U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Spencer Tobler ()
Team Yokota sprung into action and coordinated a delivery of over 36,000 pounds of frozen foods and refrigerated perishable items to Andersen Air Force Base, Guam, to aid in the ongoing Guam relief effort following Typhoon Mawar, June 3.
The storm struck Guam with the force equivalent to a Category 4 Atlantic Hurricane on the Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Wind Scale, the strongest typhoon to hit the territory since 2002, according to the National Oceanic & Atmospheric Administration. It caused severe damage around the island, home to the Pacific Air Forces 36th Wing at Andersen, which is currently focused on recovering from the disaster to restore base and community services.
“Although the disaster occurred suddenly and we didn’t have much time to prepare, we were ready for the task,” said Tech. Sgt. Alexandra De Los Santos, 374th Logistics Readiness Squadron cargo movement section chief. “Part of our job includes planning and preparing for the future. We are responsible for making sure people and equipment are where they need to be, as quickly as possible.”
Throughout the week, members from the 374th LRS and the 730th Air Mobility Squadron, an Air Mobility Command tenant unit stationed at Yokota, worked with the Army and Air Force Exchange Service in Japan to palletize two inventory shipments for Guam.
“We wanted to help any way we could,” said De Los Santos. “By supporting the families and providing assistance to the AAFES facilities in Guam, we are contributing to the bigger picture of disaster recovery.”
The inventory supplied by AAFES will provide members of Team Andersen with essential food items they need to recover from the disaster.
“As soon as we got the call, my team immediately got to work,” said Russel Bundy, AAFES Japan distribution center manager. “We packed and staged 37 pallets worth of merchandise in just under three hours to ensure the service members and families affected by the disaster have what they need to recover.”
The 374th AW’s proactive approach to crisis response and disaster relief, similar to the humanitarian aid efforts provided to Ukraine in March of 2022, shows Team Yokota’s commitment to providing airlift capabilities with speed, range, and flexibility to our allies and partners in the Indo-Pacific area of responsibility and beyond.
Photo caption:
Tech. Sgt. Shawn Stickle, 730th Air Mobility Squadron air freight non-commissioned officer in-charge, tapes a box full of perishable goods at Yokota Air Base, Japan, June 1, 2023. Team Yokota palletized and delivered over 36,000 pounds of Army and Air Force Exchange Service inventory to Andersen Air Force Base, Guam, to aid in their recovery efforts from Typhoon Mawar.
