What it's like to serve on Diego Garcia: Airmen in their own words

Meet the Airmen of Diego Garcia

Senior Airman Erick Sanchez, 36th Mission Support Group Det. 1 Munitions Inspector, inspects ammunition at Diego Garcia, British Indian Ocean Territory, May 15, 2025. “At my last assignment I was learning under certified inspectors, but here I am actually inspecting the munitions and seeing another side of ammo that I only got to see a glimpse of before,” said Sanchez. “Honestly, I enjoy the time I have to improve my strength. I’ve been going to the gym six days a week trying to get stronger and I love to improve my fitness.”

Meet the Airmen of Diego Garcia

Senior Airman Lux Edmonson, 36th Mission Support Group Det. 1 Munitions Inspector, replaces a description tag for munitions at Diego Garcia, British Indian Ocean Territory, May 15, 2025. “My favorite part about my job is that I get to handle the munitions and see the bombs get taken to the aircraft,” said Edmonson. “I love to fish and I go fishing all the time! You can catch a variety of species out here and there are a lot of people I can fish with as well.”

Meet the Airmen of Diego Garcia

Senior Airman Arline Iturriaga, 36th Mission Support Group Det. 1 Stockpile Management Crew Chief, operates a forklift at Diego Garcia, British Indian Ocean Territory, May 17, 2025. “The most rewarding aspect of my job is getting to create close bonds with the people I work with,” said Iturriaga. “Being able to work with munitions hands on is very cool.” “My favorite part about being here is when Edmonson and I go on our fishing trips, catching grouper, snappers, and sweet lips.”

Meet the Airmen of Diego Garcia

Senior Airman Camden Black, 36th Mission Support Group Det. 1 Stockpile Maintenance Crew Chief, draws a map of the placement of ammunition at Diego Garcia, British Indian Ocean Territory, May 15, 2025. “We make sure that assets are in good condition and that the buildings that hold them are in good condition to store them,” said Black. “Seeing the ammunition leave us and not have to come back is very rewarding.” “I love the Detachment. It’s amazing how you can be close to 30 other people you have never met before. We take care of each other; you have too.”

Meet the Airmen of Diego Garcia

Staff Sgt. Natalie Camacho, 36th Mission Support Group Det.1 Material Management NCOIC, moves wooden planks out of a warehouse at Diego Garcia, British Indian Ocean Territory, May 16, 2025. “Not a lot of people get to experience this place and you get to experience a lot more with AFSCs you wouldn’t have worked with in a different base,” said Camacho. “My time here has been unreal. I’ve never been able to be with such a close unit before and everyone makes the short tour seem easy."

Meet the Airmen of Diego Garcia

Tech. Sgt. Johnathan Kounlavong, 36th Mission Support Group Det. 1 Aerospace Ground Equipment (AGE) Section Chief, secures munitions to a truck at Diego Garcia, British Indian Ocean Territory, May 17, 2025. “It is nice to dispatch the AGE and see it in action,” said Kounlavong. “It’s a bit cliché to say this but there is no air power without ground power.” “It’s close knit here. We have about 30 individuals and on any other base you wouldn’t interact with them the way you do here.”

Meet the Airmen of Diego Garcia

Tech. Sgt. Joseph Cochenour, 36th Mission Support Group Det. 1 CSS Section Chief, briefs deployed Airmen on declared items when leaving the island at Diego Garcia, British Indian Ocean Territory, May 14, 2025. “I’m very grateful to be able to learn more about the 13 other AFSCs while being here on Diego Garcia and since we are such a small team, I get to work closely with them and be apart of the mission in ways that I don’t usually get to see in my career field,” said Cochenour. “My favorite part about the island is definitely being able to work with the contractors. We work with about 50 contractors that help the Air Force here and they sometimes work here up to 20 years so it is nice to work with them and hear about their families.”

Meet the Airmen of Diego Garcia

Master Sgt. Lisa Shurling, 36th Mission Support Group Det. 1 Logistics Flight Chief, moves supply in a warehouse at Diego Garcia, British Indian Ocean Territory, May 16, 2025. “In supply, we get to deal with so many challenges, travel the world, experience new things, work for really great units and learning what the Air Force has to offer in logistics support,” said Shurling. “We are such a small unit and we all get to work with each other. I’ve learned so much about other jobs here because we are always doing tasks outside of our own career fields.”

Published May 28, 2025
By Airman Xavier Romero
36th Mission Support Group Detachment 1

DIEGO GARCIA, British Indian Ocean Territory --

This series of photographs highlights the dedicated Airmen of the 36th Mission Support Group Detachment 1, capturing them in action as they share their perspectives on their roles and what they love about being at Diego Garcia. Together, these images offer a glimpse into the way of life as Airmen being stationed at Diego Garcia, the bonds at their detachment and the experience of working together to complete their mission.

Installation Access Facilities
North Gate Visitor Control Center:
- Services: DBIDS pass pick-up for contractors, guests, landowners, visitors, & Veteran’s Health Information Card (VHIC) registration/pass issue
- Location: Building 14615, Off Route 9, North Gate Road, Andersen AFB, GU 96929
- Hours of Operation: Monday through Friday, 6 a.m. to 2 p.m. & Saturdays from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. (Lunch from 11 a.m. to 12 p.m.) [Closed on Federal Holidays]
- Phone Number: 671-366-5477
- Organizational Email Box: 36sfs.vcc@us.af.mil
Pass & ID Office:
- Services: Agent Letters/Base Access Request endorsements/processing (in-person/organizational box), Government Foreign Visitor Request (FVRs), tracking number issuing for all contracts/foreign visitor requests, & Restricted Area Badge (RAB) issue/turn-in
- Location: Building 2403, Off Route 9, Arc Light Gate Road, Andersen AFB, GU 96929
- Hours of Operation: Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. (Visitor Passes from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m.) [Closed on Family Days/Federal Holidays]
- Phone Number: 671-366-5650
Organizational Email Box: 36sfs.vcc@us.af.mil
Commercial Vehicle Inspection Area Information
**All Contractors, Busses, Commercial Vehicles MUST go through the North Gate per 36 Wing Installation Defense Plan**

North Gate CVIA:
- Location: Building 14625 after entering North Gate
- Hours of Operation: Monday through Friday, 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. [Closed on Weekends & Federal Holidays]
- Phone Number: 671-366-2910
DBIDS Pre-Enrollment, Unescorted Access & Escorted Access Procedures
**Person(s) not in possession of a Military ID, DoD Civilian/Contractor ID, or active Base Access Pass MUST enter Andersen AFB through the North Gate Visitor Control Center (VCC)**

DBIDS Pre-Enrollments:
- Members and visitors can pre-enroll by following the following link https://dbids-global-enroll.dmdc.mil/preenrollui/#/landing-page or scanning the QR Code below
- PROs: Timesaver, Provides scannable QR Code, Transfers Guest Information to DBIDS Systems
- CONs: Still require guest biometrics/picture
Unescorted/Escorted Methods:
- In-Person with Guest with appropriate items
- Email 36sfs.vcc@us.af.mil via government account
**Processing takes between 5-7 business days upon receipt and is vetted in the order we receive requests**

**The sponsor will receive tracking numbers via email OR after the processing time has elapsed call 671-366-5650**
Guest Must Haves, Sponsorship, & Installation Access Forms/Information
**All emailed forms must be typed out if sent digitally and all IDs must be clear/free of obstructions**

**All handwritten forms must be legible if sent digitally or brought to the Pass & ID Office**

Guests Must Have One (01) of the Following Options:
- Enhanced/Real ID
- U.S. Passports, Federal States of Micronesia, Marshal Islands, or Palau Passports OR Foreign Passports (for guests/visitors)
- Drivers License with Copy of Birth Certificate
- Green Card
- Naturalization Certificate
Sponsorship:
- U.S. Military/Dependents (16 & older), CAC Holders, DoD Civilians, Military Retirees, & Real Landowners/Verified Family Members: Up to seven (07) guests
- Active Civilian Employees/Civilian Retirees, Veterans Health Information Card (VHIC): Unable to sponsor guests
Installation Access Forms/Information:
- Agent/Assistant Letters:
  - Limit: One (01) assigned per member
  - Length: Up to 1-year
  - Assistant: Assisted access to shop at the Exchange/Commissary
  - Agent: For unassisted access to shop at the Exchange/Commissary
- Base Access Requests (BARs)/Base Access Lists (BALs):
  - BAR: Requested by off-base Company/Contractors
  - BAL: Requested by a Unit or Squadron
  - Length: Up to 1-year
- Foreign Visitor Requests (FVRs):
  - FVR Contractor: For visitors requesting access for work purposes
  - FVR Leisure: For visitors visiting for leisurely purposes
- Landowners (LOs):
  - Registered Landowners (RLs)
  - Verified Family Members (VFMs)
  - Recurring Guests (RGs)
  - Escorted Visitors (EVs)
  - Length: Up to 3-years for RLs/VFMs, 1-year for RGs, 72-hours for EVs
- Special Event Pass (SPE):
  - Purpose: For events/occasions with many guests (i.e., birthday parties, sporting events, etc.)
  - Length: Singular or Multiple-Days
- Special Purpose Pass (SPP)/ Chauffer’s Pass:
  - SPP: To assist members during family visits
  - Chauffer’s Pass: To assist members experiencing military hardship/difficulties (i.e., deployments, divorce arrangements for child drop-off/pick-up, vehicle constraints, etc.)
  - Length: Up to 1-year
  - Limit: Two (02) assigned per member
- Weekend Work Requests (WWRs)
  - WWRs: To assist companies condense multiple tracking numbers into one document allowing afterhours access to accomplish work
  - Length: Up to 1-year
**If applicable, sponsor is responsible for filling out FVR information & must attach FVR to their package**
Expired ID Cards
What if my Military ID Card is expired or going to expire?
- Provide Visitor Control Center (VCC) staff with Confiscated ID Card Memorandum
- Schedule appointment through the https://idco.dmdc.osd.mil/idco/ link and present proof to VCC staff to obtain temporary pass
- Visit the https://myaccess.dmdc.osd.mil/identitymanagement/app/login to print off a family roster or DD Form 1172
- Bring two (02) forms of ID & Confiscated ID Card Memorandum to the scheduled appointment
Military Personnel Flight (MPF) – ID/CAC Card Processing
- Location: Consolidated Support Center, Building 22026, O’Malley Avenue, Yigo, GU 96929
- Hours of Operation: Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. (Lunch from 13:30 p.m. to 12 p.m. [Closed on Weekends, Training Days, & Federal Holidays]
Phone Number: 671-366-2276/4812