As the spirit of giving nears, Andersen Air Force Base and partner nations prepare for Operation Christmas Drop 2023, a humanitarian mission with real-world emergency training for airmen.
The annual humanitarian mission will once again bring essential supplies to remote communities in the Pacific, according to a news release from the Pacific Air Forces Public Affairs.
Royal New Zealand Air Force loadmasters Cpl. Toni Thompson, right, and Sgt. Ethan Moran wave to islanders after dropping supplies onto a Micronesian island as part of Operation Christmas Drop in this Dec. 11, 2019, photo.
In this file photo, Air Force personnel, and others, pack boxes with food, supplies, clothing and other donated items, as they prepare the pallets pf goods to be loaded onto cargo aircrafts for the annual Operation Christmas Drop at Andersen Air Force Base in Yigo, on Dec. 5, 2022.
It is the Department of Defense’s longest-running humanitarian assistance and disaster relief operation and provides relief to more than 55 islands throughout the Pacific, in the Federated States of Micronesia and Palau.
Dating back to 1952, it symbolizes the U.S. commitment to partners in the Indo-Pacific and dedication to the Air Force’s dedication to humanitarian assistance.
Col. Andrew Roddan, 374th Airlift Wing commander at Yokota Air Base, Japan, reaffirmed the importance of the operation and the commitment of Airmen participating in OCD23.
“Our Pacific Air Forces Airmen continue to build critical interoperability with our Allies and partners,” said Roddan. “We are honored to once again dedicate our combined efforts to touch countless lives and foster goodwill between participating nations. The work we do at Operation Christmas Drop embodies the enduring mutual cooperation and trust between our friends across Micronesia, Palau, and the entire Indo-Pacific region.”
The bundles will contain donated non-perishable food, fishing supplies, schoolbooks, and Santa’s holiday staple toys for the islands’ children.
Operation Christmas Drop has not only become a cherished tradition for those who organize and participate in its execution but also a beacon of goodwill for the communities it serves.
“Operation Christmas Drop showcases our continued partnership and shared values,” said Maj. Zach Overbey, 36th Airlift Squadron C-130J Super Hercules pilot and OCD23 mission commander. “It is an absolute honor to come together with our Allies and partners to spread a little holiday joy and make a positive impact in the region.”
The mission’s success will be made possible through the collaborative efforts of multiple organizations, including the flying forces from the U.S. Air Force, the Japan Air Self-Defense Force, the Republic of Korea Air Force, and the Royal Canadian Air Force, and ground operations forces from the Philippine Air Force and Royal Australian Air Force.
This multinational endeavor underscores the commitment to regional security and humanitarian cooperation in the Indo-Pacific.
The 374th Airlift Wing from Yokota Air Base, Japan, will lead Operation Christmas Drop 2023 and gather personnel from each of the partner nations as well as Airmen from the 36th Wing at Andersen AFB and the 515th Air Mobility Operations Wing at Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam, to plan and execute low-cost, low-altitude airdrops.
In this 2021 photo, a U.S. Air Force C-130J Super Hercules, assigned to the 36th Airlift Squadron, Yokota Air Base, Japan, approaches Pohnpei International Airport, Pohnpei Island Dec. 7, 2021 during the 70th Anniversary of Operation Christmas Drop. OCD marked the first time in 10 years that a US. Air Force aircraft had landed in Pohnpei.
The multinational operation also improves interoperability and communication for future real-world humanitarian assistance and disaster relief missions.
Operation Christmas Drop 2023 is not just a mission; it’s a symbol of hope, resilience, and the power of international collaboration, the news release said.
The three key dates for the mission are on:
- Dec. 2: Bundle building — An event that will showcase the bundles built that will be placed onto the aircraft to be dropped off to communities in the Pacific. The bundles will contain non-perishable food, fishing supplies, schoolbooks, and Santa’s holiday staple toys for the islands’ children.
- Dec. 4: A push ceremony will be held to mark the start of Operation Christmas Drop.
- Dec. 5: Designated Media Day: A day to capture detailed OCD content and conduct interviews as well as an opportunity to fly one of the aircrafts.