Photo By Senior Airman Victoriya Tarakanova | Airmen assigned to the 48th Aerial Port Squadron pose for a group photo at Joint Base...... read more read more
With increasing attention on the Indo-Pacific region, Reserve Airmen from the 48th Aerial Port Squadron are maintaining readiness for missions ahead.
For the first time, 48th APS Airmen joined active-duty Army and Air Force components as part of the U.S. Army Pacific’s Joint Pacific Multinational Readiness Center exercise, held Nov. 3–18, 2025, across the Hawaiian Islands.
The annual field training event brings together U.S. forces in the U.S. Indo-Pacific Command area to simulate crisis response and large-scale sustainment operations. JPMRC is the United States Army Pacific’s premier combat-training rotation, and this iteration emphasized joint multinational and multidomain readiness in the Pacific region.
“The intention is to validate the Infantry Division training so that they can deploy from the island and protect INDOPACOM,” said 2nd Lt. Jimmie Wilbourn, officer in charge of the 48th APS team. We augmented the 735th Air Mobility Squadron to bolster their capacity for operations and support overall mission execution. We were able to embed and see their processes, be in a joint environment, and make sure we spoke the same language.”
The 48th APS, a U.S. Air Force Reserve aerial port unit assigned to the 624th Regional Support Group, deployed an 11-member team to conduct aerial port functions including cargo processing, load planning, special handling and aircraft services.
During the exercise, mobility units handled more than 118 aircraft movements, 1,493 tons of cargo and nearly 3,500 passengers, according to the 735th Air Mobility Squadron. The operation also included 30 joint inspections and nearly 100 tons of baggage.
The 735th AMS commander recognized several members of the 48th APS for outstanding performance, including Staff Sgt. Carlton Hill and Senior Airman Isei Tuiletufuga for aircraft services, Staff Sgt. Byron Bumatay for joint inspection, and Tech. Sgt. Noah Hirata and Senior Airman Nestor Mayola for load planning.
“Whether you’re active or reserve, our job is to execute the mission,” said Wilbourn.
The Army’s 25th Infantry Division led the JPMRC rotation which served to validate readiness for a prototype Light Brigade Combat Team, according to U.S. Army Pacific. Additional iterations of JPMRC are planned across the region as multinational participation continues to expand in support of INDOPACOM priorities.
| Date Taken: | 01.28.2026 |
| Date Posted: | 01.29.2026 19:11 |
| Story ID: | 556999 |
| Location: | JOINT BASE PEARL HARBOR-HICKAM, HAWAII, US |
| Web Views: | 61 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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