Defenders in arms

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Corey Pettis
  • 18th Wing Public Affairs
KADENA AIR BASE, Japan --  Members of the Japan Air Self-Defense Force visited Kadena's Security Forces Squadron March 14, to see how U.S. base defense operations are performed.

The JASDF security forces members toured the SFS to get a first-hand look at U.S. security operations and training.

“The main purpose of this tour is to bolster relationships with our JASDF counterparts and assist in their training,” said 1st Lt. Robert Stone, 18th SFS S-4 flight officer. “If there is ever a situation where JASDF members have to come here to help out, this will make it easier to integrate smoothly at a local level.”

The JASDF members received a mission briefing on Kadena and the SFS in general. They then had the opportunity to ask any questions.
They were then given a tour of the Squadron and its different sections, such as the base defense operations center, investigations office, and interview and holding cells.

“We want these guys to have a better understanding of how our security operations work at every level,” said Stone.

The JASDF members witnessed new security forces member going through OC spray training followed by a walkthrough of the armory.
A table of different rifles and shotguns were laid out for them to learn about and handle, along with a police car and Humvee for them to walk around.

At the end of the tour, the security forces military working dogs and their handlers gave an obedience demonstration. They then showed how security forces uses the working dogs in situations of uncooperative suspects.

“This whole experience was very interesting and very educational,” said JASDF Capt. Shigeto Hayakawa. “The U.S. military trains and operates as if they are being forward deployed, they train to do things how it would actually happen and I think there are many things we can learn from that.”