Photo By Senior Airman Erin Currie | U.S. Air Force Senior Airman Taylon Stokes, 18th Logistics Readiness Squadron Ground...... read more read more
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KADENA AIR BASE, Japan –As a passenger aircraft touches down at Kadena Air Base, Japan, more than 200 service members step off, ready to begin their rotation in the Indo-Pacific.
Behind the scenes, Airmen from the 18th Logistics Readiness Squadron’s Deployment and Distribution Flight are already in motion—ensuring every person, piece of equipment, and pallet moves safely and efficiently.
Kadena supports continuous fighter rotations as part of the Department of War’s focus on maintaining a dynamic fighter presence throughout the region. The Deployment and Distribution Flight plays a vital role in that mission, providing transportation, cargo management, and integration support for each incoming unit.
“Ground Transportation is critical to these rotations because the units arriving from different locations don’t have the capability to move their own people or cargo,” said Staff Sgt. Cory Lowe, 18th LRS noncommissioned officer in charge of ground transportation operations center.
“At any time, adversaries could act, and this could become a real-world situation. Running these operations here keeps us proficient and ready.”
From the moment new units arrive, ground transportation operators are the first to greet them; moving personnel, luggage, and equipment across the island. They work closely with passenger travel technicians, who track every movement and provide aircraft commanders with accurate weight data essential for safe flight operations.
Another core mission of the Deployment and Distribution Flight is cargo management. Technicians inspect, document, and track the movement of pallets and containers, ensuring everything is properly accounted for and ready for onward movement.
“My role involves leading cargo inspections to ensure accurate weight and balance calculations,” said Airman 1st Class Zoe Cathey, 18th LRS inbound cargo technician. “It’s rewarding to know that what I do directly supports deployed units and mission success.”
Beyond moving people and materiel, Deployment and Distribution Flight Airmen also help integrate incoming squadrons with Kadena’s permanently assigned units—ensuring a seamless transition for fighter and maintenance teams rotating into the Pacific theater.
“Our rotational units are robust packages from stateside bases, bringing fighter and maintenance support to the Pacific,” said Staff Sgt. Monica Velasquez, 18th LRS war reserve materiel noncommissioned officer. “We help them integrate quickly and make sure redeployment runs smoothly so they can get home to their families.”
Though their work often happens out of the spotlight, the impact of the Deployment and Distribution Flight extends across the Indo-Pacific. By ensuring people and equipment arrive where they’re needed, the 18th LRS keeps Kadena—and the broader mission—moving forward.
“It’s not just about shipping cargo,” said Senior Airman William Marable, 18th LRS Air Transportation journeyman. “It’s about making sure our teams downrange have what they need. When cargo flows smoothly, readiness improves and the mission stays strong.”
| Date Taken: | 11.14.2025 |
| Date Posted: | 11.14.2025 02:41 |
| Story ID: | 551071 |
| Location: | KADENA AIR BASE, OKINAWA, JP |
| Web Views: | 105 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
This work, 18th LRS Deployment and Distribution Flight Keeps Kadena’s Mission Moving, by SrA Erin Currie, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
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