374 AW, JASDF team up in support of Red Flag-Alaska

YOKOTA AIR BASE, Japan -- Tech. Sgt. Rhommel Gabrintina, 730th Air Mobility Squadron NCO in Charge of special planning, verifies paperwork for a pallet heading to Alaska in support of Red Flag-Alaska at Yokota Air Base, Japan, Aug. 2, 2013. The 730 AMS assisted the Japan Air Self-Defense Force to ensure all Japanese cargo was properly inspected and prepared for loading. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Chad C. Strohmeyer)

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374 AW, JASDF team up in support of Red Flag-Alaska

YOKOTA AIR BASE, Japan -- Members from the 730th Air Mobility Squadron and the Japan Air Self-Defense Force prepare and inspect several pallets heading to Alaska in support of Red Flag-Alaska at Yokota Air Base, Japan, Aug. 2, 2013. The 730 AMS assisted the Japan Air Self-Defense Force to ensure all Japanese cargo was properly inspected and prepared for loading. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Chad C. Strohmeyer)

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374 AW, JASDF team up in support of Red Flag-Alaska

YOKOTA AIR BASE, Japan -- Tech. Sgt. Noe Navarro, 374th Logistics Readiness Squadron assistant NCO in Charge of cargo movement, assists a Japan Air Self-Defense Force member sorting tie downs to be used on several pallets heading to Alaska in support of Red Flag-Alaska at Yokota Air Base, Japan, Aug. 2, 2013. Red Flag-Alaska is an air-combat exercise designed to provide a realistic training environment. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Chad C. Strohmeyer)

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374 AW, JASDF team up in support of Red Flag-Alaska

YOKOTA AIR BASE, Japan -- Tech. Sgt. Yusuke Osada, Japan Air Self-Defense Force NCO in Charge of foreign military sales, assists the 730th Air Mobility Squadron with inspecting several cargo pallets loaded with JASDF cargo heading to Alaska in support of Red Flag-Alaska at Yokota Air Base, Japan, Aug. 2, 2013. Yokota Air Base works and trains with JASDF on a regular basis to not only strengthen the bilateral relationship, but to provide valuable information to take back to their organizations. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Chad C. Strohmeyer)

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374 AW, JASDF team up in support of Red Flag-Alaska

YOKOTA AIR BASE, Japan -- A Japan Air Self-Defense Force member ties down a pallet with JASDF cargo heading to Alaska in support of Red Flag-Alaska at Yokota Air Base, Japan, Aug. 2, 2013. The 730th Air Mobility Squadron assisted JASDF members with the preparation and inspection of the cargo. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Chad C. Strohmeyer)

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374 AW, JASDF team up in support of Red Flag-Alaska

YOKOTA AIR BASE, Japan -- Senior Airman Simon Tarango, 374th Logistics Readiness Squadron traffic management specialist, verifies paperwork for a pallet heading to Alaska in support of Red Flag-Alaska at Yokota Air Base, Japan, Aug. 2, 2013. The 730 AMS worked with the Japan Air Self-Defense Force to ensure all Japanese cargo was properly inspected and prepared for loading. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Chad C. Strohmeyer)

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374 AW, JASDF team up in support of Red Flag-Alaska

YOKOTA AIR BASE, Japan -- Members with the 730th Air Mobility Squadron, 374th Logistics Readiness Squadron and Japan Air Self-Defense Force prepare and inspect several cargo pallets heading to Alaska in support of Red Flag-Alaska at Yokota Air Base, Japan, Aug. 2, 2013. Yokota Air Base works and trains with JASDF on a regular basis to not only strengthen the bilateral relationship, but to provide valuable information to take back to their organizations. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Chad C. Strohmeyer)

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374 AW, JASDF team up in support of Red Flag-Alaska

Published Aug. 5, 2013
By Staff Sgt. Chad Strohmeyer
374th Airlift Wing Public Affairs

YOKOTA AIR BASE, Japan -- More than 30 people filled the hangar checking and rechecking paperwork, ensuring each pallet was prepared for the weekend departure.

Members from the 374th Logistics Readiness and 730th Air Mobility Squadrons worked hand-in-hand with their Japan Air Self-Defense Force counterparts Aug. 1, 2013, to properly inspect and load JASDF cargo heading to Red Flag-Alaska.

"Anytime we have JASDF cargo we assist them with anything they need," said Master Sgt. Froilan Halili, 730 AMS special planning section chief. "Having extra hands around always gets the job done more efficiently."

In addition to increased efficiency, each nation's cargo professionals worked to improve their interoperability while providing valuable training for participating units.

"It's always great to work with the JASDF," said Tech Sgt. Rhommel Gabrintina, 730 AMS noncommissioned officer in charge of special planning. "Every time we work together, something new is always learned."

Gabrintina said the inspection had added importance as the cargo was headed for Alaska to be used in Red Flag, a multilateral aerial combat exercise designed to provide realistic combat training environments.

"We all take our job very seriously on any inspection we do," said Gabrintina. "Knowing we had to get this right the first time for the exercise, definitely added a little extra pressure and satisfaction."