Operation Christmas Drop

Loadmasters from the 36th Airlift Squadron inspect pallets for their Operation Christmas Drop delivery Dec. 14, 2012, from Andersen Air Force Base, Guam. Each year OCD provides aid to more than 30,000 islanders in Chuuk, Palau, Yap, Marshall Islands and Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands. This year is the 61st anniversary of OCD, making it the longest running humanitarian mission in the world. In total, there are eight planned days of air drops, with 54 islands scheduled to receive humanitarian aid. (U.S. Air Force photo/Staff Sgt. Alexandre Montes/Released)

Operation Christmas Drop

Pilots from the 36th Airlift Squadron, Yokota Air Base, Japan, perform in-flight checks prior to their departure for an Operation Christmas Drop delivery flight Dec. 14, 2012, from Andersen Air Force Base, Guam. Each year OCD provides aid to more than 30,000 islanders in Chuuk, Palau, Yap, Marshall Islands and Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands. This year is the 61st anniversary of OCD, making it the longest running humanitarian mission in the world. In total, there are eight planned days of air drops, with 54 islands scheduled to receive humanitarian aid. (U.S. Air Force photo/Staff Sgt. Alexandre Montes/Released)

Operation Christmas Drop push ceremony

Members of Andersen, Yokota and the Guam local community push the first ceremonial box onto a waiting C-130 Hercules during the Operation Christmas Drop Push Ceremony at Andersen Air Force Base, Guam on Dec. 11, 2012. Operation Christmas Drop is a non-profit organization powered by volunteers from Andersen Air Force Base and the local Guam community. Each year OCD provides aid to more than 30,000 islanders in Chuuk, Palau, Yap, Marshall Islands and Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands. This year is the 61st anniversary of OCD, making it the longest running humanitarian mission in the world. The day of the push ceremony was the first of eight planned days of air drops with 16 total airdrops to 54 islands planned during OCD. The day of the OCD push ceremony was the first of eight planned days of air drops with 16 total airdrops to 54 islands planned. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Carlin Leslie/Released)

Operation Christmas Drop push ceremony

Col. Donald Drechsler, 36th Wing vice commander, speaks during the Operation Christmas Drop Push Ceremony at Andersen Air Force Base, Guam, on Dec. 11, 2012. Operation Christmas Drop is a non-profit organization powered by volunteers from Andersen Air Force Base and the local Guam community. Each year OCD provides aid to more than 30,000 islanders in Chuuk, Palau, Yap, Marshall Islands and Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands. This year is the 61st anniversary of OCD, making it the longest running humanitarian mission in the world. The day of the OCD push ceremony was the first of eight planned days of air drops with 16 total airdrops to 54 islands planned. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Benjamin Wiseman/Released)

Andersen flightline's unsung heroes

ANDERSEN AIR FORCE BASE, Guam—Servicemembers work together to fuel an aircraft on the flightline here, Sept. 7. Team Andersen fuels some of the United States largest joint and coalition exercises in the Asia-Pacific region. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Mariah Haddenham/Released)

Valiant Shield 2012

PACIFIC OCEAN (Sept. 12, 2012) Aviation ordnancemen attached to the "Royal Maces" of Strike Fighter Squadron (VFA) 27 upload training ordnance to a F/A-18E Super Hornet on the flight deck of the U.S. Navy's forward-deployed aircraft carrier USS George Washington (CVN 73) in support of Valiant Shield 2012 (VS12). VS12 is an integrated joint training exercise that offers the opportunity to integrate Navy, Air Force and Marine Corps assets in a blue-water environment. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist Seaman Apprentice Brian H. Abel/Released)