18th Medical Group proves to be PACAF's best

U.S. Air Force Airman 1st Class Chelsea Francis, 18th Medical Group medical materiel apprentice, checks inventory on Kadena Air Base, Japan, Jan. 24, 2013. The medical group holds more than 80 medical and dental care providers who see nearly 600 patients daily. (U.S. Air Force photo/Airman 1st Class Justin Veazie)

18th Medical Group proves to be PACAF's best

U.S. Air Force Lt. Col. Gray Hicks, 18th Medical Group pediatric dentist, performs an annual checkup on Kadena Air Base, Japan, Jan. 24, 2013. The 18th Dental Squadron provides general dentistry as well as specialty care in orthodontics, pediatric dentistry, periodontics, prosthodontics, endodontics and oral surgery. The dental clinic won the Pacific Air Forces' Largest Dental Clinic of the Year for 2012. (U.S. Air Force photo/Airman 1st Class Justin Veazie)

Army General visits Kadena

U.S. Air Force Brig. Gen. Matt Molloy, 18th Wing commander, speaks with U.S. Army Lt. Gen. William N. Phillips during his visit to Kadena Air Base, Japan, Jan. 22, 2013. Phillips is the Principal Military Deputy, Assistant Secretary of the Army, Acquisition, Logistics and Technology Director, Acquisition Career Management. He visited soldiers from the 1st Battalion 1st Air Defense Artillery Regiment here to take a look at their equipment. (U.S. Air Force photo/Staff Sgt. Darnell T. Cannady)

Okinawa International Women's Club visits Kadena

U.S. Air Force 1st Lt. Aaron Eshkenazi, 44th Fighter Squadron pilot, speaks with Andrea Weathers, Okinawa International Women's Club member, during a base tour on Kadena Air Base, Japan, Jan. 28, 2013. More than 30 club members came to Kadena to gain insight and a better understanding of the 18th Wing's mission. (U.S. Air Force photo/Airman 1st Class Justin Veazie)

Okinawa International Women's Club visits Kadena

U.S. Air Force Maj. Christopher Anderson, 18th Wing chief of Public Affairs, speaks with the Okinawa International Women's Club during a base tour on Kadena Air Base, Japan, Jan. 28, 2013. More than 30 club members came to Kadena to gain insight and a better understanding of the 18th Wing's mission. (U.S. Air Force photo/Airman 1st Class Justin Veazie)

Basketball creates new friendships

Andre Chilton, son of Tech. Sgt. Andre Chilton, Kadena's base basketball team coach, plays defense on an opposing team's point guard during the Okinawan-American Friendship Tournament at the Risner Fitness Center on Kadena Air Base, Japan, Jan. 26, 2013. The tournament was for American and Japanese players to come together in fellowship and speak the national language of basketball. It was sponsored by the U.S. Consulate and Department of Defense Education Activity Okinawa District schools. (U.S. Air Force photo/Airman 1st Class Justin Veazie)

Basketball creates new friendships

The Kadena High School varsity basketball team gets pumped up during the Okinawan-American Friendship Tournament at the Risner Fitness Center on Kadena Air Base, Japan, Jan. 26, 2013. The tournament was for American and Japanese players to come together in fellowship and speak the national language of basketball. It was sponsored by the U.S. Consulate and Department of Defense Education Activity Okinawa District schools. (U.S. Air Force photo/Airman 1st Class Justin Veazie)

Kadena Chiefs Group presents scholarship check

U.S. Air Force Chief Master Sgt. Ronnie Brady, Kadena Chiefs Group treasurer, and Chief Master Sgt. Ted Plaza, Scholarship Selection Committee lead, award Senior Airman Danielle Pfarr, 961st Airborne Air Control Squadron air surveillance technician, a $300 check for her essay on “Should Air Force enlisted members have advanced degrees?” Her essay succinctly presented the responsibility and opportunity Airmen have in obtaining advanced degrees that develop their critical thinking and problem solving skills essential to creating talented leaders for the Air Force. (U.S. Air Force courtesy photo)

Chief of Chaplains visits Kadena

U.S. Air Force Chaplain (Maj. Gen.) Howard Stendahl, Air Force Chief of Chaplains, and Chief Master Sgt. Alton Clemmons, Air Force chaplain assistant career field manager, speak to Airmen at the Wired Bean during Ohana Night on Kadena Air Base, Japan, Jan. 23, 2013. Stendahl and Clemmons shared stories of their families and their experiences throughout their careers after sharing a meal with the Airmen. Ohana Night, which occurs every Thursday night at the Wired Bean, is a night where volunteers at the facility cook meals for the single Airmen that joined them for meals every week. (U.S. Air Force photo/Airman 1st Class Hailey R. Davis)

Chief of Chaplains visits Kadena

U.S. Air Force Chaplain (Maj. Gen.) Howard Stendahl, Air Force Chief of Chaplains, shakes hands with Col. Brian McDaniel, 18th Wing vice commander, at the 18th Wing Headquarters Bldg. on Kadena Air Base, Japan, Jan. 24, 2013. Stendahl visited Kadena on a pastoral visit to boost Airmen morale by joining the 18th Civil Engineer Squadron for an Explosive Ordinance Disposal demonstration and the 18th Maintenance Group. He also spent an evening touring chapel-ran facilities. (U.S. Air Force photo/Airman 1st Class Hailey R. Davis)

U.S., Japan works as a team to get the mission done

U.S. Air Force Senior Airman Eric Gary, 18th Munitions Squadron munitions controller, helps Sergeant 1st Class Sho Furusada, Japan Ground Defense Force liaison NCO, find the correct information during a training exercise on Kadena Air Base, Japan, Jan. 22, 2013. Furusada's job as a JGSDF liaison is to translate and relay information from his chain of command to the U.S. Air Force munitions controllers. (U.S. Air Force photo/Airman 1st Class Justin Veazie)

U.S., Japan works as a team to get the mission done

Sergeant 1st Class Sho Furusada, Japan Ground Defense Force liaison NCO, answers the phone during a training exercise on Kadena Air Base, Japan, Jan. 22, 2013. Furusada translates key messages for the U.S. Air Force munitions controllers, which allows the 18th Munitions Squadron to update the fire department, security forces and the Maintenance Operation Command Center in a quicker timeframe. (U.S. Air Force photo/Airman 1st Class Justin Veazie)