Photo By Staff Sgt. Tristan Truesdell | Bundles of humanitarian assistance await airdrop from a Japan Air Self-Defense Force...... read more read more
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The 74th iteration of Operation Christmas Drop successfully delivered four humanitarian assistance bundles to the Republic of the Marshall Islands, Dec. 8.
This particular airdrop highlighted the unique capability provided by the Japan Air Self-Defense Force: the 401st Tactical Airlift Squadron’s C-130H Hercules aircraft garnished with external fuel tanks.
Equipped with these fuel tanks, delivery of these humanitarian assistance bundles further expanded the reach of OCD25, allowing the addition of a new chain of islands to its delivery roster – the Republic of the Marshall Islands.
“Each year, Operation Christmas Drop showcases our team’s ability to reach some of the most remote parts of the Indo-Pacific region,” said U.S. Air Force Capt. Jordan Paecht, 374th Air Expeditionary Wing mission commander. “The ability to work alongside our partners like Canada, Japan and the Republic of Korea, demonstrates our combined capabilities and capacity for agile and sustained operations.”
The new addition of these islands is a result of the ongoing effort to promote humanitarian assistance throughout the Indo-Pacific and aligns with the recently renewed Compact of Free Association partnership between the U.S. and RMI.
This renewal reaffirmed the U.S. and RMI partnership of shared values, mutual respect and a commitment to regional security and prosperity - priorities central to the U.S. Indo-Pacific Command area of responsibility.
“Operation Christmas Drop is a clear demonstration of how like-minded nations strengthen regional security through cooperation,” said Paecht. “Every bundle we deliver represents not just assistance, but unity in our shared commitment of regional security, stability and prosperity for a free and open Indo-Pacific.”
Throughout OCD25, around 270 bundles were constructed, filled and loaded onto C-130 Hercules aircraft from the U.S., Canada, Japan and Republic of Korea air forces to be delivered to 59 remote islands in the Federated States of Micronesia, Republic of Palau and the Republic of the Marshall Islands.
| Date Taken: | 12.07.2025 |
| Date Posted: | 12.17.2025 03:13 |
| Story ID: | 553641 |
| Location: | ANDERSEN AIR FORCE BASE, GU |
| Web Views: | 49 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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