PACAF Command Chief visits Kadena, speaks about resiliency, mission, ambassadorship

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Brooke P. Beers
  • 18th Wing Public Affairs
KADENA AIR BASE, Japan --  Chief Master Sgt. Brooke P. McLean, Pacific Air Forces command chief, Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam, Hawaii, recently visited Kadena during a five-day trip to Okinawa.

During his time here, McLean visited the Japan Air Self Defense Force in Naha, the port mortuary operations on Camp Kinser and spoke at the Chief Recognition Ceremony on Kadena. He also shared some key messages for Kadena's Airmen.

"As I go around Pacific Air Forces [bases] I hear a couple reoccurring things. Of course everybody has a different perspective because of where they are in their career and grade," McLean said.

He explained that taking care of each other is critical and that it's equally important for individuals to evaluate their lives and ensure balance among the four wellness pillars: physical, mental, social and spiritual. Being balanced in all four aspects of an individual's life can help them to be more resilient for issues that may come up.

"It's not if you have an issue in life," he said, "it's when that issue comes up. I want people to be strong in those four pillars so that they can persevere through and make sure that they can see the other end of this and it's going to be ok."

Speaking about the physical pillar, he commented, "PT just doesn't seem to go away as an issue."

Although we've been under the new PT test standards for a while now, the command chief thinks Airmen have done a great job adjusting and adapting. PACAF consistently sees passing rates around 80 percent and of those people who are passing, 60 percent are getting 90s or better.

"Through PACAF and General [Gary] North, [PACAF commander], we've continued to pass down the message that this a standard our Airmen are expected to comply with each and every day," McLean said. "We want a healthy force because it's good for readiness; it's good for the individual."


Before leaving Kadena, McLean remarked about the base and about being good ambassadors.

"I think this is an incredible base and the mission of the 18th Wing and the partner units that are here is incredibly important. You look at the location of Kadena and you look at the nations that are emerging in this area, China, and some of the territorial claims they have made to what we consider international waters, I think it reinforces just how important Kadena is. It's a power of projection platform."

"We need to continue to be good guests to our host nation," he added. "That is always a continuing concern. We need to pay attention and understand that we are truly are guests here. Nobody wants a bad guest in their house."