May 25, 2026 18th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron activates at Kadena Air Base The 18th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron activates at Kadena Air Base, Japan, May 15, 2026. The event highlighted the historic era of the 67th Fighter Generation Squadron and marked the activation of the 18th AMXS.
May 21, 2026 Out of the classroom, into the field: Kadena strengthens warfighter readiness through hands-on training U.S. Air Force Brig. Gen. John Gallemore, 18th Wing commander, and his command team recently stepped onto the Combat Readiness Challenge course at the Henry “Red” Erwin Professional Military Education Center, May 15, 2026, experiencing firsthand the physical and cognitive demands Airmen face. Their
May 21, 2026 Chatan Town Base Affairs Division tours Kadena Air Base Chatan Town's Base Affairs Division toured Kadena Air Base to learn about the 18th Wing and the vital role Kadena plays in the Indo-Pacific, May 14, 2026.Chatan Base Affairs coordinates with military representatives to address base-related matters on behalf of Chatan Town residents. Their
May 18, 2026 Night operations sustain rescue readiness at Kadena A U.S. Air Force HH-60W Jolly Green II assigned to the 33rd Rescue Squadron off the coast of Okinawa, Japan, during a night training sortie, May 6, 2026. Night and over-water training ensures aircrews remain ready to recover isolated personnel in complex operational environments.
May 17, 2026 Readiness starts with mental wellness Readiness isn’t built on the flight line alone. Behind every mission launched from Kadena Air Base is a force prepared not just physically, but mentally—equipped to perform under pressure, adapt to uncertainty and respond when it matters most. At the center of that effort, the 18th Medical Group’s
May 17, 2026 Kadena honors fallen defenders during National Police Week National Police Week pays tribute to law enforcement personnel who have made the ultimate sacrifice in the line of duty.
May 17, 2026 Venomous threats meet prepared forces U.S. service members participate in a specialized snake handling course at Kadena Air Base, Japan, April 28, 2026. The 18th Civil Engineer Squadron Pest Management team partnered with the U.S. Marine Corps 3rd Medical Battalion to integrate snake handling into a joint service preventative medicine
May 17, 2026 Arresting system certification reinforce Kadena’s combat readiness U.S. Air Force Airmen assigned to the 18th Civil Engineer Squadron, in coordination with the 18th Operations Group, 18th Operations Support Squadron and the 120th Fighter Squadron, conducted dual aircraft arresting system certifications at Kadena Air Base, Japan, May 7, 2026. The event validated
May 17, 2026 Warrior Gauntlet pushes joint force to the limit at Kadena The 18th Wing brought together service members from every branch of the U.S. military to compete in the Warrior Gauntlet, a joint-force fitness challenge, at Kadena Air Base, Japan, May 8, 2026. The event tested participants through a series of branch-specific fitness requirements designed to build
May 11, 2026 PACAF commander visit highlights Kadena’s Indo-Pacific role KADENA AIR BASE, Japan – U.S. Air Force Gen. Kevin Schneider, Pacific Air Forces commander, visited Kadena Air Base, Japan, April 29, 2026, to assess operational capabilities and reinforce the installation’s role in sustaining combat power across the Indo-Pacific.
May 6, 2026 Dragons on the Water: Kadena Air Base teams take on the 2026 Naha Hari The sharp crack of a drum echoes across the harbor as dozens of paddles strike the water in unison, propelling brightly painted dragon boats forward with strength and rhythm.From May 3 to 5, 2026, thousands gathered at Naha New Port Wharf for the 2026 Naha Dragon Boat Race, known locally as Naha
May 5, 2026 Strength Through Partnership Iwao Horii, Japan’s State Minister of Foreign Affairs, received an immersion tour at Kadena Air Base, Japan, April 27, 2026. The tour provided Horii with a deeper understanding of the installation’s mission and capabilities.
May 4, 2026 18th MDG strengthens readiness with patient decontamination training Medical personnel from the 18th Medical Group completed a three-day patient decontamination course at Kadena Air Base, Japan, April 21–23, 2026, strengthening the wing’s ability to respond to chemical, biological and radiological incidents and sustain operations in contested environments.
May 4, 2026 From beach day to lifesaving response: Airmen aid injured Okinawa resident A group of five Airmen attending the Non-Commissioned Officer Academy at Kadena Air Base were visiting Okinawa's scenic Miyagi Islands when their trip took an unexpected turn, March 22, 2026.
May 3, 2026 5th Air Force commander visits Kadena, underscores readiness U.S. Air Force Lt. Gen. Joel Carey, 5th Air Force commander, visited Kadena Air Base, Japan, April 18-22, 2026, to gain a firsthand look at the 18th Wing’s operations and mission readiness in the Indo-Pacific.