In case of emergency: 459th AS supplies aid in joint, combined annual exercise Published Sept. 8, 2023 By Staff Sgt. Taylor Slater 374th Airlift Wing Public Affairs YOKOTA AIR BASE, Japan -- U.S. Air Force Tech. Sgt. Jeovany Vasquez, 374th Operations Support Squadron noncommissioned officer in charge of weapons and tactics, secures simulated humanitarian aid on a UH-1N Huey at Yokota Air Base, Japan, Sept. 2, 2023. Disaster exercises are designed to ensure an organized personnel response as natural disasters are an ongoing threat to the Tokyo Metropolitan Area and Kanto Plains region. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Taylor Slater) Photo Details / Download Hi-Res YOKOTA AIR BASE, Japan – Airmen from the 459th Airlift Squadron, alongside members of the U.S. Army, U.S. Navy, and Japan Air Self-Defense Force, assisted the Tokyo Metropolitan Government with a disaster preparedness and response drill at the Tokyo Rinkai Disaster Prevention Park, Japan, Sept. 2. “Even though we are in different branches and fly different helicopters, aviation is a language we all understand,” said U.S. Air Force Capt. Colton McConnell, 459th AS UH-1N Huey instructor pilot. “Coordination [in the exercise] was very successful. It’s fun to see like-minded people do a meaningful mission in the Kanto Plains.” Because natural disasters like earthquakes and tsunamis are an ongoing threat to the Tokyo metropolitan area and the Kanto Plains region, emergency preparedness is crucial to increasing readiness in the face of a crisis. In this simulated 7.3 magnitude earthquake exercise, UH-1N aircrew generated the helicopter and swiftly departed Yokota Air Base to downtown Tokyo with simulated humanitarian aid. “These multinational drills enhance interoperability and ensure U.S. forces are prepared to engage with our partner nations at an effective level,” said Capt. Matthew Helm, 459th AS UH-1N instructor pilot. Members of the Tokyo Metropolitan Government receive a box of simulated disaster relief supplies at the Tokyo Rinkai Disaster Prevention Park, Japan, Sept. 2, 2023. The park is an approved location for disaster prevention drills and education and, in the event of a natural disaster, is the planned headquarters for relief operations. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Taylor Slater) Photo Details / Download Hi-Res Each participating team delivered their simulated aid throughout the course of the exercise to ensure the full readiness of all parties in case of emergency. These exercises are designed to further strengthen disaster relief capabilities and promote proactive actions when the worst comes to pass. Yokota recently supported relief efforts in Guam following Typhoon Mawar, where the 374th AW aircrew and logistics specialists teamed up with the Army and Air Force Exchange Service to package and airlift over 36,000 pounds of frozen foods and refrigerated perishable items to Andersen Air Force Base.