Kadena Airmen wrap up largest, longest ATR

  • Published
  • By 18th Wing Public Affairs
  • 36th Wing Public Affairs
KADENA AIR BASE, Japan --  Kadena Airmen forged strategic partnerships with their Japanese and Australian counterparts while participating in a three week-long multinational exercise at Anderson Air Base, Guam.

"The exercise has significantly improved our relationship with our Australian and Japanese counterparts, not just in the air, but also through mission planning, how we conduct the debriefs of each fight, and how we communicate with each other," said Maj. Glendon Whelan, 18th Wing project officer for the unit's first aviation training relocation mission to Guam. "The major challenge we've addressed here has been communication with each other. I was most impressed with the Japan Air Self Defense Force's ability to not only communicate their plan to each other in their native language, but also to communicate it to us in English. They had, by far, the toughest adjustments to make and I think they exceeded everyone's expectations."

In early February, Kadena deployed nearly 500 Airmen, 18 F-15 Eagles, two E-3 Sentrys and two KC-135 Stratotankers for the ATR that coincided with Cope North, a training exercise designed to enhance air operations between the three countries.

"This is the first time we've taken this large a group from Kadena on an ATR and our aircrew and maintainers set the standard for future operations here in Guam," Whelan added.
Since then, Whelan said the deployed Airmen have flown nearly 300 F-15 sorties, 8 E-3 sorties, and 18 KC-135 sorties that have delivered more than 1 million pounds of fuel to friendly aircraft.

"We flew with the Royal Australian Air Force and JASDF every day during the ATR and accomplished large force employment scenarios twice-a-day," said Whelan. "We also flew smaller scale missions with them that included air combat maneuvering, defensive counter air and offensive counter air [tactics]."

On the ground, Kadena's maintenance and support staff ensured mission success. More than 270 maintainers from the 18th Maintenance Group deployed in support of the ATR mission.

"These guys and gals worked out here on this open, intensely hot ramp every day and battled constant challenges in order to maximize aircrew training," said 1st Lt. Riley Hesterman, 67th Aircraft Maintenance Unit's assistant officer in charge. "Working with our Australian and Japanese counterparts in this environment was a unique and enjoyable experience for our maintainers."