U.S. Military lands C130 on newly renovated Angaur Airfield in Palau

By CourtesySeptember 8, 2020

A U.S. Air Force C-130 Hercules delivered U.S. Army Pacific Soldiers onto the newly renovated Angaur Airfield for training exercises in the Republic of Palau, Sept. 6. The successful arrival of the military cargo plane validates the airstrip’s use by military and commercial aircraft. “The completion of the Angaur Airfield Joint Improvement Project is a game changer,” said U.S. Ambassador to Palau John Hennessy-Niland. “Palau now has a secondary airstrip. This had been a long-standing request from the government of Palau and the State of Angaur.”
1 / 3 Show Caption + Hide Caption – A U.S. Air Force C-130 Hercules delivered U.S. Army Pacific Soldiers onto the newly renovated Angaur Airfield for training exercises in the Republic of Palau, Sept. 6. The successful arrival of the military cargo plane validates the airstrip’s use by military and commercial aircraft. “The completion of the Angaur Airfield Joint Improvement Project is a game changer,” said U.S. Ambassador to Palau John Hennessy-Niland. “Palau now has a secondary airstrip. This had been a long-standing request from the government of Palau and the State of Angaur.” (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
A U.S. Air Force C-130 Hercules delivered U.S. Army Pacific Soldiers onto the newly renovated Angaur Airfield for training exercises in the Republic of Palau, Sept. 6. The successful arrival of the military cargo plane validates the airstrip’s use by military and commercial aircraft. “The completion of the Angaur Airfield Joint Improvement Project is a game changer,” said U.S. Ambassador to Palau John Hennessy-Niland. “Palau now has a secondary airstrip. This had been a long-standing request from the government of Palau and the State of Angaur.”
2 / 3 Show Caption + Hide Caption – A U.S. Air Force C-130 Hercules delivered U.S. Army Pacific Soldiers onto the newly renovated Angaur Airfield for training exercises in the Republic of Palau, Sept. 6. The successful arrival of the military cargo plane validates the airstrip’s use by military and commercial aircraft. “The completion of the Angaur Airfield Joint Improvement Project is a game changer,” said U.S. Ambassador to Palau John Hennessy-Niland. “Palau now has a secondary airstrip. This had been a long-standing request from the government of Palau and the State of Angaur.” (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
U.S. Ambassador John Hennessey-Niland gives his remarks during the Angaur Airfield Joint Improvement Project closing ceremony, Aug. 27, 2020. U.S. Marines and Sailors with Task Force Koa Moana (TF KM) 20 partnered with the U.S. Army Pacific Command, the U.S. Sailors of the Civic Action Team (CAT) Palau and the U.S. Air Force to complete the improvements. Koa Moana, meaning “ocean warrior,” is designed to strengthen and enhance relationships between the U.S. and partner nations/states in the Indo-Pacific region, improve interoperability with local security establishments, and serve as a Humanitarian Assistance Survey Team afloat in support of U.S. Indo-Pacific Command’s strategic and operational objectives. TF KM20 provides a unique opportunity to enhance relationships in the Republic of Palau. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Sgt. Anabel Abreu Rodriguez)
3 / 3 Show Caption + Hide Caption – U.S. Ambassador John Hennessey-Niland gives his remarks during the Angaur Airfield Joint Improvement Project closing ceremony, Aug. 27, 2020. U.S. Marines and Sailors with Task Force Koa Moana (TF KM) 20 partnered with the U.S. Army Pacific Command, the U.S. Sailors of the Civic Action Team (CAT) Palau and the U.S. Air Force to complete the improvements. Koa Moana, meaning “ocean warrior,” is designed to strengthen and enhance relationships between the U.S. and partner nations/states in the Indo-Pacific region, improve interoperability with local security establishments, and serve as a Humanitarian Assistance Survey Team afloat in support of U.S. Indo-Pacific Command’s strategic and operational objectives. TF KM20 provides a unique opportunity to enhance relationships in the Republic of Palau. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Sgt. Anabel Abreu Rodriguez) (Photo Credit: Sgt. Anabel Abreu Rodriguez) VIEW ORIGINAL

KOROR, Palau -- A U.S. Air Force C-130 Hercules delivered U.S. Army Pacific Soldiers onto the newly renovated Angaur Airfield for training exercises in the Republic of Palau, Sept. 5.

The successful arrival of the military cargo plane validates the airstrip’s use by military and commercial aircraft, a little more than a week after the project’s completion and ceremony August 27. In the weeks prior, a U.S. civil-military engineer joint task force reconstructed and expanded the runway as part of the Angaur Airfield Joint Improvement Project.

The U.S. Ambassador to Palau, John Hennessy-Niland remarked that making a rudimentary airstrip capable of hosting cargo aircraft is a significant milestone in support of the people of Palau. “The completion of the Angaur Airfield Joint Improvement Project is a game changer,” said Hennessy-Niland. “Palau now has a secondary airstrip. This had been a long-standing request from the government of Palau and the State of Angaur.”

Adding a second airfield allows the U.S., along with other allies and partners in the region increased opportunity to support the delivery of humanitarian assistance in times of crisis or address other regional security concerns.

The USARPAC Soldiers are arriving as part of Defender Pacific 20, a theater-wide exercise that demonstrates strategic readiness by deploying combat credible forces in support of the Compact of Free Association agreement and the U.S. National Defense Strategy.

“The deployment of forces onto a newly certified airstrip demonstrates our ability to rapidly project joint combat power across the Indo-Pacific Command and reinforce international rules-based order,” said Col. James Bartholomees, USARPAC Deputy Chief of Staff for Operations. “This new runway demonstrates America's investment in our important alliances and partnerships and our overall commitment to the people of Palau.”

U.S. Army Pacific worked closely with the U.S. Embassy, Government of Palau, and the Joint Region Marianas command in Guam to minimize risk of exposure to COVID-19 through 100% testing and quarantine measures. USARPAC would like to thank the Palau Ministry of Health for all their efforts and assistance with COVID-19 testing and clearance. All soldiers tested negative for the virus prior to their arrival to Angaur.