Packing Up For Christmas Drop
Operation Christmas Drop Process and Participants
Operation Christmas Drop
65th Annual Operation Christmas Drop
About Operation Christmas Drop
Operation Christmas Drop is the Department of Defense's longest-running humanitarian airlift operation. The tradition began during the Christmas season in 1952 when a B-29 Superfortress aircrew saw islanders waving at them from the island of Kapingamarangi, 3,500 miles southwest of Hawaii. In the spirit of Christmas the aircrew dropped a bundle of supplies attached to a parachute to the islanders below, giving the operation its name. Today, air drop operations include more than 50 islands throughout the Pacific.
Operation Christmas Drop is a PACAF event which includes a partnership between the 374th Airlift Wing, Yokota Air Base, Japan; the 36th Wing, Andersen Air Force Base, Guam; 734th Air Mobility Squadron, Andersen AFB of the 515th Air Mobility Operations Wing, Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam, Hawaii; the University of Guam; and the 'Operation Christmas Drop' private organization which leads the fundraising and donations for the operation. Andersen is used as a "base camp" to airlift the donated goods to islanders throughout Micronesia.
Utilizing the Denton Program, which allows private U.S. citizens and organizations to use space available on U.S. military cargo planes to transport humanitarian goods to countries in need, the C-130J Super Hercules crews airdrop food, supplies, educational materials, and toys to islanders throughout the Federated States of Micronesia, and Republic of Palau. These islands are some of the most remote locations on the globe spanning a distance nearly as broad as the continental US.
Months leading up the drop dates volunteers create donation drop-off boxes and raise money from local businesses and citizens. A week before the drop, volunteer Airmen, Soldiers, Sailors, Marines, civilians, contractors and families assist in picking up and sorting the donations. After the goods are sorted, riggers from Yokota and Andersen volunteers build dozens of boxes to hold the materials, most containing school supplies, clothing, rice, fishing equipment and toys.
Each year, the Christmas drops serve as a proving ground for the techniques used and shared with regional partners in preparation for response to natural disasters all too common across this region.
Air crews are linked to the village via ham radio as they fly overhead and drop supplies. The event provides readiness training to participating aircrew, allowing them to gain experience in conducting airdrops while providing critical supplies to 56 Micronesian islands impacting about 20,000 people; ultimately it's a profound win for everyone involved.
Low Cost Low Altitude (LCLA) airdrop is incredibly cost-efficient and easy to apply across the global airlift community, utilizing readily available resources and repurposed personnel parachutes to build supply pallets at a fraction of the cost of other airdrop bundles. These pallets are dropped at low altitude to improve drop accuracy.
Demonstrating and executing LCLA drops alongside regional allies is just one example of the USAF actively pursuing and participating in interoperability partner training to increase Humanitarian Assistance/Disaster Relief operational capabilities while ensuring stability in the Indo-Asia Pacific region.
The capabilities employed during OCD are a unique method of delivery suited to the region. Coast Humanitarian Air Drop (CHAD) takes the LCLA capability to the types of environments seen in many places throughout the Pacific. Together, CHAD and LCLA represent a unique Humanitarian Aid/Disaster Response or wartime capability that enables the USAF and allied nations to rapidly respond anywhere in the Indo-Asia Pacific region.
Operation Christmas Drop News
70th Annual Operation Christmas Drop kicks off Dec. 6 in Guam
U.S. and partner nation Airmen are set to participate in the Department of Defense's longest running humanitarian assistance training mission out of Andersen Air Force Base, Guam, beginning Dec. 6, 2021. Operation Christmas Drop, or OCD, is an annual U.S. Air Force tradition of packaging and
PACAF, partner nations deliver critical supplies during 70th Annual Operation Christmas Drop
U.S. and partner nation Airmen are set to participate in the Department of Defense's longest running humanitarian assistance training mission out of Andersen Air Force Base, Guam, beginning Dec.5.
374th AMXS ensures delivery during OCD
Andersen kicks off 69th Operation Christmas Drop with Push Ceremony
For 69 years, the Operation Christmas Drop mission has demonstrated America's goodwill to those with few material resources.
Andersen AFB to host 69th annual Operation Christmas Drop
Operation Christmas Drop is a U.S. Pacific Air Forces-sponsored multinational training and humanitarian assistance mission based out of Andersen Air Force Base, Guam. This year's event is bilateral and conducted in partnership with Japan as the 69th iteration of the operation is set to begin 5
Around the Air Force: Space Force, AF Housing, Operation Christmas Drop
Today's look Around the Air Force features Secretary of the Air Force Barbara Barrett on the Space Force and housing issues as well as information on this year's Operation Christmas Drop. (Hosted by Staff Sgt. Greg Cerny)
Operation Christmas Drop delivers critical supplies, holiday spirit
Now in its 68th year, Operation Christmas Drop has not only served as the world's longest running airdrop training mission, providing critical supplies to 55 Micronesian islands like Woleia, but has also served as a coming together for elders and their communities on their respective islands across
Operation Christmas Drop Opening Ceremony 2019
Operation Christmas Drop day one
Bundles are packed, rigged and ready to roll
Service members from the U.S. Air Force, Japanese Air Self-Defense Force (Koku Jietai), Royal Australian Air Force, Royal New Zealand Air Force (RNZAF), and volunteers from the local community came together for a day of bundle building during Operation Christmas Drop 2019 at Andersen Air Force Base,
OCD 2019 is here and Santa's C-130s are ready to fly
As the seasons change, December often times leads to trees without leaves, snow, and frigid air signaling what is the holiday season. For the island of Guam and many others scattered throughout the Pacific, the holiday season is marked not by the arrival of the more traditional winter, but that of
Indo-Pacific partners join Pacific Air Forces for 68th year delivering humanitarian aid to 20,000 people across 56 islands
U.S. and partner Airmen in Guam are set to participate in the Department of Defense's longest running humanitarian mission beginning Dec. 10.
The 68th iteration of Operation Christmas Drop is set to take to the Pacific skies, Dec. 9 hosted by the 36th Wing.
Guam's 734th Air Mobility Squadron helps 'Santa'
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
'Santa's helpers' bring Christmas to Micronesian islands
The holiday season is upon us with the sounds of festive music, the hustle and bustle of shopping, and the wrapping of gifts to be placed under the tree. At night children dream of a visit from Santa Claus, and everything the holiday season brings. It's a little different, however, for those living
Where to Donate
Donations can be dropped off in the collection boxes located at the establishments listed below.
- Andersen Commissary
- AAFB Chapel 1&2, Andersen AFB
- Airman Family Readiness Center, Andersen AFB
- Andersen Middle School
- BX, Andersen AFB
- VFW, Yigo
- NCTS
- NEX Main Store, Naval Base
- NEX Home Center, Naval Base
- Navy Commissary, Naval Base
- Holiday Tower Condos, Sinajana
- American Grocery, Dededo
- Cost U Less, Harmon
- Santa Teresita Catholic Church, Mangilao
- Ladera Tower, Mangilao
- Mobile Gas, Ipan
What to Donate
- Antifungal cream/ointment
- Canned Goods (minimum 2 year expiration)
- Canopy Materials (canvas, rope)
- Cement (paste-not quickcrete)
- Children's Books
- Cloth/Clothing
- Coffee
- Cookware
- Fishing Supplies (hooks, line, rope)
- Flashlight (manually powered)
- Fruit/Vegetable Seeds
- Hygiene Products (soap, shampoo, toothbrush, toothpaste, floss)
- Pond Liners (plastic sheeting)
- Rice
- Sandals/Shoes
- School Supplies
- Sunglasses/Hats
- Toys
- Towels, bed sheets, small pillows
- Misc (duct tape, sand paper)
christmasdroporganization@gmail.com
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