Photo By Senior Airman Jamal Berry II | U.S. Air Force Staff Sgt. Andrew Zak, 18th Logistics Readiness Squadron Petroleum,...... read more read more
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KADENA AIR BASE, Japan -- When multiple aircraft maintenance units requested emergency liquid oxygen refills at midnight, the 18th Logistics Readiness Squadron’s Petroleum, Oils and Lubricants section didn’t hesitate to respond. The rapid call-to-action was part of a wing-wide operational readiness exercise, BH 26-1, at Kadena Air Base, Japan, Nov. 4, 2025.
The scenario tested how quickly and accurately the 18th LRS could process and distribute mission-critical oxygen supplies under pressure. Liquid oxygen ensures pilots and aircrew have safe, breathable air while operating at high altitudes: a capability essential to sustaining flight operations during both training and combat missions.
“We’re testing our abilities to adapt by throwing wrenches in places a wrench really doesn’t belong” said U.S. Air Force Tech. Sgt. Christian Brancato, 18th LRS fFuels quality compliance section chief. “The goal is to push our processes beyond normal conditions to ensure we’re ready when real-world emergencies happen.”
Before any liquid oxygen cart leaves the facility, Airmen must carefully verify the requesting unit, oxygen quantity, and tank pressure. “The pressure has to be just right,” said Zak. “If the tank’s overfilled, you lose product to boil-off; if it’s under-filled, you won’t have enough oxygen for the mission.”
Exercises like BH 26-1 allow Kadena’s Airmen to refine their technical skills, validate procedures, and strengthen rapid response capabilities across the wing.
As the Keystone of the Pacific, the 18th Wing continues to hone its ability to project airpower and sustain operations across the Indo-Pacific region — anytime, anywhere.
| Date Taken: | 11.04.2025 |
| Date Posted: | 11.14.2025 02:44 |
| Story ID: | 550713 |
| Location: | KADENA AIR BASE, OKINAWA, JP |
| Web Views: | 3 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
This work, 18th LRS deliver under pressure, by SrA Jamal Berry II, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
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