Patriot Express service to change

More changes are in store for the Patriot Express. Starting this week, the Patriot Express will be flying in and out of Kadena once every two weeks rather than weekly. To compensate for the reduction in flights, service members and their families who are PCS'ing will be flying in a larger 747

Americans, Japanese enjoy AmericaFest 2008

Kadena Air Base welcomed 66,000 people July 4 and 5 during the first AmericaFest open house held here in four years. Japanese and American families braved sweltering heat and humidity to share this two-day event designed to celebrate America's Independence Day and promote friendships between the

A look at AmericaFest 2008

Divers work to save Okinawa’s coral reef

Staff members working for the marina on Kadena Air Base are leading the way in preserving Okinawa's sea life. The marina staff assigned to the base's 18th Force Support Squadron launched the "Chura Umi Coral Project" January 19 to promote the International Year of the Reef and make a positive

Safety Tips for an enjoyable AmericaFest

With tens of thousands of people expected to visit the flightline for AmericaFest 2008, Kadena officials are urging attendees to take steps to prevent mishaps and have an enjoyable day. As a precaution, medical personnel will be on hand both days to ensure a quick response should any injuries or

Kadena hosts Okinawan historical sites

As local Okinawa citizens pray at their family tomb, an Airman from Kadena Air Base stands nearby and observes the ceremony, both learning the history of and protecting these historical sites. As part of an official program at Kadena Air Base, members of the 18th Wing work diligently to preserve the

Independence Day: An American Tradition

As Kadena Air Base opens its gates to welcome its friends in the local community to AmericaFest 2008, it does so in celebration and commemoration of the America's 232nd birthday. On July 4, 1776, a group of American patriots signed the Declaration of Independence, signaling the 13 colonies'

Welcome to Americafest

Hai sai! On behalf of the 18th Wing and all of the men and women of Kadena Air Base, welcome to AmericaFest 2008. This year's open house, the first in four years, promises to be an exciting and entertaining event for the whole family. AmericaFest features a wide variety of aircraft representing not

Giving spouses a break

Spouses of servicemembers deployed down-range gathered for an evening of food, fellowship and fun at Chapel One here June 21. They were attending the Deployed Spouses Dinner, a monthly event sponsored by numerous base organizations and hosted by the 18th Wing Chaplain. Attendance at the event is

33rd RQS heads back to Afghanistan

One of Kadena busiest units is on its way back to Afghanistan in support of Operation Enduring Freedom. The 33rd Rescue Squadron will deploy this week to conduct combat search and rescue missions as U.S. and NATO forces continue to battle Taliban and other anti-Afghan insurgents. They will be

USFJ commander reviews the troops

Lt. Gen. Edward A. Rice Jr., U.S. Forces Japan commander and 5th Air Force commander, spoke about the importance of meeting the men and women stationed on Okinawa and seeing the mission up close as he toured Kadena and other local bases June 18-20. The general said seeing the service members

Saving lives, money

Kadena Air Base is now home to a rescue technician course designed to help Pacific region firefighters save lives and save the Air Force dollars at the same time. The three week course is being offered by Detachment 1, 554th Red Horse Squadron and teaches firefighters how to manage personnel and

Post-war exhibit debuts at base library

A photographic exhibit at the Kadena library featuring photographs from the Battle of Okinawa and post-war reconstruction efforts will run from June 20 to 30. The exhibit, which features over seventy-five photographs from last month's exhibit in Nakagusuku titled "From the Ashes: Courage and

TLF construction continues

The Hershey Temporary Lodging Facility is currently undergoing a one-year renovation, limiting lodging availability for inbound and outbound travelers. The closure of the Hershey TLF has cut the Shogun Inn's family lodging capability in half, but the lodge continues to accomodate many guests

Base teens connect with Okinawans

Thanks to a new initiative designed to promote cultural exchange, local Okinawans are practicing their English skills and nurturing friendships with teens from Kadena Air Base every first and third Wednesday of the month. The local Kadena Language Institute and Kadena's Teen Center Millenium have