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  • Port Dawg Memorial Run 2026

    U.S. Air Force Airmen participate in the Port Dawg Memorial Run at Kadena Air Base, Japan, May 20, 2026. The flag adorns a heavy chain staff, which represents the responsibility passed down to Airmen in the career field from Port Dawgs that have lost their lives in the line of duty. (U.S. Air Force

  • Chatan Town Base Affairs Division tours Kadena Air Base

    Chatan Town's Base Affairs Division toured Kadena Air Base to learn about the 18th Wing and the vital role Kadena plays in the Indo-Pacific, May 14, 2026.Chatan Base Affairs coordinates with military representatives to address base-related matters on behalf of Chatan Town residents. Their

  • Night operations sustain rescue readiness at Kadena

    A U.S. Air Force HH-60W Jolly Green II assigned to the 33rd Rescue Squadron off the coast of Okinawa, Japan, during a night training sortie, May 6, 2026. Night and over-water training ensures aircrews remain ready to recover isolated personnel in complex operational environments.

  • Readiness starts with mental wellness

    Readiness isn’t built on the flight line alone. Behind every mission launched from Kadena Air Base is a force prepared not just physically, but mentally—equipped to perform under pressure, adapt to uncertainty and respond when it matters most. At the center of that effort, the 18th Medical Group’s

  • Venomous threats meet prepared forces

    U.S. service members participate in a specialized snake handling course at Kadena Air Base, Japan, April 28, 2026. The 18th Civil Engineer Squadron Pest Management team partnered with the U.S. Marine Corps 3rd Medical Battalion to integrate snake handling into a joint service preventative medicine

  • Arresting system certification reinforce Kadena’s combat readiness

    U.S. Air Force Airmen assigned to the 18th Civil Engineer Squadron, in coordination with the 18th Operations Group, 18th Operations Support Squadron and the 120th Fighter Squadron, conducted dual aircraft arresting system certifications at Kadena Air Base, Japan, May 7, 2026. The event validated

  • Warrior Gauntlet pushes joint force to the limit at Kadena

    The 18th Wing brought together service members from every branch of the U.S. military to compete in the Warrior Gauntlet, a joint-force fitness challenge, at Kadena Air Base, Japan, May 8, 2026. The event tested participants through a series of branch-specific fitness requirements designed to build

  • PACAF commander visit highlights Kadena’s Indo-Pacific role

    KADENA AIR BASE, Japan – U.S. Air Force Gen. Kevin Schneider, Pacific Air Forces commander, visited Kadena Air Base, Japan, April 29, 2026, to assess operational capabilities and reinforce the installation’s role in sustaining combat power across the Indo-Pacific.

  • Dragons on the Water: Kadena Air Base teams take on the 2026 Naha Hari

    The sharp crack of a drum echoes across the harbor as dozens of paddles strike the water in unison, propelling brightly painted dragon boats forward with strength and rhythm.From May 3 to 5, 2026, thousands gathered at Naha New Port Wharf for the 2026 Naha Dragon Boat Race, known locally as Naha

  • Strength Through Partnership

    Iwao Horii, Japan’s State Minister of Foreign Affairs, received an immersion tour at Kadena Air Base, Japan, April 27, 2026. The tour provided Horii with a deeper understanding of the installation’s mission and capabilities.

  • 18th MDG strengthens readiness with patient decontamination training

    Medical personnel from the 18th Medical Group completed a three-day patient decontamination course at Kadena Air Base, Japan, April 21–23, 2026, strengthening the wing’s ability to respond to chemical, biological and radiological incidents and sustain operations in contested environments.