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  • Col. Jeff Kennedy takes his final flight in a KC-135 Stratotanker July 11. Colonel Kennedy retired July 12.

    Colonel Kennedy bids farewell to Kadena

    The first time he came to Kadena he set a world distance record in the KC-135. Years later he culminated a career of more than 26 years upon retiring as vice commander of the Air Force's largest combat wing. Both are among the most memorable moments in Col. Jeff Kennedy's long odyssey from a Navy Reserve Officers' Training Corps (NROTC) midshipman

  • “Born in Battle,” 390th Intelligence Squadron hosts 40th Birthday Dining Out

    The 390th Intelligence Squadron will host its 40th anniversary dining out here Aug. 24 to celebrate the unit's illustrious heritage. The dining out commemorates the 390th IS heritage which began as the 6990th Security Squadron, U.S. Air Force Security Service (USAFSS). The squadron was activated by Maj. Gen. (then Lt. Col.) Doyle E. Larson July 15,
  • Tech. Sgt. Dustin Thomas, arial gunner; Airman 1st Class Michael Price, flight engineer; and Senior Airman Timothy Philpott, flight engineer, all from the 33rd Rescue Squadron at Kadena Air Base, Japan; pose with the band Blue Jupiter during a tour of the squadron July 3. The band suited up in aircrew life support gear, toured the weapons storage area and got a first hand look at the HH-60G Pavehawk Helicopter.

    Blue Jupiter visit

  • Kadena Air Base Honor Guard Drill Team performs at the 231st United States Independence Day Ceremony and Garden Party at the U.S. Consulate in Naha, Okinawa, Japan, July 4, 2007. The day was celebrated by more than 200 Okinawans and Americans. In addition to the drill team, the Marine Corps III MEF Band performance, an Hawaiian Ukulele and Hula dance and a Karate performance was also enjoyed by those in attendance. (U.S. Air Force photo by Maj. Dani Johnson)

    Celebrating the 4th

  • Staff Sgt. Antonio Montgomery, 18th Component Maintenance Squadron, paints a graffiti wall at a park outside of Kadena's Gate 2 as part of a humanitarian and beatification project June 30. More than 18 people volunteered to paint the tunnel which was covered in graffiti. U.S. Air Force Photo/Senior Airman Jeremy McGuffin

    A clean slate

  • Kadena unit keeps PACOM wired, flying

    With hundreds of aircraft in the Pacific theater supporting the interests of the United States and its allies, electronic components are critical. Aircraft are durable and delicate at the same time and getting a replacement part in a timely fashion keeps the war birds in the fight. The Kadena-based 525th Electronic Maintenance Squadron, part of
  • Staff Sgt. Rudy Ruiz, 733rd Air Mobility Squadron, fastens a Humvee to a pallet while training for this year’s Air Mobility Rodeo. Sergeant Ruiz is one of six 18th Wing Airmen on the air transportation team for the event held at McChord AFB, Wash., July 22-28. (U.S. Air Force/Airman 1st Class Kasey Zickmund)

    733rd Air Mobility Squadron prepares for the Air Mobility Rodeo

    Editors Note: This is the third in a series of articles on Team Kadena's preparation for the Air Mobility Rodeo. With the engines running, a team of 733rd Air Mobility Squadron Airmen quickly and safely load and unload a cargo aircraft without saying a word. This is just one of the tasks these Airmen have to accomplish during this year's Air
  • Tech. Sgt. Matt Howard, Senior Airman Dustin Burk, and Airman 1st Class Schermund Smith, 18th Security Forces Squadron, check their weapons before firing drills prepared by a combat arms Instructor. Live firing drills and scenarios are just one of many training events these Kadena Air Base, Japan, Airmen are going through to prepare for the Air Mobility Rodeo 2007. More than 40 teams and 2,500 people from the Air Force, the Air Force Reserve, and allied nations, will compete in the AMC Rodeo at McChord AFB, Wash., in July. The readiness competition focuses on worldwide air mobility capabilities. U.S. Air Force photo/Senior Airman Jeremy McGuffin

    18th SFS prepares for AMC Rodeo

    Editors Note: This is the second in a series of articles on Team Kadena's preparation for the Air Mobility Rodeo. Airmen wearing gas masks and Kevlar are often associated with some sort of base training exercise, but three 18th Security Forces Squadron Airmen are running around base in this gear for a different reason. Tech. Sgt. Matt Howard,
  • Brig. Gen. Brett T. Williams, 18th Wing commander, passes the guidon to the new 18th Medical Group commander, Colonel Frederick L. Schaefer, during a change of command ceremony June 21 at Kadena Air Base, Japan. Col. Kelley Kash relinquished command and retired on the same day. U.S. Air Force photo/A1C Kelly Timney

    18 MDG Change of Command

    A new commander took the reins of the largest outpatient clinic in Pacific Air Forces in a ceremony here June 22. Col. Frederick L. Schaefer took command of the 18th Medical group from Col. Kelley Kash, who retired the same day after 23 years in service. "It's truly an honor to be taking command of the 18th Medical Group," said Colonel Schaefer.
  • Airman 1st Class Melvin Batangan, 18th Logistics Readiness Squadron, with Airman Mark Campos, 18th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron, talk to Hawaii Governor Linda Lingle during her visit to Kadena Air Base, Japan, June 22. The governor spent 12 days in Jakarta, Tokyo and Okinawa, strengthening Hawaii's Asia-Pacific relations. U.S. Air Force photo/Senior Airman Jeremy McGuffin

    Hawaiian governor visits Kadena

  • Containers of new munitions are unloaded from the Motor Vessel Global Patriot ship during the Turbo Containerized Ammunition Distribution System exercise June 22. The munitions were for all services in Okinawa. The following day many containers filled with older munitions were onloaded to be shipped back to military installations in the U.S. for storage. U.S. Air Force photo/Staff Sgt. Reynaldo Ramon

    Out with the old, in with the new

    Replacing cold war munitions with the latest weaponry was the focus of a U.S. Transportation Command exercise here, June 21-22. The Turbo Containerized Ammunition Distribution System 07, also known as TURBOCADS, tested munitions units from Okinawa, Guam, Sasebo and South Korea. In Okinawa, military units conducted a joint service exercise to help

  • Kadena beefs up security

    Military installations around U.S. Pacific Command are beefing up security to protect against potential terrorist activity and Kadena Air Base is following suit, said one of the installation's anti-terrorism experts June 18.Officials here are taking extra steps to strengthen security throughout Kadena and are asking the base population to remain

  • Kadena earns federal environmental award

    Kadena recently earned the 2007 White House Closing the Circle Award for its recycling program. The award, presented at the White House June 12, recognizes the significant contributions and positive impacts of federal employees and facilities in environmental stewardship. "Although the team realized we had an exceptional program we were ecstatic to
  • Senior Airman David Windle and Airman 1st Class Justin Crawford, both from 18th Munitions Squadron, paddle to the finish line in a cardboard boat they made only a few hours before as part of the build-a-boat contest June 16 at Hagerstrom pool, Kadena Air Base, Japan. More than 50 people divided among seven teams competed. Competitors were only supplied with a roll of duct tape, three large pieces of cardboard and a cutting knife. “Team Ammo” won first place overall in time and sea worthiness. U.S. Air Force photo/Senior Airman Jeremy McGuffin

    Cardboard boat races

  • 18th Wing Commander Brig. Gen. Brett T. Williams presents Taiki Tamaki, Ohira Special Needs School, a gold medal after completing the 20-meter dash during the Special Olympics held June 24 at Kadena Air Base, Japan. (U.S. Air Force/Airman 1st Class Ryan Ivacic)

    Kadena hosts the eighth annual Special Olympics

    "Let me win, but if I cannot win let me be brave in the attempt." With the start of the Special Olympics oath, more than 900 athletes and 200 artists gathered here Sunday for one of Japan's biggest events - 2007 Special Olympic Games. More than 1,500 volunteers from different branches of the U.S. military and the local community helped put on the
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