Community Engagement

 

Andersen Air Force Base's community engagement programs are designed to enhance morale, public trust, support and demonstrate that the Air Force is a community partner and a responsible steward of natural resources. We hope to increase public awareness and understanding of the Air Force's mission. Our goal is to foster positive relations and maintain a reputation as a good neighbor as well as a respected, professional organization charged with responsibility for national security.

Community News

Guam’s 734th Air Mobility Squadron helps ‘Santa’

  • Published
  • By Jerry Bynum
  • 624th Regional Support Group
ANDERSEN AIR FORCE BASE, Guam --  The 734th Air Mobility Squadron at Andersen Air Force Base in Guam was the center of “Santa’s” operations for two weeks in December during Operation Christmas Drop, which the world’s longest running airdrop mission.

The trilateral training event, which includes the Japanese Air Self Defense Force and Royal Australian Air Force, focused on low-cost, low-altitude airdrop tactics and procedures over unsurveyed drop zones, and provided nearly 25 tons of donated gifts and critical supplies to 56 Micronesian islands.

“So we got a call from the ‘North Pole’ asking for goods for the children and those who live on the islands, and Operation Christmas Drop was here to answer the call,” said U.S. Air Force Master Sgt. Aubrey Lugo, 734th AMS air transportation specialist and this year’s president for the Operation Christmas Drop organization.

Ever since 1952, those living on the remote islands of the Commonwealth of the Northern Marianas, Federated States of Micronesia, and the Republic of Palau receive bundles filled with donated rice, clothing, fishing supplies, toys, shoes, tools and other critical items as part of the training mission.

Volunteers created donation drop-off boxes and raise money from local businesses and citizens in Guam for months leading up to the event. Volunteers including U.S. servicemembers, ally forces, community groups and families assisted with packing the donated goods into airdrop bundles.

“This is an outstanding opportunity for [everyone] to get involved with their community,” said Lugo. “It’s that whole ‘service-before-self’ idea … to show our community how we’re involved and how important it is to help [our] fellow man.”

Along with volunteer involvement for Operation Christmas Drop, U.S. Air Force Airmen from the 734th AMS played a critical role in planning and coordinating the logistical aspect of the operation. The squadron provided fixed and deployed maintenance, aerial port and command and control support for all aircraft supporting the operation.

“Our squadron has the unique ability to contribute,” said U.S. Air Force Staff Sgt. Kyle Young, a special planning supervisor with the 734th AMS. “To support something like this really brings purpose to what we do every day. Being able to load a plane and know exactly where that cargo is going, and who it’s benefiting is one of the most rewarding parts of the job.”

The 734th AMS provided the infrastructure, and worked together with the U.S. Air Force Reserve’s 44th Aerial Port Squadron to execute the day-to-day operation requirements for preparing and loading airdrop bundles for Operation Christmas Drop. The effort included sorting donations, preparing bundle boxes and loading bundles onto aircraft for the airdrop missions.

“From a total-force perspective, [Operation Christmas Drop] gives the active-duty component and the reserve the chance to work together,” said U.S. Air Force Maj. Gen. John Gordy II, U.S. Air Force Expeditionary Center commander at Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst, New Jersey. “Building relationships matters. The things we do [together] everyday builds that capacity and capability anytime we might need it in the future.”

The 734th AMS along with reservist ensured the airdrop bundles were ready for rigging. Bundles were secured for airdrop and equipped with parachutes by riggers from the 374th Airlift Wing at Yokota Air Base, Japan. The process gave Airmen a chance to work with different services, U.S. allies and international partners.

“It’s a perfect opportunity to bring the full team capacity together, whether it’s active duty or reserve, or our trilateral partners,” said U.S. Air Force Col. Otis Jones, 374th AW commander. “We bring different partners together to share in our tactics, techniques, and procedures and practice how we do humanitarian airdrops. It feels great to see our Airmen share ideas, and to know they have the confidence to execute this mission.”

The bundles were loaded onto U.S. Air Force, Japanese Air Self Defense Force and Royal Australian Air Force C-130 Hercules aircraft. Airdrops were performed Dec. 9-15, and impacted about 20,000 people covering 1.8 million square nautical miles of operating area.

“Being from Guam and being able to participate with this effort really means a lot to me,” said U.S. Air Force Senior Airman Joseph Alviedo, an air transportation specialist with the 734th AMS. “There’s a lot of pride knowing we’re helping our community. It’s humbling to be part of something that’s going to impact so many people.”

Operation Christmas Drop helped improve readiness for every aspect of the airdrop mission from aerial port operations to execution of the flying mission. The 734th AMS and 44th APS receive hands-on aerial port operations experience, and the 374th AW maintainers, loadmasters and aircrews along with trilateral partners maintain and develop combat readiness through sustainable aircraft generation and recovery.

“Operation Christmas Drop better prepares us for when we have a disaster relief response,” said Young. “It makes us better at our job, and prepares us for anything in the future.”

In addition to helping “Santa” make all of his deliveries, the operation enhances humanitarian assistance and disaster relief crisis response capabilities between three nations and lays the foundation for regional cooperation expansion during real-world contingencies in the Indo-Asia-Pacific.

Flyover Requests

The Community Engagement office helps facilitate flyovers and static display requests; however, the process does not start at Andersen Air Force Base. To start a flyover request, a DD Form 2535 must be completed and emailed to 36wg.pa2@us.af.mil and 36wg.pa.comrel@us.af.mil. Public Affairs will submit request for approval from the Air Force Aerial Events office at the Pentagon. Andersen AFB can only consider the request after it has approval from the Pentagon.

Flyovers are considered for aviation-related events and patriotic observances held in conjunction with Armed Forces Day, Memorial Day, Independence Day, POW/MIA Day, or Veterans Day (event must be within seven days of the actual holiday dates to be considered). There are some exceptions to policies; those not meeting the criteria can possibly be approved one-time only as an Exception-to-Policy event, provided there is sufficient rationale for support.

Coordination with the Federal Aviation Administration is required for completion of the DD Form 2535. To reach the Pacific area FAA representative, please call (808) 837-8300. The flyover request process can take approximately 60 days to complete. Please plan to start this process 90-120 days prior to date of the event.

Base tours

The 36th Wing offers organized group tours to educate people about the U.S. Air Force, Andersen Air Force Base and its missions. While we try to accommodate specific requests to visit a particular unit or learn about a specific mission, please understand that our mission must come first. Tours are only provided to organized groups such as civic organizations, schools, businesses, and reunion groups. Unfortunately we cannot accommodate individuals or non-organized groups. Certain conditions and restrictions apply to all base tours. Tour groups must meet the following requirements:

Size:
Tours are limited to a minimum of 20 participants and a maximum of 45 (or the passenger capability of one commercial bus).

Transportation:
Organizations must provide their own transportation. Tours are limited to one bus. Requests to use multiple vehicles cannot be accommodated.

Dates:
Tours are only offered on weekdays. Tours will not exceed five hours to include a lunch break, if requested.

Meals:
Meal options on base is limited and only granted upon approval of the Base Commander. The Magellan Dining Inn is a dining option only for ROTC and JROTC detachments.

Mobility:
Modified tours may be granted to those with limited mobility; however, this must be stated on the request form. If not stated, it is assumed that walking and stair climbing is not an issue. 

Base Access:
Any group members over the age of 18 will have to provide personal information, such as driver's license number, date of birth, and social security number, for an Entry Access List, which is required for base access.

To request a base tour, a "Tour Request Form" must be completed and e-mailed to 36wg.pa.comrel@us.af.mil no later than 3 weeks from event date. If your organization has any questions, please contact our Community Engagement office at (671) 366-4202/2228.

 

36th Wing

Phone: 671-366-2228

Location:
Bldg. 23003 Chicago Ave.
Andersen Air Force Base, Guam

Mailing Address:
Andersen AFB, 36 WG/PA COMREL
Unit 14003, APO AP 96543-4003
Email: 36wg.pa2@us.af.mil

Customer Service Hours:
Monday to Friday
9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.

Public Affairs

Flightline Photo Authorization Requests

Security an Policy Review

Social Media

 

Command Information

Camera Purchase Request

Photo Studio Support

Photo/ Video Support

Trademark Licensing

 

Community Engagement
Sister Village Sister Squadron Program
Base Tours
Aerial Event Requests
Flyover Requests
Environmental Public Affairs

Media Operations

FOIA Requests

Hometown News Release

Media Training

Media Credentials

Engaging The Media Training - Powerpoint

 

Sister Squadron Villages

Community Support

If you would like to request support from Andersen AFB for an upcoming event, go to the following linked information on how and where to make that request:

Flyover Request
Andersen Honor Guard

For activities not included on the list, contact the Community Engagement section one month prior to the event. Provide the basic information for the event (who, what, when, where, purpose of event). It is our policy to support as many requests as possible, but we are not always able to accommodate every request received.

For more information on the Community Engagement program, check out chapter 4 of AFI 35-105, Public Affairs Operations.

Our goal is to foster positive relations with the surrounding communities. Participation in community events by Air Force personnel is desirable and highly encouraged; however, limitations of time, money and mission requirements may make it impossible to grant all requests.