News United States Air Force
 Yokota AB supports JPMRC 23-02 AlaskaPublished April 6, 2023
                        
                        
                        374th Airlift Wing
                **JOINT BASE ELMENDORF-RICHARDSON, Alaska (AFNS) --**
                The 374th Airlift Wing from **Yokota Air Base**, Japan, provided airlift support for **Joint Pacific Multinational Readiness Capability** exercise, March 21-April 2, and successfully conducted multiple joint exercises with the U.S. Army and Royal Canadian Air Force out of **Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson**.
The JPMRC is a training exercise that aims to enhance the interoperability between U.S. joint services and allies by fielding realistic training scenarios in freezing arctic conditions.
The 374th AW role consisted of transporting military personnel, heavy equipment and conducting low-cost, low altitude air drops to aid other units.Paratroopers with combat gear sit resting in a dark room that is lit with green lights. One mans face is lit with an orange hue due to the light coming through the window of the aircraft.Paratroopers from the U.S. Army 2nd Infantry Brigade Combat Team, 11th Airborne, wait in a C-130J Super Hercules assigned to the 374th Airlift Wing, Yokota Air Base, Japan, to conduct static-line jumps into Ladd Army Airfield at Fort Wainwright during exercise Joint Pacific Multinational Readiness Capability, March 26, 2023. The exercise allows the military to demonstrate interoperability between the U.S. Air Force and Army while fulfilling required certifications and tactically operating in an arctic environment. (U.S. Air Force Photo by Senior Airman Manuel G. Zamora)
            
            
            Photo Details /
                Download Hi-Res

    











Throughout the duration of the exercise, paratroopers from the U.S., Canada, Italy and Australia conducted routine parachute jumps. This gave plenty of opportunities for loadmasters to practice their procedures when assisting military personnel for static-line jumps.
“This year, we did a lot of personnel drops and simulated a JFE where we dropped about 1,000 U.S. paratroopers,” said Capt. Christian Fontaine, 36th Airlift Squadron chief of training. “The cold weather and mountain flying here is not as abundant at home station so it's an opportunity for our crew to get accustomed to operating in an arctic environment.”
Yokota AB personnel aided the transport and deployment of U.S. Army’s **M142 High Mobility Rocket Systems** from a **C-130J Super Hercules**.load master in flight suit in a low lit room waiting in front of Heavy equipment that is about to be released out the C130j aircraft.U.S. Air Force Staff Sgt. D’Angelo Seabron, 36th Airlift Squadron loadmaster, waits for the signal to release an airdrop of heavy equipment off a C-130J Super Hercules during the Joint Pacific Multinational Readiness Capability exercise, in Alaska, March 25, 2023. Heavy equipment drops are one of the many required certifications for loadmasters to complete while familiarizing themselves with the arctic environment. (U.S. Air Force Photo by Senior Airman Manuel G. Zamora)
            
            
            Photo Details /
                Download Hi-Res
    
    Equipment being loaded on to a C130j outside on an airline during the day.Loadmasters assigned to Yokota Air Base, Japan, load heavy equipment onto a C-130J Super Hercules at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, Alaska, in support of the Joint Pacific Multinational Readiness Capability exercise, March 25, 2023. The exercise focuses on training and tactical development for deployment operations in an arctic environment consisting of heavy equipment loading, airdrops and transportation of U.S. Army personnel. (U.S. Air Force Photo by Senior Airman Manuel G. Zamora)
            
            
            Photo Details /
                Download Hi-Res
    
    Front view of the HIMARS with the right door opened by one of the Army members. behind is the C130j that its being loaded on.Loadmasters assigned to Yokota Air Base, Japan, work with U.S. Army Soldiers from the 17th Field Artillery Brigade to load a High Mobility Artillery Rocket System onto a C-130J Super Hercules at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, Alaska, in support of the Joint Pacific Multinational Readiness Capability exercise, March 24, 2023. The exercise focuses on training and tactical development for deployment operations in an arctic environment consisting of heavy equipment loading, airdrops and transportation of U.S. Army personnel. (U.S. Air Force Photo by Senior Airman Manuel G. Zamora)
            
            
            Photo Details /
                Download Hi-Res

“HIMARS can fit into our aircraft but only narrowly and it's heavy,” Fontaine said. “We also practiced HIMARS rapid insertion, which is where we land in different forward locations. They receive targeting data, shoot their targets and roll back into the aircraft.”
The JPMRC exercise allowed multiple avenues to improve readiness, but all exercises are considered essential to accomplishing the 374th AW global airlift mission.
“We helped to familiarize the Royal Canadian Air Force with LCLA airdrop capabilities,” Fontaine said. “We learned from them too and found better ways to rig bundles. Doing these LCLAs with them will help them be more equipped to participate in future iterations of **Operation Christmas Drop**, our annual humanitarian airlift operation.”
JPMRC served as a valuable learning experience as it required finding common ground and understanding limitations between partners. The exercise allowed individuals to develop skills in rare circumstances and navigate diverse perspectives to ultimately identify optimal solutions across all military branches.
“My favorite part about the JPMRC exercise is being able to work with our Air Force and Army counterparts,” Fontaine said. “Coming out here, we really learn what the joint common denominator is and what our international partners operate with so when an unknown situation comes up. We're more ready to respond to it because we've identified all the unknowns that we can control.”LR 



USAF 



AF 



Air Force 



Army 



Yokota AB 



JB Elmendorf-Richardson 



joint exercise 



JPMRC 



Alaska 



LCLA 



HiMARS 



interoperability 



partnership 



374th AW 



Canada 



Italy 



Australia 



M142 



C-130J