YOKOTA AIR BASE, Japan –
The interior of a C-130J Super Hercules in flight is filled with the deafening drone of four powerful turboprop engines shaking the aircraft. The palletized equipment you would expect to see filling the fuselage is replaced by bundles of hastily packed luggage and rows of red nylon web seats, packed tightly with the families of those stationed at the tip of the spear.
Every passenger on board understands the reality of their situation as they clutch the manila envelopes that have become their most prized possessions. Each contains the instructions and documentation necessary for the Non-combatant Evacuation Operation (NEO) now underway. As they fly towards a designated safe haven, they know the service members left behind at their home station are focused and prepared to execute their mission, reassured by the knowledge that their loved ones are safe from imminent danger.
This is the scenario that U.S. Forces Korea and U.S. Forces Japan personnel trained for during exercise Freedom Shield 26 (FS26) at Yokota Air Base, Japan, March 10, 2026.
Led by U.S.-ROK Combined Forces Command, Freedom Shield is an annual combined exercise designed to simulate complex, all-domain events that enhance the warfighting capabilities and readiness of participating forces. While it strengthened bilateral ties with U.S. and Korean partners, the NEO exercise also gave U.S. forces the chance to plan, practice and prepare for crisis and contingency operations.
USFK military members, civilians and spouses arrived at Yokota aboard a U.S. Air Force C-130, assigned to the 36th Airlift Squadron. They were then guided through a simulated evacuation and accountability processing station at the passenger terminal, testing the efficiency of the process and the preparedness of exercise participants. NEOs are directed by the U.S. Department of State to safely transport U.S. citizens, Department of War civilian personnel and other host nation and third-country nationals in response to natural disasters, man-made disasters, or other dangerous conditions.
While serving as a critical test of interoperability, NEO training during FS26 serves as a way to provide peace of mind to service members and their families. By taking their minds off of the well-being of their loved ones, a successful NEO allows military members to focus fully on the success of their mission objectives.
“FS26 ensures that if a real-world crisis were to occur, the U.S. and our allies will be ready to execute expertly," said U.S. Navy Lieutenant Commander David Patterson, USFJ J35 future operations crisis chief. “We're looking forward to working with our partners to rehearse NEO and ensure our success going forward.”
For participants, the exercise highlighted the importance of personal preparedness during a crisis. U.S. Air Force Staff Sgt. Jacob Walburn, 51st Force Support Squadron NEO staff lead, reflected on what makes a NEO successful for military members and their families.
“Over the last two years, my team has really taken it upon ourselves to prioritize the safety of service members and their families during a NEO,” said Walburn. “They should feel prepared in the event of a crisis and comfortable with the whole process.”