Leadership spouses take a ‘Shogun Look’ at Kadena’s mission

  • Published
  • By Staff Sgt. Angelique Perez
  • 18th Wing Public Affairs
KADENA AIR BASE, Japan --  Leadership spouses got an in-depth view on Monday, 20 April, of the 18th Wing mission through the Shogun Look Program. 

The program gives spouses almost a full day of touring four or five of Kadena's mission areas several times a year. There they receive hands-on demonstrations by the units. 

This particular Shogun Look highlighted the 18th Component Maintenance Squadron, the explosive ordnance disposal unit, the U.S. Army patriot battalion, the military working dog section and the 31st Rescue Squadron. 

Rosemary Lyden, wife of Lt. Col. Nathan Lyden, 18th Maintenance Group deputy commander, said, "So far I've liked it all. The working dogs were very exciting, but I must admit that EOD was really a hit." 

The spouses got an opportunity to feel the adrenalin rush of being attacked by a powerful military working dog while wearing a protective suit under the watchful eye of their Security Forces handler. They were also able to try on the roughly 85-pound EOD protection suit and walk around for a bit. 

"The EOD suit is so heavy; I can barely walk in it," said Mrs. Lyden. I don't know how these guys do it; I've got to give it to them, I doubt I could do a mission in it the way they do." 

For the past two years Shogun Look has provided an in-depth mission orientation and detailed look at aspects of the 18th Wing, beyond the standard mission briefing given to spouses of Kadena's commanders, group superintendants, and other senior leaders. This extensive program allows the spouses to take the knowledge they learned from the program back to the other units' spouses. 

"I think it's good to know what our spouse's are doing, it makes you appreciate the warriors that are working for you. It also helps me know what the other people around base are doing and what their jobs entail as well," Mrs. Lyden said. 

Brig. Gen. Brett Williams, 18th Wing commander, stressed the importance of engaging military families and spouses, particularly leadership spouses, by informing them of the mission past the basic mission brief and give them a better idea about what goes on across the base. 

"We can't effectively do our job without the support of our spouses," said General Williams. "So, we target Shogun Look at our leadership spouses because if you're the spouse of the group or squadron commander or a group superintendent you are in a position where you are out there supporting a lot of Airmen, spouses, and families. It is very important for them to have a strategic view of the mission here on Kadena and the best way for them to do their unofficial job as a spouse of one of those leaders is to be very familiar with that mission." 

General Williams also stressed the importance of leadership spouses being involved, which allows them to gain experience in a variety of situations that may arise and be able to provide support for Airmen and their families when they need it. 

"I really am very appreciative of what all of our military spouses across Kadena do," said General Williams. "It's hard work being a military spouse these days and it's not getting any easier, so whether it's taking care of things at home, working as a volunteer, becoming involved with their squadrons or their units, all of those things that they get involved with contribute to our ability to do the mission and allows the member in uniform to focus on what they need to do every day at work."