Yokota Airmen train together to remain airdrop ready

Photo By Staff Sgt. Gabrielle Spalding | A heavy equipment platform is dropped from a C-130J Super Hercules, assigned to the 36th Airlift Squadron, at the Camp Fuji Drop Zone, Japan, Apr. 21, 2020. As part of that readiness preparation, the 36th AS, works with the 374th Logistics Readiness Squadron Combat Mobility Flight to conduct heavy equipment, low-cost low-altitude, and containerized delivery system airdrop bundle training sorties. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Gabrielle Spalding)  

TOKYO, JAPAN

05.05.2020

Story by Senior Airman Gabrielle Spalding 

374th Airlift Wing

YOKOTA AIR BASE, Japan—“If something happens with our neighbor, we need to be able to do whatever necessary, to execute the mission efficiently and rapidly,” said Airman 1st Class Ethan Hines, 36th Airlift Squadron loadmaster.

As part of that readiness preparation, the 36th AS, which flies the C-130J Super Hercules out of Yokota Air Base, Japan, works with the 374th Logistics Readiness Squadron Combat Mobility Flight to conduct heavy equipment, low-cost low-altitude and containerized delivery system (CDS) airdrop bundle training sorties.

“Everything we do here is in support of the 36th,” said Airman 1st Class Jeffrey James, 374th LRS CMF technician. “If they need something loaded on that plane, we are the people to make it happen.”

Each platform is created to simulate something different based on the size and weight, said James. A CDS might simulate food or ammo, whereas heavy equipment bundles could simulate a Humvee.

James went on to explain that the bundles are also rigged with G-12 military cargo parachutes, within specific standards, to ensure the cargo properly exits the aircraft, the parachute properly deploys and the bundle lands undamaged on its target.

“Doing these trainings are important in staying competent in our ability to attach parachutes to any object so that it can then be dropped from any rear-loading aircraft, like the C-130, and ensuring that cargo lands intact,” said James. “We do all of this so when the pilots and the loadmasters have to do it for real, they are accurate, and they can do it to the best of their ability.”

Any time a platform is put together, there are a series of inspections. Only those who are rigger qualified are allowed to inspect the platform before it’s loaded onto an aircraft. Two inspections are done with CMF, one by a rigger and one by a joint airdrop inspector, explained James. Once the bundle is inspected and loaded, it is rigged for air drop, and then inspected a last time by a JAI.

When a C-130 takes off for a training sortie, not only are the aircrew focused on getting the bundles loaded and rigged properly, they also verify the aircraft is running properly by going through their checklists with accuracy and swiftness.

“Every training sortie is effective because we always run our checklists, and we always make sure we do everything correctly,” said Hines. “Especially as newer loadmasters, building that muscle memory, hitting those checklist items we need, the more flying we see, the more hours we get, the better it is for us and for the mission.”

To accomplish the 374th Airlift Wing mission, as the primary Western Pacific airlift hub for peacetime and contingency operations, the Airmen of Yokota must maintain a constant state of readiness by continuously training together.

“We would not be able to do our training without CMF or maintenance working 24/7 getting bundles ready, or making sure the plane is able to fly and that we have everything we need on the aircraft to be able to do our jobs.” said Hines. “Being able to execute these training exercises at a high standard is critical to mission success.”

• Date Taken: 05.05.2020
• Date Posted: 05.05.2020 23:51
• Story ID: 369209
• Location: TOKYO, JP