Local theater training nets big payoff for joint warfighters

  • Published
  • By Staff Sgt. Jason Lake
  • 18th Wing Public Affairs
KADENA AIR BASE, Japan --  America's recession may have reduced the amount of available funds to send Kadena Air Base units to the U.S. for training events, but not the creativity of mission planners here who recently wrapped up three days of joint training with Marine Corps, Army and visiting Air Force units from around the region.
 
Dozens of Kadena's aircraft, including F-15s from the 44th and 67th Fighter Squadrons, KC-135s from the 909th Air Refueling Squadron, HH-60 Pave Hawk helicopters from the 33rd Rescue Squadron, and E-3 AWACS aircraft from the 961st Airborne Air Control Squadron participated in the training Oct. 14-16. The 623rd Air Control Flight also conducted command and control missions from their operations center at Naha.
 
The event also incorporated F-16 Falcons from Osan Air Base, South Korea, and F/A-18 Hornets from Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 115, Iwakuni Air Station, Japan, allowing Kadena's aircrews the chance to brush up on dissimilar aircraft training and large force employment. Other participants included pararescue specialists from the 31st Rescue Squadron, the 18th Operations Support Squadron, and the U.S. Army's Patriot Battalion.
 
"This was the first time we've conducted joint, integrated air operations at Kadena on such a large scale," said Col. Jon Wolfe, 18th Operations Group deputy commander. "This training far exceeded our expectations as we discovered many lessons learned that were previously only encountered during large exercises in the U.S. such as Red Flag."
 
"We had units from all over PACOM practicing joint integration," explained Maj. Richard Steele, 44th Fighter Squadron assistant director of operations and project officer for the event. "With the current budget constraints, this allowed us to save money through local training."
 
Maj. Jon Thomassee, 36th Fighter Squadron assistant director of operations at Osan, said the training allowed some of the younger pilots in his unit to experience a large force engagement for the first time.
 
"The air-to-air expertise at Kadena is pretty high, and it was a great chance for our young wingmen to participate in dissimilar aircraft dogfights," he said.
 
The 10-year veteran pilot added that it was beneficial to participate in training that required shorter transit, only a couple hours flying time, instead of transcontinental flights that normally take up to 12 hours. The shorter transit saved unit funds typically spent on fuel for the longer flights.
 
As the sole active-duty tanker squadron in the Pacific, the 909th ARS kept the training going by providing more than 250,000 pounds of fuel to more than 25 fighter and command and control aircraft over the three-day period.
 
"Operating in a joint environment with multiple airframes from different bases allowed our crewmembers to gain unique insight on planning, employment and tactics," explained Capt. Christopher Rolfe, a 909th ARS navigator. "This type of training event really allows different units to learn about each other's missions and capabilities."
 
The training also provided new opportunities for units like the 33rd RQS that constantly provide search and rescue capabilities for real-world emergencies and combat operations in Southwest Asia.
 
"We were able to plan in the joint environment with fixed wing assets that aren't usually available to us, including the Navy's F-18s and the F-16s from Osan," said Capt. Chris Palmer, 33rd RQS chief of weapons and tactics. "It was a great chance to emphasize our specialty to a very captive audience that we will hopefully have the opportunity to train with again."