Air transportation division conducts ribbon cutting for air freight facility

Photo By Sgt. Andrew Jones | A ribbon stand is set up before a ribbon-cutting ceremony at Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, Japan, Jan. 8, 2018. The ceremony was held by the air transportation division (ATD) to celebrate the full operability of a nearly 50,000-square-foot air freight facility that opened October 2017 but wasn’t fully functional until recently. The new facility increases ATD’s capability to conduct cargo and sustainment operations in support of the growing air station. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Andrew Jones)  

MCAS IWAKUNI, YAMAGUCHI, JAPAN

01.10.2018

Story by Lance Cpl. Andrew Jones 

Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni

MARINE CORPS AIR STATION IWAKUNI, Japan (Jan. 10, 2018) – The air transportation division held a ribbon-cutting ceremony for the newly constructed air freight facility at Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, Japan, Jan. 8, 2018.

The ceremony celebrated the full operability of the nearly 50,000-square-foot air freight facility that opened October 2017 but wasn’t fully functional until recently.

“Today is about letting everyone know that we have the capability to provide support to the air station,” said U.S. Marine Corps Gunnery Sgt. Esteban Arroyo, the air transportation department chief. “We have the facility and the material handling equipment capability to complete the mission. This ceremony could’ve happened a while ago, but now the stars have aligned, everything is functional, everything is operational and we are able to showcase our air freight operations.”

During the ceremony, U.S. Marines from air transportation division and Master Labor Contractors, who work side by side, gave a tour of the air freight facility to U.S. Marine Corps Col. Richard F. Fuerst, Commanding Officer of MCAS Iwakuni, along with senior-ranking leadership and guests from the station.

“Before the new addition, we weren’t able to provide security for secured cargo, we didn’t have refrigeration capabilities and we couldn’t do much as far as sustainment operations or heavy airlift operations,” said Stephen Gambert, the air terminal manager.

The new facility joins the list of assets employed by the station that are necessary to sustain the growing population of MCAS Iwakuni so that it can remain mission ready.

• Date Taken: 01.10.2018
• Date Posted: 01.10.2018 00:55
• Story ID: 261706
• Location: MCAS IWAKUNI, YAMAGUCHI, JP