KADENA AIR BASE, Japan -- An additional 15 Airmen from the 353rd Special Operations Group departed here March 14 with support equipment and relief supplies on a MC-130H Combat Talon II to support humanitarian relief operations being staged out of Yokota Air Base, Japan.
The Airmen are highly-trained medical, communication and maintenance specialists capable of providing support in some of the most austere environments. The 353rd SOG currently has approximately 115 Airmen and three aircraft deployed to support the Japanese government in the wake of an earthquake measuring 8.9 in magnitude and the resulting tsunami that rocked Japan March 11.
"Our thoughts and prayers continue to go out to our close friends in Japan during this difficult time," said Col. Stephen Bissonnette, deputy commander of the 353rd Special Operations Group.
Col. Robert Toth, the 353rd SOG commander, deployed to lead the group's Airmen supporting the relief efforts and said the men and women are dedicated to aiding the Japanese in their time of need.
"We have already started working closely with Japanese officials to support relief efforts and will continue to provide support for our friends until our mission is complete," he said.
The 353rd SOG is able to conduct search and rescue operations, transport emergency response teams, equipment and relief supplies, survey and open airfields and helicopter landing zones with certified air traffic controllers, provide emergent medical care to injured people and assist the Japanese government and other relief agencies with a variety of highly-trained support personnel for Humanitarian Assistance operations.