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181210-F-GA541-0028

Lt. Col. Barry A. King, 374th Operations Group deputy commander, left, and 1st. Lt. Emery Gumapas, 36th Airlift Squadron pilot, right, make adjustments aboard Santa 21 on its way to airdrop supplies to the island of Nama, Federated States of Micronesia during Operation Christmas Drop 2018, Dec. 10, 2018. OCD is a trilateral training mission designed to give C-130 crews from the U.S. Air Force, Japan Air Self-Defense Force (Koku Jietai), and Royal Australian Air Force a chance to airdrop supplies on un-surveyed drop zones throughout the Pacific.

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181210-F-GA541-0084

1st. Lt. Emery Gumapas, 36th Airlift Squadron pilot out of Yokota Air Base, Japan, looks out of the window of a C-130J Super Hercules during Operation Christmas Drop 2018 en route to the island of Nama, Federated States of Micronesia (FSM), Dec. 10, 2018. The flight, carrying Commander, U.S. Indo-Pacific Command, Adm. Phil Davidson and local leaders from the FSM, gave the passengers a firsthand experience into how the aircrews that attend OCD execute the mission.

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181210-F-GA541-0115

Nicolas Ortiz, 374th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron flying crew chief out of Yokota Air Base, Japan, completes an in-flight check on the systems of Santa 21, a U.S. Air Force C-130J Super Hercules on its way to deliver critical supplies to the island of Nama, Federated States of Micronesia (FSM) during Operation Christmas Drop 2018, Dec. 10, 2018. Every December crews from Yokota team up with the Japan Air Self-Defense Force (Koku Jietai), and Royal Australian Air Force to airdrop supplies to the Commonwealth of the Northern Marianas, FSM, and the Republic of Palau.

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181210-F-GA541-0156

Senior Airman Kylie Hanni, left, and Airman 1st Class Jaime Suarez, right, both 36th Airlift Squadron loadmasters out of Yokota Air Base, Japan, verify their drop zone over the island of Nama, Federated States of Micronesia, during Operation Christmas Drop 2018, Dec. 10, 2018. The flight, carrying Commander, U.S. Indo-Pacific Command, Adm. Phil Davidson and local leaders from the FSM, gave the passengers a firsthand experience into how the aircrews that attend OCD execute the mission. While aboard, Davidson stressed the importance of OCD, a trilateral operation between the U.S. Air Force, Japan Air Self-Defense Force (Koku Jietai), and the Royal Australian Air Force, plays in maintaining the mutual security in the Pacific island chain.

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181210-F-GA541-0240

Senior Airman Kylie Hanni, 36th Airlift Squadron loadmaster, waits outside of a C-130J Super Hercules to greet Commander, U.S. Indo-Pacific Command, Adm. Phil Davidson on the island of Chuuk, Federated States of Micronesia during Operation Christmas Drop 2018, Dec. 10, 2018. In its 67th year, OCD is the world’s longest running airdrop training mission providing critical supplies to 56 Micronesian islands impacting approximately 20,000 people across 1.8 million square nautical miles of operating area.

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181210-F-GA541-0253

Commander, U.S. Indo-Pacific Command, Adm. Phil Davidson walks with local leaders of the Federated States of Micronesia (FSM) prior to boarding a U.S. Air Force C-130J Super Hercules during Operation Christmas Drop 2018 on the island of Chuuk, FSM, Dec. 10, 2018. The visit allowed Davidson the opportunity to not only take in the OCD mission firsthand, but also share that experience with the local community.

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181210-F-GA541-0543

Senior Airman Kylie Hanni, 36th Airlift Squadron loadmaster out of Yokota Air Base, Japan, confirms the airdrop made hit its mark while flying over the island of Nama, Federated States of Micronesia during Operation Christmas Drop 2018, Dec. 10, 2018. In its 67th year, OCD is the world’s longest running airdrop training mission providing critical supplies to 56 Micronesian islands impacting approximately 20,000 people across 1.8 million square nautical miles of operating area.

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181209-F-GA541-0023

Airmen from 374th Logistics Readiness Squadron position themselves to load Coastal Humanitarian Air Drop (CHAD) bundles on to a C-130J Super Hercules during Operation Christmas Drop 2018 at Andersen Air Force Base, Guam, Dec. 9, 2018. The 374 LRS Combat Mobility Flight work throughout the year to pack the parachutes and build the CHADS in preparation for OCD, supplying the 150 bundles used on training airdrops throughout the event.

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181209-F-GA541-0036

Senior Airman Walter Frank, 36th Airlift Squadron loadmaster, directs an equipment operator from the 374th Logistics Readiness Squadron into position during Operation Christmas Drop 2018 at Andersen Air Force Base, Guam, Dec. 9, 2018. Prior to being loaded onto the planes, the 374th LRS Combat Mobility Flight packs the parachutes and builds the Coastal Humanitarian Air Drop bundles that will be used throughout OCD.

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374th AMXS, The Airmen Behind Operation Christmas Drop

Staff Sgt. Christopher Canto, 374th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron flying crew chief, inspects the propellers of a C-130J Super Hercules during Operation Christmas Drop 2018 at Andersen Air Force Base, Guam, Dec. 9, 2018. Prior to flying, all aircraft must undergo an inspection to ensure the C-130J is ready to fly.

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Operation Christmas Drop 2017

Master Sgt. Joshua Mackey, left, and Staff Sgt. Ben Baughman, 374th Operations Support Squadron joint airdrop inspectors, inspect a bundle during Operation Christmas Drop, Dec. 17, 2017, at Andersen Air Force Base, Guam. JAIs are responsible for checking every tie of a bundle and making sure they are rigged to perfection inside the aircraft.

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Maintainers help aircrews deliver bundles of joy

Airmen with the 374th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron from Yokota Air Base, Japan turn on a power unit to provide power to a C-130J Super Hercules during Operation Christmas Drop at Andersen Air Force Base, Guam, Dec. 14, 2017. The power unit enabled the crew chiefs to perform the necessary maintenance work and inspections inside the aircraft to ensure the aircrew could safely complete their mission.

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Maintainers help aircrews deliver bundles of joy

Staff Sgt. Christopher Rivera, 374th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron crew chief, places runway tape in front of a C-130J Super Hercules at Andersen Air Force Base, Guam, Dec. 14, 2017. The tape helps ensure the pilots know where to park the aircraft after completing a training sortie for the 66th Operation Christmas Drop.

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Maintainers help aircrews deliver bundles of joy

Senior Airman Gonzalo Garcia-Rubio, 374th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron electrical and environmental systems journeyman, left, and Senior Airman Bobbie Price 374 AMXS aero repair journeyman, discuss the amount of grease on a part that helps lift the tires into the C-130J Super Hercules at Andersen Air Force Base, Guam, Dec. 14, 2017. A combination of 33 Airmen work around the clock to provide the necessary maintenance to ensure the aircrews can complete their training sorties during the 66th Operation Christmas Drop.

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Maintainers help aircrews deliver bundles of joy

Airmen with the 374th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron from Yokota Air Base Japan push a power unit aside after using it for their inspection before an Operation Christmas Drop sortie at Andersen Air Force Base, Guam, Dec. 14, 2017. The power unit enabled the crew chiefs to perform the necessary maintenance work and inspections inside the aircraft to ensure the aircrew could safely complete their mission.

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Maintainers help aircrews deliver bundles of joy

Master Sgt. Josh McMahan, 36th Airlift Squadron loadmaster, performs a visual inspection of a C-130J Super Hercules propeller prior to taking off for a training sortie during the 66th Operation Christmas Drop at Andersen Air Force Base, Guam, Dec. 14, 2017. Over the course of 10 days, the aircrews airdrop food, supplies and educational materials to islanders throughout the Commonwealth of the Northern Marianas, Federated States of Micronesia, and Republic of Palau.

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Maintainers help aircrews deliver bundles of joy

Staff Sgt. Christopher Rivera, 374th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron crew chief, taps on the nose of a C-130J Super Hercules prior to its takeoff for a training sortie during the 66th Operation Christmas Drop at Andersen Air Force Base, Guam, Dec. 14, 2017. The 33 Airmen provided the necessary maintenance to ensure the aircrews can successfully operate three C-130Js to deliver bundles to Micronesian islanders.

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Maintainers help aircrews deliver bundles of joy

A crew chief with the 374th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron marshals a C-130J Super Hercules prior to its takeoff for a training sortie during the 66th Operation Christmas Drop at Andersen Air Force Base, Guam, Dec. 14, 2017. OCD is the longest-running Department of Defense humanitarian airlift training operation and will provide nearly 25 tons of critical supplies to 56 Micronesian islands this year impacting about 20,000 people.

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Maintainers help aircrews deliver bundles of joy

A crew chief with the 374th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron turns around after marshaling a C-130J Super Hercules prior to its takeoff for a training sortie during the 66th Operation Christmas Drop at Andersen Air Force Base, Guam, Dec. 14, 2017. Every December, Airmen from Yokota head to Andersen AFB. From there, the crews airdrop food, supplies and educational materials to islanders throughout the Commonwealth of the Northern Marianas, Federated States of Micronesia, and Republic of Palau. (U.S Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. David Owsianka)

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Operation Christmas Drop 2017

Bruce Best, University of Guam researcher, communicates with aircrews during Operation Christmas Drop, at the University of Guam, Guam, Dec. 13, 2017. Every December, C-130J Super Hercules aircrews from Yokota Air Base head to Andersen Air Force Base to execute low-cost, low-altitude airdrops to islanders throughout the Commonwealth of the Northern Marianas, Federated States of Micronesia and Republic of Palau. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Juan Torres Chardon)

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