Kadena wins CINC's Installation Excellence Award for PACAF

The men and women of Kadena Air Base, Japan were awarded Pacific Air Forces' 2011 Commander-in-Chief's Installation Excellence Award Friday for their accomplishments improving base quality of life during the past year. The Commander-in-Chief's Annual Award for Installation Excellence recognizes the

Sparky the Fire Dog gets promoted

Few Air Force promotions have taken longer than this one...after 23 years of service to Kadena Air Base, Sparky the Fire Dog is now a non-commissioned officer. "By the power vested in me as authorized by the 18th Wing commander, we are hereby STEP promoting you to the rank of staff sergeant,"

Kadena begins runway construction

Kadena airfield began single runway operations as part of a major construction project that began Monday. The U.S. funded construction project will take approximately 18 months to complete and will include milling and overlaying existing asphalt pavement, replacing individual concrete pavement

Flu shots now avaliable in Okinawa

The 2010-2011 annual flu vaccine program is underway at military bases in Okinawa, and medical personnel have been immunizing active duty service members since September. Military public health officials at U.S. Naval Hospital Okinawa and 18th Medical Group announced that beginning Friday, Oct. 8,

Domestic violence is more than physical abuse

Domestic violence is one of the most prominent forms of violence in the world, according to The American Bar Association's Commission on Domestic Violence..it's also been identified as a significant problem here at Kadena. Kadena receives the highest amount of domestic violence referrals in PACAF

WWII vets step back into history

Wing commander revises General Order 1

After several months of discussion with unit commanders and first sergeants, the 18th Wing commander issued a revised General Order 1 today. Brig. Gen. Ken Wilsbach notified Airmen of the change through a base-wide message sent out earlier today. Unit leaders will issue new liberty cards to all

General rescinds 'Period of Reflection'

Effective immediately, Brig. Gen. Ken Wilsbach, 18th Wing commander, has concluded the "Period of Reflection" instituted Sept. 24. "I am concluding today the Period of Reflection I instituted last week," General Wilsbach said. "I appreciate everyone who took advantage of this time to consider the

18th CONS 'burns' midnight oil to make FY deadline

Every year on Sept. 30, members of the 18th Contracting Squadron, 18th Comptroller Squadron, and resource advisors from units across the base, 'burn the midnight oil' while trying to wrap up final purchases of the fiscal year. But this year, 18th CONS had a little scare when their building's fire

Base exercise tests emergency response to an "active shooter"

Emergency responders tested their ability to respond to an "active shooter" inside the mental health clinic during an Emergency Management Exercise, Sept. 28. Exercise participants were able to cordon off the area, treat on-scene injuries, and "take out" the bad guy. The base tests its abilities in

Kadena enters into 2010's CFC

This year's Combined Federal Campaign begins Monday and runs through Dec. 3. Team Kadena's goal for 2010 is $460,000 and can be distributed to any of the more than 2,300 charities CFC supports.According to Capt. Reagan Beaton, one of this year's CFC co-chairs, while 100 percent of potential donors

AMC terminal USO lounge gets facelift

Each month, thousands of travelers pass through Kadena's Air Mobility Command passenger terminal. The journey usually includes waiting hours on end before heading to their final destinations. Now, however, people won't have to rely on just their books, MP3 players and personal snacks to get them by

Kids get 'Skoshi' taste of deployments

Nearly 200 children of servicemembers stationed here at Kadena participated in the 2010 Skoshi Warrior event at Marek Park Sept. 25.More than 65 volunteers from various units and organizations around the installation also turned out to help show the children a lighthearted version of what their

18 AF commander visits Kadena

Lieutenant Gen. Robert Allardice, 18th Air Force commander, spent a day with Airmen from the 733d Air Mobility Squadron here Sept. 27.General Allardice, accompanied by Brig. Gen. Robert Thomas, 15th Expeditionary Mobility Task Force commander, received tours and coined several Airmen from the 733d

Uniform changes go into effect Oct. 1

Oct. 1 not only signals the beginning of a new fiscal year, it also signifies the time when many uniform changes come into effect. The following is a list of upcoming changes: -- The 2EXX, 3AXXX and 3CXXX legacy badges will no longer be worn.-- The green fleece outer garment must have name, service