Port dogs from two squadrons partner for Operation Tomodachi

  • Published
  • By 2nd Lt. Christopher Love
  • 374th Airlift Wing Public Affairs
YOKOTA AIR BASE, Japan --  Amidst the heightened operations tempo and huge influx of relief supplies following Japan's recent earthquake and tsunami, two squadrons at Yokota Air Base have combined their efforts in new and effective ways.

The 374th Logistics Readiness Squadron and the 730th Air Mobility Squadron had worked together before, but never on the level -- or under the amount of pressure -- that has come with Operation Tomodachi.

The biggest change has been in the area of cargo deployment. Massive amounts of relief supplies have been pouring in from around the world. These supplies must be received, stored, palletized and loaded onto outgoing aircraft before they can reach those who need them in the north.

"We basically combined both of our cargo teams into palletization teams, to in-check cargo and prepare it for forward deployment," said Maj. Brandon Maroon, 730th AMS director of operations.

This has been no small order, even for the combined effort of two squadrons. For instance, one recent shipment alone, a donation of bottled water from Japanese companies, weighed in at one million pounds.

"We don't have the manpower to handle such a large-scale operation," said Master Sgt. Stanton Murrell, 374th LRS section chief small air terminal. "We formed the present partnership to take advantage of what both sides have to offer.

Not only did they combine manpower, but the squadrons also began sharing facilities, while leadership met to determine how best to employ their forces.

"We met way ahead of the game, as soon as the earthquake hit, to establish our ground rules for how we were going to work together," explained Major Maroon, a native of The Woodlands, Texas. "When it was all said and done, we got vectored to where we are right now: a total, combined team, getting all the best functional expertise together instead of just leaving it the individual squadrons to handle it."

When faced with the kind of task that currently confronts these two squadrons, collaboration becomes critical.

"Neither of us could accomplish the mission without the other squadron's help," said Sergeant Murrell. "On routine missions, we both have our part to do. But here we had to come together, or else this never would have worked."

Yet, facilities and planning boards aside, the success of these two squadrons has hinged in large part on the dedication and long hours of the people who comprise them.

One member, Airman 1st Class Ian Flurry, 730th AMS ramp services technician, openly expressed such dedication --and with vigor.

When asked, on a blustery afternoon 16 days into the mission, how he felt about his participation in Operation Tomodachi, Airman Flurry said, "It's amazing! The 12-hour days are worth it."

Such a dedicated staff has inspired pride in its senior leadership and garnered their appreciation.

"Amidst one of the most historically devastating events in Japan's history, the men and women of Yokota's 374th LRS and 730th AMS team have paved the way to meet these unprecedented challenges," remarked Major Maroon. "Between humanitarian assistance, disaster relief and the assisted voluntary departures of dependents, we are writing the Department of Defense rule book in providing support to any future events of this magnitude, and we're doing it with extraordinary professionalism."