Kadena Airmen return from Guam

  • Published
  • By Tech. Sgt. Mike Tateishi
  • 18th Wing Public Affairs
ANDERSEN AIR FORCE BASE, Guam --  Most of the Airmen sent here from Kadena Air Base, Okinawa, for a week-long test of the 18th Wing's deployment capabilities returned home Sept. 8.

More than 100 maintenance, operations, and support personnel "deployed" to Guam Aug. 31 to exercise the 18th Wing's ability to send assembled teams of Airmen wherever, whenever necessary to keep the peace in the Pacific. The timing of this deployment coincided with "Obon," a Japanese holiday in which families welcome the return of their ancestors' spirits, meaning reduced jet noise during this special time of year.

For eight days, tankers from Kadena's 909th Air Refueling Squadron and F-15's from Kadena's 67th Fighter Squadron trained alongside F-22's and B-52's also deployed to Guam. The exercise was declared a success upon its conclusion.

"It's good to know that we have the capability within the 18th Wing to get this kind of job done. You just never know when you're going to be tasked and how much notice you're going to have to be some place at some specific time," said Capt. Tom Hunt, 67th Fighter Squadron project officer. "We now know we can execute on short notice. That's one of the core competencies of the 18th Wing."

The 67th Fighter Squadron flew more sorties during the deployment than they originally anticipated. According to Master Sgt. David Wade, the 67th Aircraft Maintenance Unit production superintendent, the unit ended up flying 32 sorties, eight more than their goal of 24.

The wing's efficiency, too, showed marked improvement over a similar exercise conducted in 2006. This year, the wing brought 60 percent fewer people and 85 percent less cargo and still managed to fly the same number of sorties per aircraft as in 2006.

While maintenance had the largest footprint, responsibility for the exercise's success was shared by all of the participating units.

"It's really a base-wide effort when we exercise in this kind of fashion," said Captain Hunt. "We don't do this often, but it's a good workout and it's a testament to the Operations Group and the 18th Wing's ability to organically operate and be successful in this environment."