Photo Of Operations Specialist 1st Class Wilbur Theis receives his certificate of appointment to first class petty officer by Rear Adm. Brent DeVore, commander, Joint Region Marianas, during a frocking ceremony at JRM headquarters, Dec. 12.

JRM holds frocking ceremony

Operations Specialist 1st Class Wilbur Theis receives his certificate of appointment to first class petty officer by Rear Adm. Brent DeVore, commander, Joint Region Marianas, during a frocking ceremony at JRM headquarters, Dec. 12.

Photo Of U.S. Air Force Senior Airman Jeff Sharoff, regional band trombone for the U.S. Air Force Band of the Pacific-Asia, Pacific Brass Quintet, plays his instrument at Okkodo High School, Dededo, Guam, Dec. 10, 2024.

The sound of Operation Christmas Drop

U.S. Air Force Senior Airman Jeff Sharoff, regional band trombone for the U.S. Air Force Band of the Pacific-Asia, Pacific Brass Quintet, plays his instrument at Okkodo High School, Dededo, Guam.

Photo Of U.S. Air Force Senior Airman Peter Nguyen, Aircrew Flight Equipment Journeyman, left, shakes hands with Chief Master Sgt. Katie McCool, Pacific Air Forces command chief, after being coined for excellent performance during Operation Christmas Drop 2024.

Distinguished visitors experience OCD 24

U.S. Air Force Senior Airman Peter Nguyen, Aircrew Flight Equipment Journeyman, left, shakes hands with Chief Master Sgt. Katie McCool, Pacific Air Forces command chief, after being coined for excellent performance during Operation Christmas Drop 2024.

Photo Of U.S. Air Force Lt. Col. Martin Perez, deputy commander of the 374th Maintenance Group at Yokota Air Base, Japan, stands on the flightline at Andersen Air Force Base, Guam, Dec. 9, 2024.

Maintenance officer rooted in Guam returns home for OCD 24

U.S. Air Force Lt. Col. Martin Perez, deputy commander of the 374th Maintenance Group at Yokota Air Base, Japan, stands on the flightline at Andersen Air Force Base, Guam, Dec. 9, 2024.

Photo Of Leaders from across the Indo-Pacific theater push a bundle of gifts and supplies into a C-130J Super Hercules during the OCD push ceremony at Andersen Air Force Base, Guam, Dec. 9, 2024.

Santa’s Grey Sleigh arrives early in the Pacific as OCD 24 kicks off

Leaders from across the Indo-Pacific theater push a bundle of gifts and supplies into a C-130J Super Hercules during the OCD push ceremony at Andersen Air Force Base, Guam, Dec. 9, 2024.

Photo Of U.S. Air Force Brig. Gen. Thomas Palenske, commander of the 36th Wing, speaks at the Tree Lighting Ceremony at Andersen Air Force Base, Guam.

Team Andersen gathers for annual Tree Lighting Ceremony

Team Andersen gathers for the annual Tree Lighting Ceremony at Andersen Air Force Base, Guam, Dec. 6, 2024.

Photo Of Bruce Best, University of Guam researcher, writes a message on a child’s T-shirt during Operation Christmas Drop 2024 at Andersen Air Force Base, Guam, Dec. 7, 2024.

Bundles of Joy - Volunteers unite for OCD 24’s ‘Bundle Build’ event

Bruce Best, University of Guam researcher, writes a message on a child’s T-shirt during Operation Christmas Drop 2024 at Andersen Air Force Base, Guam, Dec. 7, 2024.

Photo Of U.S. Air Force Airman 1st Class Aleksandr Lepekhin, a combat mobility flight technician with the 374th Logistics Readiness Squadron at Yokota Air Base, Japan, tapes together sheets of wood as part of the bundle building process for Operation Christmas Drop 2024.

374 LRS Airmen prepare bundles for OCD 24

Airmen assigned to the 374th Logistics Readiness Squadron combat mobility flight at Yokota Air Base, Japan, drill holes into sheets of wood as part of the bundle building process for Operation Christmas Drop 2024 at Andersen Air Force Base, Guam, Dec. 3, 2024.

Photo Of Guam Police’s Officer POIII Glenn C. Ogo explains documents with U.S. Air Force Staff Sgt. Austin Denton 36th Civil Engineering Squadron explosive ordinance apprentice during a training exercise in Guam, Nov. 29, 2024.

GPD K9 Unit and EOD Collaborate on training exercise

U.S. Air Force EOD team, The GPD, and GPD’s K9 Unit collaborate during a training exercise to improve and enhance response capabilities for real-world bomb threats in the Indo-Pacific.

Photo Of Christopher Kane, Naval Facilities Engineering Systems Command and 36th Civil Engineer Squadron natural resources specialist, looks up at the last adult Serianthes nelsonii tree on the island at Andersen Air Force Base, Guam.

The Serianthes tree at Guam’s Ritidian: Leaving behind a legacy of hope

Serianthes nelsonii is a tree species found only on Guam and Rota. The CHamoru name for the Serianthes tree on Guam is Håyun lågu, meaning “wood of the north” or “foreign wood,” and in Rota, Trongkon guåfi, meaning “fire tree.”