USFJ, 5AF top leaders visit Okinawa

  • Published
  • By Staff Sgt. Alesia D. Goosic
  • 18th Wing Public Affairs
KADENA AIR BASE, Okinawa --  Lt. Gen. Burt Field, United States Forces Japan and Fifth Air Force commander, and Chief Master Sergeant Andy Kaiser, the USFJ and 5th AF command chief, recently traveled to Okinawa to meet with service members stationed at Kadena and other locations around the island.

During the weeklong visit, General Field and Chief Kaiser toured Kadena, met with Airmen and senior leaders, learned about the mission and challenges here and discussed some topics of interest Team Kadena, and USFJ as a whole.

"We've had a tremendous visit, both at Kadena Air Base and the island at large," General Field said. "We were [also] able to see other areas , with the Marines, Army and the Navy. We've seen lots of leadership and we've seen young people stepping up and making good decisions and taking charge, professionally and personally."

One stop during their visit to Kadena was to the renovated on-base housing. The commander and command chief said they were pleased with the housing they saw and were impressed with the way base housing is managed throughout the whole island, in the face of budgetary challenges.

"The change due to the renovations is quite good; very good," Chief Kaiser said. "The renovations we're seeing are really making a big difference for the housing community here and our Airmen."

The general said another impressive factor in housing here is how the Air Force has embraced all of the communities.

"The Marines, Army, Navy and Air Force are all one team trying to come up with a solution for all the service members down here," he said. "I heard it straight from the mouths of all the services' leaders that they are very impressed with your efforts, and that they are fully included in all the decision making as we go forward with those housing initiatives."

Chief Kaiser said there were many other things that impressed him during his visit at Kadena and that he would like to see exported to other bases. Two of those things were the Airmen Professional Development seminar and the early focus on the needs of spouses of first term Airmen.

In addition, General Field shared some things the men and women of USFJ can expect to see in the future, such as the possibility of trilateral exercises involving the U.S., Japan and the Republic of Korea.

"I do foresee future exercises between that trilateral group," the general said, "but not in the near future. That is an area that I think all three governments regard as valuable, however we're going to move forward very slowly."

The chief added that there is a senior enlisted leader conference that has typically been a bilateral conference between U.S. and Japan, and he hopes to begin including ROK enlisted leaders in the future.

The visit was the first for the new USFJ commander since he assumed command in October. Chief Kaiser was at Kadena last year and commented how he's always impressed with how much of a "Team" Team Kadena has become. He also encouraged Airmen to remember what an honor it is to wear this uniform.

"I think it's very important for all of our Airmen to remember that [honor]," he said. "I think it's important for leaders to build [the Airmen] up because we really are a special group of people. When you think about what we do as the United States military and you look at the relatively small number of people who have pledged their lives in our nation's defense. When we talk about 'defenders of liberty,' that's us. So I think every Airman, sailor, soldier, Marine, and coast guardsman should always remember it's an honor to be able to serve; it's humbling, but it's an awesome ride as well."