The 71st Operation Christmas Drop kicks off Published Dec. 4, 2022 By Staff Sgt. Jessica Avallone, 1st Lt. Danny Rangel, Yasuo Osakabe 374th Airlift Wing YOKOTA AIR BASE, Japan -- Every December, C-130J aircrews from Yokota deploy to Andersen AFB. The C-130J crews airdrop food, supplies, and educational material to islanders throughout the, Federated States of Micronesia, and Republic of Palau. These islands are some of the most remote locations on the globe that span a distance nearly as broad as the continental US. Each year, OCD serves as a proving ground for the techniques used and shared with regional partners in preparation for response to natural disasters all too common across this region. Operation Christmas Drop mission has demonstrated America’s good will to those with few material resources.