U.S. Air Force Airman 1st Class Riley Henagar, 36th Expeditionary Airlift Squadron C-130J loadmaster, looks at the flightline at Andersen Air Force Base, Guam, Nov. 30, 2022, during Operation Christmas Drop 2022. The 36th EAS, subordinate to the Expeditionary Operations Group, activated as of Nov. 16, 2022 and is tasked to execute airdrop operations in support of OCD 2022. (U.S. Air Force photo by Yasuo Osakabe) ()

YOKOTA AIR BASE, Japan -- Every December, C-130J aircrews from Yokota deploy to Andersen AFB. The C-130J crews airdrop food, supplies, and educational material to islanders throughout the, Federated States of Micronesia, and Republic of Palau. These islands are some of the most remote locations on the globe that span a distance nearly as broad as the continental US. Each year, OCD serves as a proving ground for the techniques used and shared with regional partners in preparation for response to natural disasters all too common across this region. Operation Christmas Drop mission has demonstrated America’s good will to those with few material resources.