F15s always ready to fly, fight, win

U.S. Air Force Airman 1st Class Najee Jarrett, 18th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron maintainer, salutes U.S. Air Force Capt. Tyler Marsh, 44th Fighter Squadron fighter pilot, as he taxies out to the runway during Exercise Beverly Bearcat 12-1, a Pacific Air Forces readiness inspection, on Kadena Air Base, Japan, Oct. 25, 2012. The inspection is being conducted to see if Kadena Airmen are ready for real-world contingencies. (U.S. Air Force photo/Airman 1st Class Brooke P. Beers)

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PAR Teams go!

U.S. Air Force Staff Sgt. Laszlo Babosci, 18th Wing Public Affairs photographer, checks a post attack reconnaissance stand for contamination after a simulated attack during a Pacific Air Forces readiness inspection, Exercise Beverly Bearcat 12-1, on Kadena Air Base, Japan, Oct. 25, 2012. PACAF has been conducting a readiness Inspection to test 18th Wing Airmen on their ability to conduct real-world contingencies. (U.S. Air Force photo/Airman 1st Class Brooke P. Beers)

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Mission Maintenance in MOPP

Kadena Airmen prepare to check an F-15C while being evaluated by Pacific Air Forces' Inspector General during Exercise Beverly Bearcat 12-1, an operational readiness inspection on Kadena Air Base, Japan, Oct. 25, 2012. The inspectors will evaluate the wing's ability to fulfill its commitments as required under the Japan-U.S security alliance. (U.S. Air Force photo/Airman 1st Class Justin Veazie)

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Airmen MOPP up during Exercise Beverly Bearcat 12-1

U.S. Air Force Airman 1st Class Michael Kummer reviews an Airman’s Manual while in Mission-Oriented Protective Posture gear following a simulated attack on the base as part of Exercise Beverly Bearcat 12-1, an operational readiness inspection on Kadena Air Base, Japan, Oct. 24, 2012. Kummer is a 18th Force Support Squadron food services specialist working at the Kadena mortuary. During the inspection, Airmen are tested on their ability to survive and operate in a number of scenarios ranging from fire response to missile attacks in order to train and prepare for potential real-world contingencies. Though Kadena doesn’t normally accommodate mortuary affairs, during contingency operations, the 18th FSS establishes a mortuary on base in order to provide quicker response following an attack. (U.S. Air Force photo/Senior Airman Maeson L. Elleman)

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Bioenvironmental keeps equipment ready to go

U.S. Air Force Senior Airmen Jovanna Flor, 18th Aerospace Medicine Squadron bioenvironmental engineering technician, prepares to add zinc mix from the M272 kit to test water for chemical warfare agents during the third day of a Pacific Air Forces readiness inspection on Kadena Air Base, Japan, Oct. 24, 2012. The M272 kit contains water testing materials to determine if water has been contaminated. These Airmen keep their equipment ready at all times in case they are called to respond to a scenario. (U.S. Air Force photo/Staff Sgt. Darnell T. Cannady)

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18th Wing holds press conference

KADENA AIR BASE, Japan -- U.S. Air Force Brig. Gen. Matt Molloy, 18th Wing commander, answers questions from a mock media panel during a Pacific Air Forces readiness inspection at Kadena Air Base, Japan, Oct. 24, 2012. The general conducted a mock press conference with media role players to discuss 18th Wing’s actions during a simulated contingency response exercise. (U.S. Air Force photo/Staff Sgt. Laszlo Babocsi)

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18th Logistical Readiness Squadron handles Readiness Inspection

KADENA AIR BASE, Japan -- Senior Airman Brandon Wiese, 18th Logistics Readiness Squadron, marshals Staff Sgt. Jordan Bly, 18th LRS, while moving cargo in a fork lift on Kadena Air Base, Japan, Oct. 23, 2012. The two Airmen were processing cargo during a Pacific Air Forces readiness inspection, evaluating the 18th Wing’s capability to perform contingency or humanitarian operations. (U.S. Air Force photo/Staff Sgt Laszlo Babocsi)

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Next in line?

Airman 1st Class John Richardson, 18th Logistics Readiness Squadron traffic management office passenger travel, reviews paperwork of Airmen processing through a deployment line during a Pacific Air Forces readiness inspection on Kadena Air Base, Oct. 22, 2012. Nearly 100 18th Wing Airmen processed through the deployment line while PACAF inspectors observed. (U.S. Air Force photo/Staff Sgt. Laszlo Babocsi)

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Security Forces tested during readiness inspection

Master Sgt. Jason Rangel, of the 18th Security Forces Squadron, and Staff Sgt. Joseph White, base defense operations center controller, plot traffic control points and other significant areas on maps as Senior Airman Alex Torres and Staff Sgt. John Munoz, also BDOC controllers, coordinate with Airmen on scene and review checklists during a Pacific Air Forces readiness inspection training scenario on Kadena Air Base, Japan, Oct. 23, 2012. The inspection tests Kadena’s ability to respond to and operate in simulated crisis conditions. (U.S. Air Force photo/Staff Sgt. Alesia Goosic)

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Commander proud of 'balanced' wing's inspection results

Published Oct. 31, 2012
By Senior Master Sgt. J.C. Woodring
18th Wing Public Affairs

KADENA AIR BASE, Japan -- During his Oct. 29 official out brief to the wing for the Pacific Air Forces Readiness Inspection-Plus, 18th Wing Commander Brig. Gen. Matt Molloy said everyone should be very proud of their overall strong, very strong "Satisfactory" rating.

Acknowledging that the rating may "deflate you a little bit," the general said Airmen should not confuse the rating with meaning that we do not have exceptional Airmen.

"Our Core Values bring us to the point where we have exceptional Airmen," he said. "We expect excellence," and a satisfactory rating might not seem justified.

Within the context of this inspection, the commander said he needed to balance the real-world requirements such as responding to and recovering from multiple typhoons, deploying combat airpower to Southwest Asia and Alaska, as well as covering a surge of regional operational higher headquarters taskings with the wing's limited resources.

"A wing in balance looks like a strong satisfactory," he said. "I would love to have an 'Excellent,' but given the context in which this inspection occurred, I wouldn't want to dedicate any more resources or time ... I also do not regret taking last Friday off--taking a knee--to replenish Airmen and family resiliency rather than polishing our ATSO procedures one more day."

Overall, the inspectors certified that the wing could meet or exceed all requirements in the major-graded areas. Air Force Office of Special Investigations Detachment 624 received an overall "Outstanding" rating, and nine sub-areas were rated "Excellent."

"The Shogun Warriors 'can-do' attitude was evident from Day 1 through departure," said Col. David G. Van der Veer, the PACAF inspector general in a message on the results. "The entire IG team was impressed with the mission focus, engaged leadership and professional attitude of all the Airmen that make Kadena AB the 'Keystone of the Pacific.' The Shogun Warriors of the 18th Wing are ready to 'Fight Tonight' or execute whatever else they are tasked for!"

This was the first time Kadena, or any wing for that matter, had been looked at under the massive "RI-Plus," which combines the traditional "readiness inspection" with other simultaneous inspections such as the Consolidated Unit Inspection; Focused Compliance Inspection; Logistics Compliance Assessment Program inspection; Environmental, Safety and Occupational Health Compliance Assessment and Management Program inspection; and an Article 6 inspection. Additionally, inspectors from the Air Force Inspection Agency were on base to evaluate the PACAF inspectors.

The inspectors selected the following outstanding performers and outstanding teams. They also selected eight people to receive an IG coin.

Outstanding performers are:
· Capt. Emerson Raza, 18th Medical Group
· 2nd Lt. Hope Cronin, 18th Wing Public Affairs
· 2nd Lt Matthew Osborne, 18th Equipment Maintenance Squadron
· Master Sgt. Keisha Bady, 18th Component Maintenance Squadron
· Master Sgt. Jerry Davison, 18th Equipment Maintenance Squadron
· Master Sgt. Roger Pittman, 18th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron
· Master Sgt. Donald Walden, 18th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron
· Tech. Sgt. Derrick Adams, 18th Wing Judge Advocate
· Tech. Sgt. Caleb Dacay, 18th Civil Engineer Squadron
· Tech. Sgt. Timothy Dull, 18th Force Support Squadron
· Tech. Sgt. Timothy Horton, 18th Civil Engineer Squadron
· Tech. Sgt. Amy Mackey, 18th Communications Squadron
· Tech. Sgt. Jeremy Mitchell, 718th Civil Engineer Squadron
· Tech. Sgt. Robert Mitchell, 18th Munitions Squadron
· Tech. Sgt. Caery Poland, 18th Equipment Maintenance Squadron
· Tech. Sgt. Mario Rainge, 18th Civil Engineer Squadron
· Tech. Sgt. Richard Williams, 18th Civil Engineer Squadron
· Tech. Sgt. Jason Zakimi, 18th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron
· Staff Sgt. Arthur Cortez, 18th Communications Squadron
· Staff Sgt. Kevin Famsler, 33rd Helicopter Maintenance Unit
· Staff Sgt. Ferdinand Hooper, 18th Equipment Maintenance Squadron
· Staff Sgt. Robert Jarvis, 18th Civil Engineer Squadron
· Staff Sgt. Robert Pulley, III, 18th Equipment Maintenance Squadron
· Staff Sgt. Marlon Quitos, Detachment 1, 554 Red Horse
· Staff Sgt. Shequila Hunter, 18th Communications Squadron
· Staff Sgt. Brittany Torrence, 18th Wing Command Post
· Senior Airman Joseph Barthle, 18th Civil Engineer Squadron
· Senior Airman James Black, 718th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron
· Senior Airman Damian Boggs, 18th Civil Engineer Squadron
· Senior Airman David Bouyear III, 18th Equipment Maintenance Squadron
· Senior Airman Andrew Burgos, 718th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron
· Senior Airman Marjorie Deschamps, 18th Equipment Maintenance Squadron
· Senior Airman Matthew Giebner, 18th Munitions Squadron
· Senior Airman Nicholas Martin, 718th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron
· Senior Airman Allison Phillips, 44th Fighter Squadron
· Senior Airman Chad Schlossman, 718th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron
· Airman 1st Class Audrey McClesky, 18th Logistic Readiness Squadron
· Special Agent Terrell Harris, AFOSI Det 624
· Special Agent Jordan Kernodle, AFOSI Det 624
· Juanito Canon, 718th Civil Engineer Squadron
· Keita Uehara, 18th Civil Engineer Squadron
· Kenji Takamoto, 718th Civil Engineer Squadron

Coin recipients are:
· Maj. Scott Gunn, 18th Operations Support Squadron
· Tech. Sgt. Sergio Escobar, 18th Wing Command Post
· Tech. Sgt. Michelle Johnson, 18th Operations Support Squadron
· Tech. Sgt. Jeffery Tracey, 44th Aircraft Maintenance Unit
· Staff Sgt. Kristopher Kimmerle, 18th Communication Squadron
· Staff Sgt. Mark Simpson, 18th Comptroller Squadron
· Airman 1st Class Angela Heglar, 18th Comptroller Squadron
· Robert Glassheim, 18th Force Support Squadron

Outstanding teams are:
· 18th AES Aircrew and Ground Support Team
· 18th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron Weapons Load Crew 9
· 18th Civil Engineer Squadron Airfield Lighting Team
· 18th Communications Squadron Knowledge Operations Management Team
· 18th Force Support Squadron Readiness Section
· 18th Logistics Readiness Squadron Fuels preventive Maintenance Team
· 18th Security Forces Squadron Response Force
· 909th ARS Aircrew

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News

F15s always ready to fly, fight, win

PAR Teams go!

Mission Maintenance in MOPP

Airmen MOPP up during Exercise Beverly Bearcat 12-1

Bioenvironmental keeps equipment ready to go

18th Wing holds press conference

18th Logistical Readiness Squadron handles Readiness Inspection

Next in line?

Security Forces tested during readiness inspection

Commander proud of 'balanced' wing's inspection results