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  • Retired U.S. Air Force Staff Sergeant Dennis Provencher, airborne and ground radio operator, right, talks with a group of Airmen including Lt. Col. Daniel Waid, 18th Communications Squadron commander, left, about how much has changed since Provencher initially joined in 1951 on Dec. 23, 2019, in Okinawa City, Okinawa. Provencher is a Guinness Book of World Records holder for most amount of blood donated. (U.S. Air Force Photo by Airman 1st Class Rebeckah Medeiros)

    A life well lived...

    As the sun dances across the room, glaring off the origami hanging from the ceiling, Dennis Provencher looks upon his framed photo and world record certificate of recognition with pride while explaining to the service members how and why he earned it.
  • U.S. Air Force Staff Sgt. Benjamin Raughton, 18th Wing Public Affairs photographer, greets a Japanese customer at Kadena Air Base, Japan, Jan. 8, 2020. Raughton's ability to communicate in Japanese with the local population stems from the video games that now rest in his office. (U.S. Air Force photo by Tech. Sgt. Hugo Delgado)

    Airman uses video games to bridge language gap

    Staff Sgt. Benjamin Raughton, a photojournalist stationed at Kadena Air Base, sits at his desk at the 18th Wing Public Affairs office. Some mementos sit stop a shelf above him: a line of hand-held video games. Today, his job is to make sure a batch of photos are properly edited. “Public Affairs is like a lake that’s five miles long and three inches deep,” says Raughton. “You learn a little bit about a lot of different things. I do everything form writing articles, producing photo and video content, public relations, and web design.”
  • Two F-15C Eagles from the 44th Fighter Squadron refuel with a KC-135 Stratotanker from the 909th Air Refueling Squadron Jan. 10, 2020, during Exercise WestPac Rumrunner out of Kadena Air Base, Japan. Rumrunner represents an evolution in the capabilities of 18th Wing assets to work with joint partners to defend American allies and ensures a free and open Indo-Pacific. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Matthew Seefeldt)

    18th Wing, joint partners execute first WestPac Rumrunner exercise

    More than 60 aircraft and 300 personnel from the U.S. Air Force, Navy, Army, and Marine Corps participated in 18th Wing’s first WestPac Rumrunner exercise Jan. 10, 2020. With the evolving security environment in the Indo-Pacific and to further support a safe and secure region, the 18th Wing spent months designing WestPac Rumrunner as an exercise to train counter air capabilities and strengthen joint interoperability. In addition to air tactics and joint interoperability, Airmen were charged with ensuring continuous airpower by using tactics derived from Pacific Air Force’s agile combat employment concept of operations, or ACE.
  • A woman pushes a child on a snow sled during the 18th Wing Tinsel Town event at Kadena Air Base, Japan, Dec. 14, 2019. Other events and games included a rock climbing wall, food trucks, and more. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Matthew Seefeldt)

    Tinsel Town delivers snow, festivities to Okinawa

    It doesn’t normally snow in Okinawa, but once a year Tinsel Town brings the magic of the holiday season to Kadena Air Base. Tinsel Town, held this year, is an annual event in which the local community and service members get together and share the holiday spirit with music, food, theme park-style rides, and even snow.
  • U.S. Air Force Tech. Sgt. Sophia Hayner, 82nd Reconnaissance Squadron, poses for a portrait at Kadena Air Base, Japan, Dec. 3, 2019. She shared her story of resilience to provide a raw perspective on how suicide affects more than the victim in response to an Air Force-wide amplified focus on resilience. (U.S. Air Force photo illustrator by Staff Sgt. Daniel E. Fernandez)

    Out of the Box

    U.S. Air Force Tech. Sgt. Sophia Hayner knew in her heart she was struggling and didn’t want to be alive. Despite her suicidal thoughts, she triaged her mental state enough to take action.

  • MFLC stands by to listen

    Military life can create any number of challenges for service members and their families, which can only be made worse by being stationed overseas, away from friends and family. The military has a variety of resources to military members and their families to help work through tough times. The Military Family Life Counselor program is one such resource.
  • 2019年11月4日、第18航空団の空軍兵とツイッター・ツアーの参加者がMC-130JコマンドⅡの前で記念撮影。ツアーを通して、参加者は第18航空団の任務、憲兵中隊と沖縄県警の連携、嘉手納基地での環境管理と駐留する航空機について学んだ。（米国空軍・ベンジャミン・ロートン三等空曹撮影）

    フォロワーから友達へ：嘉手納基地日本語ツイッターのフォロワーの皆さんが基地見学ツアーに参加

    嘉手納基地－アルコール探知機、リサイクルセンター、ゴーカート、MC-130JコマンドⅡ。これらの共通点とは？ 正解は、嘉手納基地見学ツアーに参加した35名以上の皆さんが目にした物です。参加者の皆さんは同ツアーを通じて、嘉手納基地第18航空団による飲酒運転防止への取り組み、環境管理、地元機関との連携、世界レベルの航空力について説明を受けました。
  • DAGRE ensures force protection during Gryphon Pacific 20-1

    DAGRE ensures force protection during Gryphon Pacific 20-1

    Deployed Aircraft Ground Response Element operations are an essential part of the expeditionary basing concept. Special operators are able to go anywhere and establish an airfield in order to bring in forces, refuel, rearm, and continue the mission wherever it’s needed. The purpose of Gryphon Pacific 20-1 was to employ lethal, agile, resilient forces throughout the Indo-Pacific area of responsibility. This was accomplished by conducting long-range expeditionary basing operations within a high-threat environment.
  • Japanese Self-Defense Force Staff Sgt. Shuichiro Masunaga, 6th Tactical Fighter Squadron aircraft general technician, right, trains on refueling an F-15C Eagle with guidance from, U.S. Air Force Tech. Sgt. Adrian Lemard,18th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron crew chief, left, as part of an NCO Bilateral Exchange program Nov. 19, 2019, at Kadena Air Base, Japan. Bilateral exchanges allow for a better understanding of the capabilities held by each countries Armed Forces, as well as the opportunity to improve relations between the United States and Japan. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman RhettI sbell)

    NCO Bilateral Exchange: Growth through connection

    This holiday season Team Kadena hosted the 2019 NCO Bilateral Exchange program Nov. 15 – 22, 2019, on Kadena Air Base, Japan.
  • (U.S. Air Force graphic by Naoko Shimoji)

    8 tips for mental wellness during the holidays

    Holidays are times of enjoyment, but can also bring many stressors. The 18th Wing Mental Health Clinic offers simple, practical advice to help Airmen and their families have a safe holiday season.
  • Anytime, Anywhere: Gryphon Pacific 20-1 challenges Special Operators

    Anytime, Anywhere: Gryphon Pacific 20-1 challenges Special Operators

    The purpose of the Gryphon Pacific 20-1 was to exercise the 353rd Special Operations Group’s ability to employ lethal, agile, resilient forces throughout the United States Indo-Pacific area of responsibility. Airmen hailing from Kadena Air Base, Japan, and assigned to the 18th Wing and 353rd SOG, conducted detailed planning and executed a complex mission with multiple different tasks.
  • From left, Master Sgt. Joy McCammon, 718th Force Support Squadron casualty operations section chief, Staff Sgt. Alexander Nestle, 18th Communications Squadron software development supervisor, and Tech. Sgt. Christopher Sills, 18th CS NCO in charge of application development, stand for a photo at Kadena Air Base, Japan, Nov. 19, 2019. They are part of the PRAS team named as one of two U.S. Pacific Air Forces Spark Tank nominees to compete at the Air Force level. (U.S. Air Force Photo by Airman 1st Class Mandy Foster)

    Kadena Innovators compete for AF-level honors

    Members from the 718th Force Support and the 18th Communications Squadrons partnered to develop the Personnel Records Analytics System (PRAS), which was named as one of two PACAF Spark Tank nominees to compete at the Air Force level. PRAS is a data analytics tool commanders can use to pull, real-time data on evaluations and decorations. PRAS, a web-based application, completely automates the administrative data analytics process.
  • A 320th Special Tactics Squadron jumpmaster overlooks Wake Island, Wake Atoll, during Exercise Gryphon Pacific 20-1, Nov. 15, 2019, over the Pacific Ocean.

    Team Kadena conducts Exercise Gryphon Pacific

    The purpose of the Gryphon Pacific 20-1 was to exercise the 353rd Special Operations Group’s ability to employ lethal, agile, resilient forces throughout the United States Indo-Pacific area of responsibility. Airmen hailing from Kadena Air Base, Japan, and assigned to the 18th Wing and 353rd SOG, conducted detailed planning and executed a complex mission with multiple different tasks. The main focus of the exercise was to conduct long-range expeditionary basing operations within a high threat environment. A Global Access Special Tactics Team from the 320th Special Tactics Squadron, 353rd SOG, conducted a military free-fall jump to seize, establish, and control Wake Island Airfield. As part of Gryphon Pacific 20-1, two Special Tactics teams rapidly established and controlled landing zones capable of facilitating additional forces at both Wake Island and Kwajalein Atoll in the same night. The 320th STS employs Special Tactics operators capable of conducting Global Access, Precision Strike, and Personnel Recovery operations, strengthening regional alliances through global mission execution.
  • (U.S. Air Force graphic by Naoko Shimoji)

    ADAPT stands ready to assist

    According to data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and analyzed by the Delphi Behavioral Health Group, the average service member binge drinks 41 days of the year. That’s five or more drinks on one occasion once every nine days. The KAB Alcohol and Drug Abuse Prevention and Treatment Program stands ready to assist those struggling with an alcohol or drug addiction.
  • U.S. Air Force Gen. CQ Brown, Jr., Pacific Air Forces commander, inspects an F-15C Eagle during a tour at Kadena Air Base, Japan, Nov. 12, 2019. During the tour, Brown visited various base squadrons and agencies to learn about unit-specific issues, their operations, and answer questions. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Benjamin Raughton)

    Light, lean and agile: COMPACAF visits Kadena Shoguns

    Gen. CQ Brown, Jr., Pacific Air Forces commander, visited the mighty Kadena Shoguns for a detailed tour of 18th Wing units and agencies and to provide further understanding on where the Keystone of the Pacific fits in the overall PACAF strategic mission. Brig. Gen. Joel Carey, 18th Wing commander, joined Brown, his spouse, Sharene, Chief Master Sgt. Anthony Johnson, PACAF command chief, and his spouse, Stephanie, on the tour where they visited the 33rd Rescue Squadron, 909th Air Refueling Squadron, 18th Medical Group and more.
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