KADENA AIR BASE, Japan -- U.S. Air Force Airmen with the 718th Force Support Squadron launched a mobile post office at White Beach Naval Facility, Japan, Nov. 30, 2025, to deliver postal services directly to service members operating at the port.
The deployment-style operation, conducted in partnership with Marine Corps and Air Postal Squadron units, aimed to ease year-round and holiday congestion at Kadena’s post office by providing on-site shipping, customs, and finance services to White Beach personnel. The 12-hour event supported more than 1,300 service members, reducing travel requirements and workload at Kadena’s primary facility.
The initiative originated after military postal leaders identified the challenges of service members commuting from White Beach to Kadena to send mail, creating heavy seasonal demand. The mobile operation demonstrated how joint coordination and adaptive logistics can streamline postal operations while maintaining readiness.
“Service members at White Beach solely rely on Kadena to ship products,” said Senior Master Sgt. Cassidy Wong, 718th FSS postal operations superintendent. “Launching a mobile post office at White Beach provides logistical convenience to sailors while alleviating Kadena’s regular operational surges.”
The joint effort included personnel from the 718th FSS, Marine Corps Installations Pacific Marine Corps Base Camp Butler Postal, and Detachment 3 of the Pacific Air Forces Air Postal Squadron. Operating with minimal equipment, the team simulated deployed postal conditions by establishing communications networks and functional mailing stations, including customs and finance sections.
“This is the first time there has been a joint effort to combat this postal challenge,” said Tech. Sgt. Mary Scruggs, 718th FSS postmaster. “With the lessons learned from this operation, we’re able to mitigate delays in our services and prevent potential mission stoppages.”
By bringing postal services directly to the fleet, the 718th FSS and its partners demonstrated flexibility, collaboration, and innovation in meeting mission needs. The success of the White Beach operation will inform future mobile postal initiatives across Okinawa and the Indo-Pacific region.