A US Marine marshals in a KC-130J Super Hercules tanker transporting Marines and Sailors from mainland Japan to the passenger terminal at MCAS Futenma, Okinawa, Japan, on 5 April 2011. The service members were supporting Operation Tomodachi. The long-standing and close-working relationship between the U.S. and its Japanese counterparts and the close proximity of US air assets stationed aboard MCAS Futenma allowed the coordination of the two governments to rapidly respond to areas devastated by the massive earthquake and Tsunami which struck northern Japan on 11 March 2011. The KC-130J is assigned to Sumos of Marine Aerial Refueler Transport Squadron 152 (VMGR-152) at MCAS Futenma.
