Kadena Airmen, jets return to Okinawa following training

  • Published
  • By 1st Lt. Bryan Bouchard
  • 18th Wing Public Affairs
HYAKURI AIR BASE, Japan --  Airmen and F-15s started the 1,000-mile trip back to Kadena today, ending a week of working alongside airmen from the Japan Air Self Defense Force at Hyakuri Air Base.

The Airmen were participating in an aviation training relocation at the base, about 70 miles north of Tokyo.

"All the U.S. and Japanese personnel associated with this ATR should be extremely proud of their efforts and results produced," said Lt. Col. James Sukenik, 67th Fighter Squadron director of operations and detachment commander for the exercise, "but we must be sure to build upon the lessons learned to improve our future combined exercises."

About 90 Airmen and six F-15s spent the week working and living alongside their Japanese counterparts in order to enhance the bilateral interoperability of the two nations' air forces, while reducing the number of flights scheduled at Kadena.

The flight training was centered on aerial combat maneuvers in the early part of the week, defensive counter-air missions in the middle and concluded with two, large-force events in the skies over the Pacific Ocean. In all, the 67th FS was able to accomplish more than 30 sorties during the four-day exercise. But that practice was not the only benefit to the training.

First Lt. Phil Johnson arrived at Kadena in October. This was his first ATR since becoming an F-15 pilot. He said that the relationship-building and camaraderie was an added bonus to flying with and against Japanese F-15s and F-4s.

"It's been a good experience with the Japanese; building good ties with their military," Lieutenant Johnson said. "It was awesome overall."

The pilots were able to meet every mission, thanks to a squad of maintenance professionals from the 67th Aircraft Maintenance Unit, and other squadrons within the 18th Maintenance Group.

"It was nothing but a 100-percent team effort from all agencies," said Master Sgt. Eric Waaler, aircraft section chief and project officer for the maintenance contingent. "The cooperation and teamwork was demonstrated by the fact that we made all of our scheduled sorties, at times with the help of our JASDF counterparts."

Second Lt. Ryan Hudson, the maintenance officer-in-charge, enjoyed working with the Japanese airmen and said much was gained for both sides.

"This has been an eye-opening experience," Lieutenant Hudson said. "I think both countries were able to learn and gain valuable insight from each other to help build on an already-strong relationship."

Aside from the flying and the fixing of the aircraft, Airmen from other functions were able to interact and share information with the JASDF. Firefighters and fuels specialists also spent the week with their Japanese counterparts.

"The whole week has been really good," said Tech. Sgt. Eric Groff, a petroleum, oil and lubricants specialist as they are sometimes referred, from the 18th Logistics Readiness Squadron. "What we've seen this week is vintage POL."

Sergeant Groff was teamed with Airman 1st Class Joshua Parrish who said he learned a lot from the experience with the JASDF fuels flight. One thing both Airmen said would be a way to improve the experience is to close the loop on the exchange.

"It would be really good to bring them back to Kadena to show them how we do it," Sergeant Groff said.

Of course none of these experiences would have existed, had it not been for the efforts of people who typically reside behind the scenes.

"Our support personnel from Kadena, Yokota, and JASDF made sure we had the right people and equipment in the right place at the right time," Lt. Col. Sukenik said.

Whether it was the pilots, maintainers, firefighters or fuels, the common thread on which all agreed was the generosity showed by the Japanese hosts. From icebreaker events, tours to local attractions and an "end-ex" party, the Americans were made to feel at home on a base about 1,000 miles away from their own, and thousands more away from the United States.

"We were concerned that the weather was again not going to cooperate," Lt. Col. Sukenik said, "but what was never in doubt was the fact that we were welcomed guests here at Hyakuri."