSC.FOIA.WorkFlo@us.af.mil .
Sincerely
Valerie Bufano
Freedom of Information Act Manager
AFIMSC/IZSI
FOIA Case 2016-01684-F
From: MuckRock.com
To Whom It May Concern:
I wanted to follow up on the following Freedom of Information request, copied below, and originally submitted on Feb. 1, 2016. Please let me know when I can expect to receive a response, or if further clarification is needed. You had assigned it reference number #2016-01652-F ; 2016-01683-F ; 2016-01677-F ; 2016-01679-F ; 2016-01680-F ; 2016-01681-F ; 2016-01682-F ; FOIA - 2016-01684-F.
Thanks for your help, and let me know if further clarification is needed.
From: MuckRock.com
To Whom It May Concern:
I wanted to follow up on the following Freedom of Information request, copied below, and originally submitted on Feb. 1, 2016. Please let me know when I can expect to receive a response, or if further clarification is needed. You had assigned it reference number #2016-01652-F ; 2016-01683-F ; 2016-01677-F ; 2016-01679-F ; 2016-01680-F ; 2016-01681-F ; 2016-01682-F ; FOIA - 2016-01684-F.
Thanks for your help, and let me know if further clarification is needed.
From: BUFANO, VALERIE A CIV USAF AFMC AFIMSC/IZSI
Sir
Your requests contain classified information and will take at least a year to complete. I will be sending out the formal extension notification(s) this week. Please know that we are diligently working each and every one as quickly as we can.
v/r
Valerie Bufano, GS-12, DAF
FOIA/PA Manager
AFIMSC/IZSI
2261 Hughes Ave, Ste 133
JBSA Lackland, TX 78236-9853
Comm: 210-395-8204
DSN: 969-8204
From: Michael Best
Valerie Bufano,
Thank you for notifying me of the extensive time required to review the documents. Given the nature of the materials, this seems reasonable. I have disabled automatic follow-ups from MuckRock for now, so as to eliminate any undue burden on your office.
Please inform me if there are any additional delays or problems.
I will follow-up with your office in April 2017 if I have not heard from you.
Thank you again for your diligence in this matter.
Gratefully and respectfully,
Michael Best
From: GREEN, MARCIE T GS-11 USAF AETC AFHRA/RS
Dear Mr. Best:
AFHRA has been transferred your FOIA 2016-1652 from AFIMSC. Please send me a phone number to contact you concerning your request or you may call me directly at 334-953-2963.
Thank you-
M. Green
Mrs. Marcie T. Green
AFHRA
600 Chennault Circle
Maxwell AFB AL 36112-6424
DSN 493-2963
COMM 334-953-2963
From: GREEN, MARCIE T GS-11 USAF AETC AFHRA/RS
Please see e-mail below. If we do not receive a response by COB 9 JUNE 2016, your request will be closed out.
From: Michael Best
Please contact me by email about my FOIA request, at this address. As a rule, I do not speak on the phone. Besides that, I prefer to keep everything on the record when it comes to public records requests, if just to avoid confusion later as to what I actually requested or how the request was negotiated or handled.
If I do not receive a response by 30 JUNE 2016, I will assume you have no problems fulfilling my request as per the schedule previously discussed.
Thank you!
From: Michael Best
Please also explain WHY I am only given two weeks to respond. This is even less time than your office is statutorily given to fully respond with my request, and less than 25% of the amount of time it has taken you to send this latest round of responses!
From: GREEN, MARCIE T GS-11 USAF AETC AFHRA/RS
Dear Mr. Best:
Please note that AFHRA is not ACC. We are an archival storage facility and not a designated FOIA office. We are only responding to the working procedure of FOIA 2016-1652 which we received from AFIMSC. With this e-mail, I am acknowledging to you that we are currently working on locating all the requested documents for them. Please note that AFHRA does not produce documents; we store them. We wanted to inform you that AFHRA will be providing the documents to other command/s for FOIA response. I will inform you when each document has been copied and sent to its respective agency for review. The receiving agency or command will complete the FOIA from there. In all probability each document will receive one FOIA number; this helps streamline the process to go faster. Just for your future reference, we have found that one document requested per FOIA request helps to cut down the time factor for document review; it also helps the patron receive the fullest page count free of charge.
Therefore, to help streamline the process, FOIA #2016-1652 will now only refer to document #0104402. All other documents requested under the original FOIA number seem to be classified and will have to be reviewed by their owners. AFHRA, will again, get the documents to the correct facilities and they will process the FOIAs from there.
Unfortunately, after looking into the FOIA system for all the above numbers you listed, it seems this was already done once but there was some confusion with multiply people working on FOIA 2016-1652 at another agency. I am attempting to fix the problem and will keep you informed as we proceed.
If you have any questions, please feel free to contact me directly.
Regards,
M. Green
From: Michael Best
Thank you so much for your help in sorting out the confusion - I really appreciate it. I'm especially grateful that this can be resolved off the phone, since phone calls tend to make me unreasonably anxious.
Thanks again!
Michael Best
From: GREEN, MARCIE T GS-11 USAF AETC AFHRA/RS
No problem. When I get this all figured out and entered properly in the system (next week sometime) I'll tell you how it is all running and which document is going where for review. The review here might take a few days (we only have one person) but I will keep you informed every step of the way.
Thanks for your cooperation!!
Marcie
From: MuckRock.com
To Whom It May Concern:
I wanted to follow up on the following Freedom of Information request, copied below, and originally submitted on Feb. 1, 2016. Please let me know when I can expect to receive a response, or if further clarification is needed. You had assigned it reference number #2016-01652-F ; 2016-01683-F ; 2016-01677-F ; 2016-01679-F ; 2016-01680-F ; 2016-01681-F ; 2016-01682-F ; FOIA - 2016-01684-F.
Thanks for your help, and let me know if further clarification is needed.
From: GREEN, MARCIE T GS-11 USAF AETC AFHRA/RS
Dear Mr. Best:
Just wanted to give you an update on your FOIA. Unfortunately, there was a lot of confusion with these FOIAs because they came in together with 18 subsets. I have completed my analyses and organized all 18 requests. I am in the process of re-opening all of these FOIAs separately. This will allow the commands/agencies to concentrate on one document at a time and it will make the entire process go faster and will be cheaper for you.
For FOIA 2016-1652, I have had to change the document for this one because of the classification; document #0104402 (unclassified) was listed incorrectly in your original FOIA. I caught the mistake when we located the linked FOIA #to its previous/original FOIA requester. Therefore, because IRIS document #1044022 (correct #) is still classified, it will have to be transferred to its original authority for review. Therefore, I have changed FOIA 2016-1652 to reflect your requested document IRIS #01041818 because at this moment it seems to be unclassified. I will go on and copy this document for you and send it out ASAP. I will then keep you information of all progress with the other 17 FOIAs. I will start to, one by one, send you the FOIA number and its linked document #. Again, the reason for the separation is because not all documents will be going to the same authority and could therefore take years for an 18 document FOIA to be reviewed by a possible 18 different agencies.
If you have any questions about this procedure, please feel free to call me directly or you can e-mail me any questions you have. Again, I will update you on 2016-1652 first if there are any changes; I also do not see any charges for this FOIA at this time and do anticipate it being sent to you as early as next week.
Thank you very much for your patience and cooperation.
Regards,
M Green
From: Michael Best
That sounds good to me - thank you very much!
Michael Best
From: GREEN, MARCIE T GS-11 USAF AETC AFHRA/RS
Dear Mr. Best:
I have gotten the review back for document #0104181 (please see the attached
from SP Chief Difante) which corresponds to FOIA 16-1652. We can release
this document to you but only after the Social Security numbers etc. are
removed. I need to know if this is ok with you? Otherwise we will have to
transfer the entire document to its original authority for their review and
processing.
Please let me know by COB 27 July 2016.
Thank you for your patience and cooperation.
Regards,
M. Green
Mrs. Marcie T. Green
AFHRA
600 Chennault Circle
Maxwell AFB AL 36112-6424
DSN 493-2963
COMM 334-953-2963
-
MG FOIA 2016-01652 (Best) #2
From: Michael Best
Removing the social security numbers is fine, thanks.
From: GREEN, MARCIE T GS-11 USAF AETC AFHRA/RS
Dear Mr. Best:
Please let me know if you are receiving this e-mail: or please call me at
the number below. I need to know if you are ok with e-mail below on this
document. It will take me a few days to get this all transferred to the
correct office. I don't know how long it will take for them to review the
documents from there.
Thanks-
M. Green
Mrs. Marcie T. Green
AFHRA
600 Chennault Circle
Maxwell AFB AL 36112-6424
DSN 493-2963
COMM 334-953-2963
-
MG FOIA 2016-01652 (Best) #2
From: Michael Best
I'm receiving you, but not sure what the "email below" refers to.
From: GREEN, MARCIE T GS-11 USAF AETC AFHRA/RS
Mr. Best:
I am sending this one last time.
Thanks-
Marcie
-
MG FOIA 2016-01652 (Best) #2
From: GREEN, MARCIE T GS-11 USAF AETC AFHRA/RS
Dear Mr. Best:
At the direction of my FOIA manager and HAF, I have been directed to close
out your FOIA 2016-1652as you have not responded to the e-mails below.
Please note that you can refile this FOIA with AFIMSC at the following
address:
They are the hub for all FOIAs for the USAF. Please note that the AFHRA is
not a FOIA office so please direct all your FOIAs to AFIMSC at Lackland
AFB.
Thanks,
M. Green
Mrs. Marcie T. Green
AFHRA
600 Chennault Circle
Maxwell AFB AL 36112-6424
DSN 493-2963
COMM 334-953-2963
-
MG FOIA 2016-01652 (Best) #2
From: MuckRock
I am appealing the closure of the request. I responded to all email queries received.
From: Michael Best
I am appealing the closure of the request. I responded to all email queries received.
From: Air Force, Air Combat Command (ACC)
A no responsive documents response.
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