New Zealand, U.S. drop zone officers expand combined capabilities

by Senior Master Sgt. Denise Johnson
Pacific Air Forces Public Affairs

11/19/2013 - OHAKEA, New Zealand  -- United States Air Force Maj. Corey Akiyama certified Royal New Zealand Air Force Pilot Officer Emma Taylor as a U.S. drop zone safety officer Nov. 14 at the New Zealand Defence Force Raumi Drop Zone near Ohakea, New Zealand.

The two officers are capitalizing on the multitude of air-drop opportunities taking place during the multilateral RNZAF-sponsored tactical airlift exercise, Kiwi Flag, comprising air assets from the USAF, RNZAF, Royal Australian Air Force, Republic Of Singapore Armed Forces and French Armed Forces of New Caledonia.

Akiyama, the 517th Expeditionary Airlift Squadron's drop zone safety officer, certified Taylor to be able to approve drop zones and act as a control officer at those drop zones for United States military personnel. This force-multiplying capability could prove critical during real-world, fast-breaking multilateral responses to contingency and humanitarian operations.

"Pilot Officer Taylor is an experienced airman who understands the tactics and protocols involved in drop-zone operations," Akiyama said. "That made it much easier to teach her United States-specific rules and regulations."

Drop zone safety officers are responsible for an array of duties including surveying drop zones, working approval for those drop zones through the operational chain of command, controlling the drop zone during the actual cargo and personnel drops, communicating environmental information to the air crews and managing the integrity of the cargo upon landfall. The DZSOs also provide strike reports which are an integral metric in determining the accuracy of the airdrop. Strike reports comprise details such as the distance and direction from the intended point of impact.

"It's a lot of responsibility on your shoulders," said Taylor. "I do have some experience in this arena on the New Zealand-side, so I was able to grasp the United States requirements without too much difficulty as Major Akiyama explained them."

Akiyama spent several days with Taylor sharing expertise, demonstrating techniques and going over rules and regulations. They participated in numerous air drops during which Akiyama demonstrated how to set up drop-zone markers and shared communications protocols. Akiyama also taught Taylor how to check the dropped cargo for damage and validate its integrity before recovery personnel could collect the pallets.

"Major Akiyama made sure I knew exactly what my responsibilities entail; it's obvious he's meticulous," Taylor said. "But so am I, so we make a good team."

Taylor would then perform those same tasks to verify she was capable of "flying solo" on United States drop zone safety officer duties.

"This job requires your full attention -- it's imperative a drop zone safety officer focuses on the mission -- lives depend on it: from the jumpers to the people on the ground who require the cargo. Those people on the ground could be the recovery team, or they could be military members in need of food and supplies, or it could be people in a disaster-relief situation who desperately need food and water ... whatever the case may be, every drop has the potential for deadly consequences," Akiyama explained. "It's up to me, and now Taylor, too, to mitigate that danger as much as possible."

Taylor earned her certification after nearly two weeks of tutelage, demonstrations and validations.

"I'm grateful to Major Akiyama for taking the time to help me broaden my capabilities," Taylor explained. "I embrace any opportunity to further my professional contributions -- I feel as though I can offer a bit more to an operation now than I did prior to this certification. On a personal level, it's been a great experience working with my fellow service members. I think some of the friendships I've made will last a long time."

Akiyama is deployed as the 517th Expeditionary Airlift Squadron drop zone safety officer. He is the air mobility liaison officer for the 615th Contingency Operations Support Group at home station, Camp Henry, Korea. He hails from University Place, Wash.

"Pilot Officer Taylor was a great student and is a consummate professional," Akiyama said. "It's always a benefit to work with our multinational partners and share expertise -- you gain a respect and sense of comfort knowing that when you have to depend on them in a real-world situation, they will be right beside you getting the job done."

Kiwi Flag personnel are supporting Exercise Southern Katipo -- held on New Zealand's South Island -- by managing air operations and providing cargo and passenger airlift including tactical air drops to SK participants. SK hosts nine countries involved in air, land and maritime operations.