(Right to left) Capt. Jonathan Bonilla, and 1st Lt. Vicente Vasquez, both with the 459th Airlift Squadron UH-1N Iroquois pilots, fly over Tokyo after completing night training, April 25, 2016. The 459 AS frequently trains on a multitude of scenarios in order to stay prepared for potential real-world contingencies and operations. (U.S. Air Force photo by Yasuo Osakabe/Released)
Maj. Angela Prescott, 374th Surgical Operations Squadron doctor, stands at attention before calling a formation with students of the Musashimurayama Fifth Middle School during a mini boot camp obstacle course at Musashimurayama City, Japan, July 2, 2016. Members with the 374th Medical Group taught drill commands and aspects of military standards and practices to the 9th graders. (U.S. Air Force photo by Yasuo Osakabe/Released)
Col. Kenneth Moss, 374th Airlift Wing commander, flies over the Kanto Plains during a training mission. Three C-130J Super Hercules from Dyess Air Force Base, Texas, traveled to Yokota to aid in the transition from the C-130 Hercules to the J model. (U.S. Air Force photo by Yasuo Osakabe/Released)
Tech. Sgt. Christopher Rector, 459th Airlift Squadron UH-1N Iroquois special missions aviator evaluator, performs a visual confirmation using night vision goggle during a training flight over U.S. Army Garrison Yokohama North Dock, April 25, 2016. The 459 AS frequently trains on a multitude of scenarios in order to stay prepared for potential real-world contingencies and operations. (U.S. Air Force photo by Yasuo Osakabe/Released)
Airman 1st Class Abigail Kuras, 374th Maintenance Squadron aerospace ground equipment apprentice, poses for a photo inside the AGE shop at Yokota Air Base, Japan, Jan. 11, 2016.
Kuras performs maintenance and inspections on $14 million AGE assets to support 14 C-130 Hercules, three C-12 Huron, four UH-1 Huey and transient alert and Air Mobility Command operations. Additionally, she completed more than 20 major inspections that contributed to the alleviation of a two month backlog and pushed the flight a month ahead of schedule, which is the furthest ith as been in two years. Finally, while working in the dispatch section, she performed more than 100 minor inspections that contributed to the flights quality assurance pass rate of 99.5 percent. (U.S. Air Force photo by Osakabe Yasuo/Released)
Military personnel render salutes during the Memorial Service Day Ceremony May 27, 2016 at Yokota Air Base, Japan. The 374th Airlift Wing hosted the ceremony in memory of those who made the ultimate sacrifice during military service. (U.S. Air Force photo by Yasuo Osakabe)
A C-130 Hercules assigned to the 36th Airlift Squadron conducts a night flight mission over Yokota Air Base, Japan, May 11, 2016. The C-130 provides tactical airlift worldwide. Its flexible design allows it to operate in an austere environment. (U.S. Air Force photo by Yasuo Osakabe)
SrA Jeremy Jutba-Hake, 36th Airlift Squadron loadmaster, poses for a photo inside a C-130 Hercules after landing at Andersen Air Force Base, Guam, Dec. 11, 2015, during Operation Christmas Drop. Jutba-Hake collapsed during post-flight duties following a training mission during Operation Christmas Drop 2015. On day two of OCD 2016, participants gathered for a remembrance ceremony before beginning the day’s mission.
U.S. Air Force Tech. Sgt. David Jacob, 459th Airlift Squadron special mission aviator, completes pre-flight inspection display during the 43rd Anniversary Event of Japan Ground Self-Defense Force Camp Tachikawa at JGSDF Camp Tachikawa, Japan, Oct. 1, 2016. Service members with the 459th Airlift Squadron from Yokota Air Base and Army Aviation Battalion from Camp Zama participated in the festival. (U.S. Air Force photo by Yasuo Osakabe/Released)
Airman 1st Class Marissa Antillon-Loya, 36th Airlift Squadron C-130 loadmaster, tightens up a rope after deploying a low-cost, low-altitude airdrop over Yokota Air Base, Japan, March 23, 2016, during a training mission. The 36th AS members demonstrated their airlift capabilities to Japan Air Self-Defense Force loadmasters during annual Non-Commission Officer exchange program. (U.S. Air Force photo by Osakabe Yasuo/Released)
Tech. Sgt. Kyle Favorite, 36th Airlift Squadron C-130 Hercules loadmaster, holds a U.S. flag outside of a C-130H during the 2016 Japanese-American Friendship Festival at Yokota Air Base, Japan, Sept. 17 ,2106. The U.S. Flag, waved by Favorite, was held out of one C-130 as a Japanese flag was simultaneously held outside another taxing aircraft symbolizing the U.S.-Japan partnership and reinforcing the general idea of the festival—to increase bilateral relationships between the two counties. (U.S. Air Force photo by Yasuo Osakabe/Released)
The mission for the 459th Airlift Squadron and Japan Air Self-Defense Force Komatsu Air Rescue Squadron was a three-day training designed to utilize night vision goggles on land operations, search and rescue operations and familiarize with each other’s operations during the U.S. and Japan bilateral training exercise Keen Sword 17.
