Pacific Agility symposium improves interoperability

  • Published
  • By Staff Sgt. Cody H. Ramirez
  • 374th Airlift Wing Public Affairs
YOKOTA AIR BASE, Japan --  Representatives and specialists from multiple nations gathered at Yokota Aug. 31 to Sept. 3 during the 2015 Pacific Agility C-130 Logistics and Safety Symposium.

The symposium is a U.S. Pacific Command initiative aimed at increasing relationships and interoperability between regional partners; it specifically focuses on bringing C-130 Hercules experts together to discuss and learn innovative safety, supply and maintenance standards, while also highlighting shortfalls and finding productive solution with managing the world's longest continuous production run aircraft.

Air force representatives from six countries participated in the symposium: Indonesian Air Force, Japan Air Self-Defense Force, Philippine Air Force, Royal Australian Air Force, Royal Thai Air Force and US Air Force.

"We were able to highlight U.S. capabilities, processes and facilities, giving our participants a little flavor as to how we do business," said Lt. Col. Vinh Trinh, U.S. Pacific Air Forces Logistics and Engineering exercise engagement shop directorate and symposium lead. "The vision is, if we show our processes to [our partners], they have a better understanding as to how we operate, so when we operate together there is a common understanding."

The multinational participants also played a role in the symposium, each presenting their own capabilities to the other participants. Each day, the participants received briefings from C-130 experts around Yokota and also toured base facility specializing in one of the symposium topics. This was the second consecutive year the symposium was held, and the first that included facility tours.

"Having [the symposium] here, and being able to do tours and see what was talked about earlier each day allows [the participants] to have a better understanding," said Senior Master Sgt. David Arnett, 374th Logistical Readiness Squadron symposium representative.

Yokota, as PACAF's primary airlift hub in the Indo-Asia Pacific region, was chosen as the location to host the symposium because it offered participants an opportunity to see assets and procedures first-hand. Senior Master Sgt. David Harvey, 374th Maintenance Group symposium representative said the LASS also allowed the partner nations to see what Yokota brings to contingencies and what the other air forces might want to add to their own capabilities.

"This is the hub and spoke of what we do here," Harvey said.  "This is PACOM's only intra-theater airlift location, so if the Air Force is going to be involved in intra-theater airlift operations, it will originate from Yokota."

According to Harvey, the Air Force has historically had the largest budget and was able to spend it on quick and easy fixes. That is changing. Harvey said many of the partner nations have already gained experience in fixing problems on a budget, and the symposium allows them to share that knowledge.

"PACOM contains half the earth's surface and the largest population, and every year there are humanitarian relief operations that take place in the theater," Arnett said. "It is great for us to come together now, so when we do have to respond to a real-world conflict, we are a better and stronger team to face that challenge."

Harvey, who has visited all participating countries in an official capacity, highlighted the importance of PACAF's pre-established relationships with partner nations in the region.

"If we have the same or very similar processes, when we respond to a contingency together, we work together much better," Harvey said. "If we all use a standard process we can expedite our actions during a mission."

This idea was proven during the air symposium. Members of the JASDF built an airlift pallet and sent it to the 730th Air Mobility Squadron's mechanized materiel handling system, a massive digitalized cargo system at Yokota. The system uploaded and processed the pallet with no issues. Standardized and streamlined processes and procedures allow partner nations to work together seamlessly.

"This is just a building block," Trinh said. "We hope to be on the receiving end of how our partners operate in subsequent years."