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        Policy UpdatesNewsroomReoptimizationBIOGRAPHIESAF Senior Leaders      Airmen from Yokota Air Base, Japan, offload equipment from a C-130 Hercules at Clark Air Base, Republic of the Philippines, Nov. 16, 2013. The C-130 is considered a tactical airlift workhorse; capable of preforming air-land and airdrop missions out of remote locations.131116-F-SI013-075
                        
                        
                        Airmen from Yokota Air Base, Japan, offload equipment from a C-130 Hercules at Clark Air Base, Republic of the Philippines, Nov. 16, 2013. The C-130 is considered a tactical airlift workhorse; capable of preforming air-land and airdrop missions out of remote locations.
                
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        Airmen from Yokota Air Base, Japan, prepare to offload equipment from a C-130 Hercules at Clark Air Base, Republic of the Philippines, Nov. 16, 2013. The C-130 is considered a tactical airlift workhorse; capable of preforming air-land and airdrop missions out of remote locations.131116-F-SI013-068
                        
                        
                        Airmen from Yokota Air Base, Japan, prepare to offload equipment from a C-130 Hercules at Clark Air Base, Republic of the Philippines, Nov. 16, 2013. The C-130 is considered a tactical airlift workhorse; capable of preforming air-land and airdrop missions out of remote locations.
                
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        Lt. Col. Jeff Menasco, 36th Airlift Squadron commander, briefs a team of Airmen from Yokota Air Base, Japan, on their mission to support the disaster relief effort in the Philippines at U-Taphao Airport, Thailand, Nov. 15, 2013. The Airmen were returning from exercise Cope South in Bangladesh when they were redirected to the real-world humanitarian aid mission.131115-F-SI013-017
                        
                        
                        Lt. Col. Jeff Menasco, 36th Airlift Squadron commander, briefs a team of Airmen from Yokota Air Base, Japan, on their mission to support the disaster relief effort in the Philippines at U-Taphao Airport, Thailand, Nov. 15, 2013. The Airmen were returning from exercise Cope South in Bangladesh when they were redirected to the real-world humanitarian aid mission.
                
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Airmen shift from exercise to real-world relief effortsPublished Nov. 18, 2013
                    
                    By Capt. Raymond Geoffroy
                    
                    
                    374th Airlift Wing Public Affairs
            **CLARK AIR BASE, the Republic of the Philippines --**Airmen from Yokota Air Base, Japan, shifted gears from exercise to real-world humanitarian relief operations as they arrived at Clark Air Base, Republic of the Philippines, to provide tactical airlift support for Operation Damayan, Nov. 16.
The team of approximately 80 Airmen and three C-130 Hercules were returning to Japan from Exercise Cope South, a Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief exercise in Bangladesh, when new orders arrived to join the joint, multinational effort to assist the Philippine government's response to Super Typhoon Haiyan/Yolanda. 
"This is exactly the kind off mission we train for," said Lt. Col. Jeff Menasco, 36th Airlift Squadron commander. "We can provide versatile humanitarian airlift operations in some of the most austere locations within hours of a mission tasking."
The team is joined by two more Yokota C-130s as well as additional aircrews and support personnel who will augment the airlift mission. In total, five C-130s and more than 90 Yokota personnel will join efforts at Clark, supported by Airmen operating back in Japan.
Yokota Airmen regularly train in local and regional exercises designed to developed and improve their airlift expertise to better respond to contingency situations.
According to the crews joining Operation Damayan, all the rehearsals have led up to this moment and they are eager to put their skills to use.
"We're ready go out there and do our job and help people in need," said 1st Lt. Jon Van Pinxteren, 36th Airlift Squadron navigator. "All the training we've received so far has been for this purpose. It's pretty exciting to say this is what I do."
The C-130 Hercules primarily performs the tactical portion of the airlift mission. The aircraft is capable of operating from rough, dirt strips and is the prime transport for airdropping supplies in remote locations.
"In times of crisis, the C-130 have become an icon of hope to those in need," Menasco said. "No matter what the mission, we deliver in the toughest conditions. We are ready to do whatever we can to help the people of the Philippines as they recover from this disaster."Operation Damayan 



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