18th Wing shows its edge during Keen Sword

  • Published
  • By Staff Sgt. Christopher A. Marasky
  • 18th Wing Public Affairs
KADENA AIR BASE, Japan --  Over the next two weeks, members of Team Kadena will be participating in the largest bi-lateral field training exercise in Japan, designed to practice defending Japan against foreign aggression.

The goal of Exercise Keen Sword is to improve interoperability between the Japanese Air Self Defense Force and U.S. forces as well as exercise JASDF command and control systems.

Team Kadena is playing a major role in the Keen Sword exercise this year, both with manpower and aircraft said Col. Mark Henkel, 18th Operations Group commander.

"Kadena has a tremendous role in this exercise," he said. "We are providing air refueling aircraft, the E-3 is providing air surveillance and the 623rd Air Control Flight is providing ground radar control."

Kadena Air Base has already deployed 300-plus Airmen and 80 tons of support equipment to multiple locations, primarily Komatsu and Yokota Air Bases. One E-3 Sentry and three KC-135 Stratotankers have deployed to Yokota, and F-15 Eagles are scheduled to deploy to Komatsu, pending the outcome of the fleet-wide stand-down.

During the second week of Keen Sword, members of the 18th Wing will be participating in the exercise directly from Kadena.

961st Airborne Air Control Squadron Airmen will be playing a major role in the exercise over the next two weeks, working side by side with their Japanese counterparts.

"We're going to be doing command and control," said Maj. Dave Alexander, mission crew commander with the 961st AACS. "We'll be providing threat warning and control to the aircraft as well as providing a command function as a liaison to the ground forces."

Keen Sword offers a great opportunity for members of the Wing to learn from their Japanese counterparts according to Maj. Chad Dutton, assistant director of operations for the 961st AACS.

"We'll have some JASDF on board," he said. "It gives us a chance to learn how they operate and to show them how we operate in turn. It gives us a chance to focus on how we work together, especially the air controlling aspect."

A large part of that is having the team airborne to practice the way they fight. According to Major Alexander, the 961st will have roughly 25 to 27 personnel airborne on any given day during the exercise.

Two air controllers from the 961st will be flying with aircraft from the JASDF and four of their Japanese counterparts will be flying with U.S. forces in the air each day in a bi-lateral exchange.

"They're going to come on board and control with us, and we'll show them how we do business," said Major Alexander. "We want to learn to integrate better and learn how to do business together."

The diversity of the forces involved creates challenges for those participating in the exercise, but one that Capt. Eric Lazenby, senior director for the 961st is looking forward to.

"They're controllers like us," said Captain Lazenby. "They just have a little bit of a different way of doing business, a little different spin on how to do things. I'm sure they'll learn a couple things from us and we'll learn a few from them."

"Hopefully we will leave a good impression," said Major Alexander. "We've got the best airborne, air control platform in the world, and a lot of people would like to see how we do business."

On top of exchanging ideas and improvising interoperability, Keen Sword provides an opportunity for members of Team Kadena to foster continued positive relations with their host nation.

"It's very important, especially in keeping good relations with the Japanese," said Major Dutton. "This is one of the most significant air bases in the pacific. Without this base, we really can't protect our Pacific allies effectively."

Keen Sword will also involve U.S. Navy, Marine and other Air Force units from the Pacific.
"Nothing replaces the experience gained in a live fly exercise," said Colonel Henkel. "We are building relationships that will survive the fog and friction of complex air operations, and strengthen one of our nation's most important alliances."