390th IS receives new commander

Team Kadena celebrates life of fallen Airman

A memorial service in honor of Tech. Sgt. Mark Smith, 33rd Rescue Squadron, was held at Chapel One Aug. 13. Smith, a native of Bakersfield, Calif., was a flight engineer for an HH-60G Pave Hawk aircraft while he was stationed on Kadena. He deployed to Afghanistan twice and contributed to several

18th CES structures technicians apply metal working skills

U.S. Air Force Staff Sgts. Justin Reilly and Casey Wenningham, 18th Civil Engineer Squadron metal structural technicians, apply their craft of metal works to repair and maintain Kadena's buildings July 31. For more photos, view the slideshow.

Team Kadena mourns loss of downed helicopter crew member

Officials confirmed today the death of a technical sergeant assigned to the 33rd Rescue Squadron here following Monday's crash of a helicopter in the Central Training Area, Okinawa. Tech. Sgt. Mark A. Smith, 33rd RQS flight engineer, died when the HH 60G Pave Hawk helicopter in which he was flying

IG initiates new inspection system

This summer, the Air Force implemented the new Air Force Inspection System, or AFIS, which allows wings and installations to take a more active role in compliance and combat readiness. Since Air Force chief of staff Gen. Mark A. Welsh III implemented Program Action Directive 13-01 June 17,

Fluid mechanics maintain pressure, ensure mission safety

No one member of a team is more essential than another; it takes everyone to ensure mission success. One vital member of the 18th Wing is the 18th Component Maintenance Squadron hydraulic backshop.The hydraulic backshop overhauls, repairs, adjusts and tests more than 64 hydraulic and/or pneudraulic

Command chief briefs new spouses, awards scholarship

Kadena senior airmen selected to become NCOs

More than 330 Kadena senior airmen were selected for promotion to staff sergeant Aug. 1.Approximately 11,212 senior airmen across the Air Force were selected, representing 32.9 percent of the 34,078 eligible.The average score for those selected was 291.07. Selectees' average time in grade is 1.98

Save a life, become a bone marrow donor

Each year more than 15,000 people need a stem cell transplant, and Kadena is conducting a week-long bone marrow drive Aug. 20-26 to aid in finding potential matches for individuals in need of a donor. Team Kadena registered more than 1,000 potential donors last year in an effort to save one of their

UPDATE: Human remains located at HH-60 crash site; officials work to secure scene

Search operations for the missing crew member from yesterday's HH-60 crash in the Central Training Area have been suspended due to the discovery of human remains at the crash site. The remains have yet to be identified. Officials continue their work to ensure the fire has been extinguished and to

Kadena, Futenma FDs 'Fill the Boot' for KSO

17th SOS retires first Combat Shadow in Pacific

A crew from the 17th Special Operations Squadron began the final flight of MC-130P Combat Shadow, tail 69-5825, July 18 from Kadena Air Base to Davis-Monthan Air Force Base, Ariz. "After having executed a wide variety of missions in the aircraft over the last 13 years, I have mixed emotions seeing

From a Shadow's perspective

18th MDG receives new command

Vet clinic cares for MWDs, pets on Kadena

Kadena has the only American military veterinary clinic on Okinawa to care for the island's armed forces' furry friends. The Okinawa Veterinary Treatment Facility's primary mission is to provide support for more than 70 military working dogs living here on Okinawa. "Working with the military working