Third Philippine Contingent Under Way

Two USAF C-130s and airmen from the 374th Airlift Wing at Yokota AB, Japan, deployed to the Mactan-Benito Ebuen Air Base in the Philippines Sept. 25 as part of the third rotational air contingent to the country. The 36th Contingency Response Group from Andersen AFB, Guam, and approximately 120 aircrew and support personnel from various units across Pacific Air Forces are also part of the deployment that will include training missions and subject matter expert exchanges, according to a PACAF release. US forces recently began deploying rotational air contingents to the Philippines in the wake of China’s military buildup in the South China Sea. USAF A-10s were part of the first contingent that deployed to Clark Air Base in the spring. A detachment of Navy EA-18G Growlers from the Electronic Attack Squadron 138 deployed in June. (See also: A Numbers Game.)