Kadena Airmen visit school children during ATR

A dozen Airmen from Kadena were serenaded and played games with students from Runbini Kindergarten in Omitama City, Ibaraki Prefecture Feb. 1.The Airmen are part of an American contingent operating from Hyakuri Air Base for an aviation training relocation on mainland Japan."This is a great chance

Sesame Street visits Kadena, shares important message

A 'sporting' good time at Hyakuri

Airmen from Kadena were treated to athletic competition against airmen from the Japan Air Self Defense Force as well as local youth league teams. The sporting events kicked off a day of friendly interaction between American and Japanese Airmen, as well as local citizens who live near the base.

Kadena Airmen pound rice with their Hyakuri hosts

Kadena Airmen participated in Mochitsuki, an annual Japanese New Year's celebration. During the celebration, over 100 kilograms of cooked mochi-rice is kneaded and mixed into a jelly-like paste which is topped with various flavors. Kadena Airmen were treated to this tradition by Japan Air Self

Kadena Airmen, F-15s spend week with Japanese counterparts

Four F-15Cs and over 30 Airmen from the 18th Wing at Kadena Air Base arrived today to Hyakuri Air Base about 70 miles northeast of Tokyo as part of the wing's latest aviation training relocation. Two more aircraft and another 70 Airmen will arrive by the weekend to round out the American contingent

Team Kadena pays homage to newest chiefs

Nearly 250 friends, family and coworkers celebrated the achievement of a dozen senior NCOs who recently reached the Air Force's top enlisted rank during a chief recognition ceremony at the Rocker NCO Club Jan. 23. The event also honored Chief Master Sgt. Noboru Sato from the Japan Air Self Defense

More than 1,200 take part in Red Flag 10-2

Nearly 1,300 servicemembers, more than 80 aircraft and 19 units from the U.S. and U.K., converged on Nellis Air Force Base, Nev., for the start of Red Flag 10-2 Jan. 25.The exercise is the largest, full-scale integration exercise in the world and prepares warfighters for real-world combat by pitting

An Erwin PME first

For the first time in the history of the Erwin Professional Military Education Center's NCO Academy, a Japan Air Self Defense Force attendee has assumed a class leadership role. Master Sgt. Junko Adachi, A JASDF NCO from Iruma Air Base in Saitama prefecture near Tokyo, Japan, is serving as

AF officials return high year tenure rates to previous lengths

High year of tenure rates for most enlisted personnel will return to their previous time lengths, Air Force officials announced recently.The revised policy means senior airmen, for example, can serve up to 10 years of total active federal military service instead of 12 years.High year of tenure is

Kadena competes for prestigious food service award

Experts in the food service industry will put Kadena's taste buds to the test as they grade the base for this year's John L. Hennessy Air Force food services excellence award Jan. 28-Feb. 2. Four judges from the Air Force Services Agency and experts from the commercial industry will evaluate the

Kadena pharmacy moves to automated system

The Kadena pharmacy will transition into the automated refill system starting Feb. 16 to provide patients with quality care in less time. According to Capt. Katie Austin, the Kadena pharmacist, the new policy, which requires patients to use this system to refill prescriptions, will enable the

Kadena Airman found deceased on base

An Airman assigned to the 18th Wing was found deceased today after being discovered in the Kadena dormitories. The cause of the death is under investigation. The Airman's identity will be released after next-of-kin notification. More information will be released as it becomes available.

U.S., Japan forces celebrate as alliance reaches half-century mark

Fifty years ago the U.S. and Japan signed a security treaty that has outlasted 10 U.S. presidents and 22 Japan prime ministers, and it shows no signs of slowing down yet.To celebrate the 50th anniversary of the alliance, approximately 200 Japanese and American servicemembers and government officials

U.S., Japan Airmen join sister services in year's first bilateral exercise

U.S. Air Force Airmen from Japan and other locations around the world joined their Japanese counterparts and sister services Jan. 22 to kick off the year's first bilateral exercise here.The command post exercise, known as Keen Edge '10, runs until Jan. 27 and is designed to increase combat readiness

Airmen load on the competition

Maintenance units from the 44th and 67th Fighter Squadrons recently showcased their skills and technical know-how during the annual "Load Crew of the Year" competition. Each of the teams consisted of a three-man crew with each person working together as a team to get the job done. For more on the