374th OSS manning assist

Tech. Sgt. Johnnie Sims, 403rd Operations Support Squadron Aircrew Flight Equipment technician, at Keesler Air Force Base, Mississippi, handles equipment during a 374 OSS manning assist, July 20, 2017, at Yokota Air Base, Japan. Sims assists 374 OSS with Yokota’s transition from C-130H Hercules to C-130J Super Hercules. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Juan Torres)

Tech. Sgt. Johnnie Sims, 403rd Operations Support Squadron Aircrew Flight Equipment technician, at Keesler Air Force Base, Mississippi, handles equipment during a 374 OSS manning assist, July 20, 2017, at Yokota Air Base, Japan. Sims assists 374 OSS with Yokota’s transition from C-130H Hercules to C-130J Super Hercules. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Juan Torres)

Tech. Sgt. Jacklyn Sugiyama, 120th Operations Support Squadron, Montana Air National Guard, builds quick-dawn masks, July 18, 2017, at Yokota Air Base, Japan. The equipment will be used on all of Yokota’s C-130J Super Hercules models. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Juan Torres)

Tech. Sgt. Jacklyn Sugiyama, 120th Operations Support Squadron, Montana Air National Guard, builds quick-dawn masks, July 18, 2017, at Yokota Air Base, Japan. The equipment will be used on all of Yokota’s C-130J Super Hercules models. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Juan Torres)

Tech. Sgt. Stephen Roberts, 339th Flight Test Squadron, Robins Air Force Base, Georgia, corrects write-ups for a Hazard communication program, July 18, 2017, at Yokota Air Base, Japan. The Hazcom program is intended to minimize the incidence of chemically induced occupational illnesses and injuries in the work area. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Juan Torres)

Tech. Sgt. Stephen Roberts, 339th Flight Test Squadron, Robins Air Force Base, Georgia, corrects write-ups for a Hazard communication program, July 18, 2017, at Yokota Air Base, Japan. The Hazcom program is intended to minimize the incidence of chemically induced occupational illnesses and injuries in the work area. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Juan Torres)

Tech. Sgt. Johnnie Sims, 403rd Operations Support Squadron Aircrew Flight Equipment technician, at Keesler Air Force Base, Mississippi, finishes packing a parachute, July 20, 2017, at Yokota Air Base, Japan. Sims assists 374 OSS with Yokota’s transition from C-130H Hercules to C-130J Super Hercules. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Juan Torres)

Tech. Sgt. Johnnie Sims, 403rd Operations Support Squadron Aircrew Flight Equipment technician, at Keesler Air Force Base, Mississippi, finishes packing a parachute, July 20, 2017, at Yokota Air Base, Japan. Sims assists 374 OSS with Yokota’s transition from C-130H Hercules to C-130J Super Hercules. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Juan Torres)

Parachutes are stacked up on a table waiting for inspection by Airmen from the 374th Operations Support Squadron Aircrew Flight Equipment, July 20, 2017 at Yokota Air Base, Japan. AFE regularly inspects, maintains, and assembles all life-support and survival equipment used by aircrew and passengers to ensure everything is ready for use. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Juan Torres)

Parachutes are stacked up on a table waiting for inspection by Airmen from the 374th Operations Support Squadron Aircrew Flight Equipment, July 20, 2017 at Yokota Air Base, Japan. AFE regularly inspects, maintains, and assembles all life-support and survival equipment used by aircrew and passengers to ensure everything is ready for use. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Juan Torres)

Tech. Sgt. Jacklyn Sugiyama, 120th Operations Support Squadron, Montana Air National Guard, builds quick-dawn masks, July 18, 2017, at Yokota Air Base, Japan. The masks will be used on all of Yokota’s C-130J Super Hercules models. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Juan Torres)

Tech. Sgt. Jacklyn Sugiyama, 120th Operations Support Squadron, Montana Air National Guard, builds quick-dawn masks, July 18, 2017, at Yokota Air Base, Japan. The masks will be used on all of Yokota’s C-130J Super Hercules models. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Juan Torres)

Tech. Sgt. Johnnie Sims, 403rd Operations Support Squadron Aircrew Flight Equipment technician, at Keesler Air Force Base, Mississippi, packs a parachute during a 374 OSS manning assist, July 20, 2017, at Yokota Air Base, Japan. Sims assists 374 OSS with Yokota’s transition from C-130H Hercules to C-130J Super Hercules. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Juan Torres)

Tech. Sgt. Johnnie Sims, 403rd Operations Support Squadron Aircrew Flight Equipment technician, at Keesler Air Force Base, Mississippi, packs a parachute during a 374 OSS manning assist, July 20, 2017, at Yokota Air Base, Japan. Sims assists 374 OSS with Yokota’s transition from C-130H Hercules to C-130J Super Hercules. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Juan Torres)

Tech. Sgt. Stephen Roberts, 339th Flight Test Squadron, Robins Air Force Base, Georgia, performs a mask leak test on Tech. Sgt. Shakuntala Willis, 374th Operations Support Squadron Aircrew Flight Equipment main shop NCO in charge, July 19, 2017, at Yokota Air Base, Japan. The leak test is used to verify the mask’s seal and integrity. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Juan Torres)

Tech. Sgt. Stephen Roberts, 339th Flight Test Squadron, Robins Air Force Base, Georgia, performs a mask leak test on Tech. Sgt. Shakuntala Willis, 374th Operations Support Squadron Aircrew Flight Equipment main shop NCO in charge, July 19, 2017, at Yokota Air Base, Japan. The leak test is used to verify the mask’s seal and integrity. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Juan Torres)

Yokota Air Base, Japan -- With Yokota undergoing a C-130H Hercules to C-130J Super Hercules transition, the 374th Operations Support Squadron has been preparing for their arrival with the help of Air Force Reservists and Air National Guardsmen.

This transition from the old H-model to the new J-model C-130s has given the Aircrew Flight Equipment Flight a chance to show their capabilities overcoming the many challenges that come with the airframe switch.

“Our big issue was that we were getting 14 J-model aircraft, with eight of them coming fresh from the factory and not having the equipment we need” said Master Sgt. Richard Jackson, 374 OSS AFE superintendent. “We needed help in order to meet all the requirements for that transition.”

Each C-130J has approximately 1,500 life support and survival items. Additionally, when the H-models leave they must be fully equipped and ready for their next home, leaving the 374 OSS with a big workload.

“None of our C-130Hs are going to the boneyard, so they need all the equipment necessary to fly them,” Jackson added.

With the help of these Guardsmen and Reservists from around the Air Force, the AFE flight is accomplishing vital work in preparation for the all C-130Js coming to Yokota; ensuring the new aircraft have everything they need to accomplish the various missions in their new Pacific home.

Among the members that assisted AFE are:

Tech. Sgt. Ryan Strong, 177 OSS, New Jersey ANG
Tech. Sgt. Jacklyn Sugiyama, 120 OSS, Montana ANG
Tech. Sgt. Johnnie Sims, 403 OSS, Keesler AFB, Mississippi
Tech. Sgt. Stephen Roberts, 339 Flight Test Squadron, Robins AFB, Georgia
Tech. Sgt. Marlon Prevost, 403 OSS, Keesler AFB, Mississippi
Tech. Sgt. Ryan Aderhold, Minnesota ANG
Senior Airman Kaitlyn Tydingco, 154 OSS, Hickam AFB, Hawaii ANG

“They have been phenomenal ambassadors. They have really shown us a great example of how Guardsmen and Reservists work and are eager to learn,” said Jackson. “We can rely on them just like any other members of our team.”

Through their skills and expertise, the Guardsmen and Reservists have proven to be a valuable asset for the 374 OSS in the C-130H to C-130J transition.

“They not only accelerated our timelines, but added different experiences, perspectives and infectious positive attitudes to our team,” said Lt. Col. Richard F. Mcelhaney, 374 OSS commander.