Yokota Airmen strengthen bonds with Japanese military

Yokota Air Base Airmen participated in bilateral training events with Japan Air Self Defense Force members Dec. 17 at Iruma Air Base, Japan.

American Airmen were able to train and share ideas with their Japanese peers to share how each country manages flying squadrons and maintainers.

Normally, Capt. Jack Beene works as the 374th Operations Support Squadron airlift director, but during this event he was a liaison for the 36th Airlift Squadron and the 374th Maintenance Squadron’s visit to Iruma AB.

“We came here today to bring both (our) maintenance and operations (professionals) over,” Captain Beene said. “The maintenance people were able to go to the different maintenance facilities, tour around (the facilities) and see how the Japanese support their aircraft operations.”

While the maintainers were interacting with their counterparts, the Airmen involved with the operations part of the squadron were able to experience what it was like to fly in a Japanese C-1 aircraft during an operational mission and watched as the Japanese aircrew accomplished a training drop.

“We were able to monitor everything that was happening by listening on the ‘interphone’ while we flew,” Captain Beene said. “We also had the opportunity to view their cockpit, procedures and see how they perform an airdrop.”

The training exercises showed how unit members conduct daily operations and how the U.S. Air Force can work more efficiently with the Japan Air Self Defense Force.

“The importance of this event was to learn from the inside how to operate out of Iruma Air Base and what kind of structure we would need to bring over to fly with the Japanese,” the captain said.

And the Japan Air Self Defense Force members were appreciative to have the opportunity to have this interaction with the American Airmen as well.

“It’s really an honor to welcome the U.S. Air Force guys from Yokota,” said 1st Lt. Yukio Maruyama, a 2nd Tactical Air Group, 402nd Squadron C-1 pilot. “They are very polite and professional while they were watching how we fly. They also seemed to be very interested in what we were doing and it’s really good to get to know each other.”

Yokota AB servicemembers facilitate bilateral cultural exchange programs like this approximately every three months. Not only is this a way to foster the ties among Japanese and American citizens, but also this helps Yokota AB servicemembers cross barriers and build stronger relationships with the host country.

Comment on this story (comments may be published on Air Force Link)

View the comments/letters page

Originally published at https://www.af.mil on December 23, 2008.