YOKOTA AIR BASE, Japan -- Yokota Air Base conducted exercise Beverly Morning 25-1, Oct. 18 to 25.
BM 25-1 brought together the 374th Airlift Wing and tenant units for two weeks of high-intensity, simulated operations. The exercise was designed to test Airmen’s ability to execute key deployment functions under realistic and demanding conditions.
“Beverly Morning allows us to rehearse the processes we would use in real-world contingencies," said U.S. Air Force Capt. Jason Cathey, 374th Logistics Readiness Squadron deployment and distribution flight commander. "In a real situation, we don’t have the luxury of practice. This exercise pushes our capabilities to ensure we’re fully prepared to operate under pressure."
The exercise placed a heavy emphasis on two critical areas: the personnel deployment and the cargo deployment functions. These operations form the backbone of any successful deployment. Airmen with the 374th LRS and 730th Air Mobility Squadron, meticulously prepared and verified cargo before transporting it to the cargo yard for inspection. Simultaneously, personnel worked with unit deployment managers to finalize their readiness and complete all necessary documentation prior to departure and upon arrival to their simulated deployed location.
“Beverly Morning gives us the chance to go through every stage of the deployment process—from preparing cargo to loading aircraft—so that our Airmen are ready to deploy at a moment’s notice,” said Airman 1st Class Allison Lovera, 374th LRS logistics planner.
A key highlight of the exercise was the joint inspections conducted with the 730th AMS. These inspections ensured that cargo met airworthiness standards before being loaded onto C-130J Super Hercules aircraft for simulated deployment. At the same time, deploying personnel underwent medical briefings, readiness checks, and equipment verifications to simulate the process of deploying to a forward location.
In just the first four days, the 374th Airlift Wing simulated over 190 personnel deployments and conducted 35 joint inspections for 105 increments of cargo, totaling 680,000 pounds. Additionally, in total, approximately 730 personnel and 475 short tons were processed, and 31 real-world and 19 simulated sorties, or aircraft involved missions, were flown.
“Our goal for this exercise is to raise the proficiency of our newer joint inspectors and to educate users on building their assets correctly,” said Staff Sgt. Joe Martinez Silva, 730th AMS fleet services supervisor. “Safety is our top priority during inspections, so we ensure everything is not only completed swiftly, but also safely.”
Beverly Morning exercises underscores Yokota Air Base’s critical role as the primary airlift hub for the Indo-Pacific region while also enhancing readiness and reinforcing support for U.S. allies. Routine training and exercises like BM 25-1 ensures Airmen remain prepared for the challenges of an ever-evolving global landscape.
“The way units came together, adapted to the increased intensity and handled the duration of the exercise was truly impressive,” Cathey said. "Watching them solve problems in real-time gives me complete confidence that Team Yokota is ready to respond to any contingency—anywhere, anytime."