NOACT: Taking care of the Navy

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class John D. Partlow
  • 374th Airlift Wing Public Affairs
YOKOTA AIR BASE, Japan --  Yokota is the busiest airlift hub in the Western Pacific, and with that comes the great responsibility of taking care of all U.S. military services in the region. One agency supporting that mission is the Navy Overseas Air Cargo Terminal at Yokota Air Base.

Navy Overseas Air Cargo Terminal Yokota is a tenant unit based out of Naval Fleet Activities Yokosuka, Japan, and processes all Naval equipment that routes through Yokota's 730th Air Mobility Squadron.

"We are here to ensure equipment gets from one point to another," said Petty Officer 1st Class Arnel Torio, NOACT logistics specialist. "If a ship moves or a truck is delayed, we reroute the equipment to ensure it gets to its final destination."

The unit provides logistics mobility support to approximately 93 ships, 350 aircraft and 200 shore-based customers throughout Japan, the Pacific Ocean, Indian Ocean and the Persian Gulf.

"Dealing with so many responsibilities can make the job difficult sometimes," said Seaman Naby Toure, NOACT customer service representative. "But we always stay vigilant because we're usually the last people to touch the mail before it goes to its final destination."

Not only does the Navy benefit from this unit, but the Air Force also takes advantage of what the squadron brings as well.

"Having us here helps the Air Force, because it allows Yokota personnel to only deal with Air Force equipment while we handle the Navy's cargo," Toure said. "It saves both services a lot of work and confusion."

For every service, the mission always comes first, but personnel here at NOACT Yokota put their customers first as well.

"Sometimes we'll have people call us back to thank us after a successful delivery, and that feels great," Toure said. "I love putting a smile on a customer's face."