Senior Airman Shyrhonda Hickman, a postal clerk with the 374th Communications Squadron tests out Yokota's mail Contigency Kit and tests its capabilities of setting up a temporary post office capable of processing overseas customers mail at the Yujo Community Center, Tuesday. (Grant Okubo/Stars and Stripes)
Senior Airman Shyrhonda Hickman, a postal clerk with the 374th Communications Squadron tests out Yokota's mail Contigency Kit and tests its capabilities of setting up a temporary post office capable of processing overseas customers mail at the Yujo Community Center, Tuesday. (Grant Okubo/Stars and Stripes)
Senior Airman Shyrhonda Hickman, left, a postal clerk with the 374th Communications Squadron, tests out Yokota's mail Contigency Kit and tests its capabilities of setting up a temporary post office capable of processing overseas customers mail at the Yujo Community Center on Tuesday. (Grant Okubo/Stars and Stripes)
Dean Bias, right, a civilian contractor at Yokota, sends off his package using the alternate post office site set up at Yujo Community Center. The postal workers at Yokota set up the alternate postal site to test out their Contingency Kit. (Grant Okubo/Stars and Stripes)
YOKOTA AIR BASE, Japan – Yokota residents were encouraged Tuesday to send their mail from an alternate location other than the post office to test the base’s backup postal system.
A crew from the 374th Communications Squadron set up shop at the Yujo Community Center to check out their Mail Contingency Kit, said Master Sgt. Victor Negron, postmaster for the squadron.
“The test holds two functions. One is for us to check to make sure we have everything we need for it to be 100 percent functional,” he said. “The second part is to make sure that it can process (mail) for customers.”
Negron explained the kit includes all the necessary equipment and paperwork to create a functioning post office. He said the kit can be used to provide temporary support for personnel deployed to remote areas who don’t have available mail services.
As for Tuesday’s test, things seemed to go smoothly.
“No problems,” said civilian contractor Dean Bias after mailing out a package from the alternate site. “It was the same as it would have been at any post office.”
