Samurai Gate Annual 2016
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2 SAMURAI GATE 2016 ANNUAL 18th Wing Commander wishes Team Kadena Happy Holidays eam Kadena, Th e holidays are a great time of year you demonstrate, a dedication to As we welcome this holiday for you to take the time to relax, unwind freedom so profound that you are Tseason, I would like to thank and spend time with friends and willing to give of yourself to defend the every Airman, Marine, Soldier, Sailor, family as we continue to serve in the freedoms of others, both near and afar. Civilian and family member for the world’s greatest fi ghting force. We must So I would like to thank you on sacrifi ces you make each day for our remember to take care of our wingmen, behalf of myself, my family, your fellow country and your dedication to peace especially on Okinawa, where many of service men and women, and our great and stability in the Pacifi c. Together, we our fellow service men and women may nation. Please enjoy this holiday season, make up an essential force in support be spending the holidays away from be smart, and stay safe. of the United States’ commitments in their families for the fi rst time. Best wishes from my family to yours the Pacifi c region as well as the mutual Sacrifi ces such as these are a true throughout the holidays and into the Brig. Gen. Barry R. Cornish defense of Japan. testament to the strength of character New Year! 18th Wing Commander Army hosts Okinawa Missile Cover photos Members of the 18th Defender of the Year Banquet Component Maintenance Squadron engine test facility, run an F-15 Eagle By Capt. Eric Sherman engine at full afterburner 1st Battalion, 1st Air Defense while checking for leaks Artillery and any other issues 12/8/2015 Jan.5, at Kadena Air — Th e 1-1 Air Base. Defense Artillery hosted the fourth-annual Okinawa Missile Defender of the Year (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Omari Bernard) Banquet Nov. 22 here. A 44th Fighter Squadron Th e event that has come to F-15 Eagle prepares to embody the spirit of the air taxi March 18, at Kadena defense artillery community Air Base. Kadena pilots participated in training to in Okinawa, as well as the rest hone and maintain their of the Pacifi c. Sponsored by wartime readiness. the Missile Defense Advocacy Alliance, this yearly banquet seeks to highlight and recog- nize Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen, (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Lynette M. Rolen) and Marines from U.S. and Japanese military organiza- (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Corey M. Pettis) An E-3B Sentry, from the ^The 1-1 Air Defense Artillery hosted the 3rd-annual Okinawa Missile Defender of the 961st Airborne Air Control tions who demonstrate profi - Year Banquet at Kadena Air Base, Nov. 22. Each awardee received an autographed jersey Squadron, Kadena Air ciency on air defense systems and football from Ellison, a 3-time Super Bowl Champion, as well as the Missile Defense Base, takes off during and who enable theater air Advocacy Alliance Medal, and excellence coins from their senior leaders. Exercise Cope Tiger 16, defense through direct coordi- on Korat Royal Thai Air nation with air defense assets Group, and 15th Anti-Aircraft of the evening, however, came Force Base, Thailand, March 10. and organizations. Artillery Regiment. Th ere as each awardee exited the stage Mr. Riki Ellison, Founder were also members of each aft er receiving their gift s, when of the MDAA, has been spon- awardee’s senior leadership in their autographed football was soring Missile Defender of attendance, including: Lt. Gen. thrown to them by Ellison. (U.S. Air Force photo by Tech. Sgt. Aaron Oelrich) the Year Banquets since 2010, Jyunichi Araki, Southwestern One of the 1-1 ADA A 909th Air Refueling with the goal of increasing Composite Air Division Awardees commented on his Squadron KC-135 awareness of ballistic missile commander; Maj. Gen. James opinion of the event, saying “... Stratotanker receives 18th defense around the world. Pasquarette, U.S. Army Japan the event was great. Being rec- Aeromedical Evacuation Squadron cargo Sept. 12, His alliance has recognized commander, and Brig. Gen. ognized for your hard work day at Kadena Air Base. missile defenders from all four Sean Gainey, Commander of in and day out, and having Riki branches, as well as bilateral the 94th Army Air and Missile Ellison throw footballs at you partners around the world. Defense Command. all night sounds like the perfect Th is year’s banquet in Oki- Each awardee received an event to me.” Needless to say, nawa recognized and awarded autographed jersey and foot- footballs fl ying through the (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Peter Reft) 34 exceptional servicemen and ball from Ellison, a 3-time Su- air while service members are women from the 1st Battalion, per Bowl Champion, as well as wearing their dress uniforms A HH-60G Pave Hawk helicopter assigned to the 1st Air Defense Artillery, 961st the Missile Defense Advocacy makes for an exciting night 33rd Rescue Squadron Airborne Air Control Squad- Alliance Medal, and excellence all around. Th ere were some performs in-fl ight ron, 623rd Air Control Squad- coins from their senior leaders. NFL-worthy catches, making refueling with a MC-130J ron, 5th Air Defense Missile Th e most memorable portion for an eventful evening. Commando II from the 17th Special Operations Squadron during a training exercise Nov. 4, off the coast of Okinawa. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman John Linzmeier) Maintainers assigned to the 67th Aircraft Maintenance Unit tow F-15 Eagles into an aircraft hangar Aug. 24, at Kadena Air Base. Swing shift maintainers service and repair all fi ghter aircraft every night in order to sustain Kadena’s constant mission readiness. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Peter Reft) Published by Eight Co., Ltd. a private fi rm in no way connected with the U.S. Air Force, under exclusive written contract with the 18th Wing. The civilian en- terprise Air Force newspaper is an authorized publication for members of the U.S. military services overseas. Contents of Samurai Gate are not necessarily the offi cial views of, or endorsed by, the U.S. government, the Department of Defense, the Department of the Air Force or Eight Co. Ltd. of the products or services advertised. The appearance of advertising in this publication, including inserts or supplements, does not constitute endorsement by the Depart- ment of Defense, the Department of the Air Force or Eight Co. Ltd. of the products or services advertised. Everything advertised in this publication shall be made available for purchase or patronage without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, marital status, physical handicap, political af- filiation or any other non-merit factor of the purchaser, user or patron. For commercial advertising, inquiry, send an email to [email protected] Offi cial Kadena Air Base inquiries: [email protected] DSN:634-3813 2016 ANNUAL SAMURAI GATE 3 18th Munitions Squadron conducts TARRP By Senior Airman Omari Bernard 18th Wing Public Affairs 12/12/2015 — Forklift s are driven to and fro in a warehouse as cargo is transported to pallets and readied for the long trip ahead. Airmen work quickly to tie down the cargo and as levers crank straps taught, and the package is secured, another forklift appears with another package and the Airmen start the process again – like clockwork. Th e 18th Munitions Squadron prac- ticed readiness with a Tactical Ammu- nition Rapid Response Package exercise, Dec. 6, on Kadena. ^Staff Sgt. Beau Airmen tie down and secure Bridges reports As a week-long exercise, TARRP tests ^ the squadron’s ability to complete specifi c munitions to pallets during a Tactical the build time of a Ammunition Rapid Response munitions package orders of munitions in a short amount of Package exercise Dec. 6, at Kadena during a Tactical time. Air Base. The TARRP exercise Ammunition Rapid “Today’s exercise is part of a unique simulates how the squadron would Response Package mission we have here at Kadena,” said rapidly prepare munition packages for exercise Dec. 6, at Capt. William Hinchey, 18th MUNS transport downrange in times of war. Kadena Air Base. operations offi cer. “Th e only other base (U.S. Air Force photos by Senior Airman Omari Bernard) in the Air Force with this mission is According to Hinchey, the muni- of the 18 MUNS, together with the 18th dangerous the munitions truly are. Ramstein Air Base, Germany. We do this tions storage area covers an estimated Logistics Readiness Squadron and 733rd “None of this mission would be possi- twice a year and the uniqueness of this 164-acres of land and has approximately Air Mobility Squadron. Once the chains ble without the collaboration and exper- one is that we are combining this exercise 116-miles of road, which is one of the and straps are aligned and tightened, the tise of our Okinawan partners,” Bridges with our real world mission of munitions reasons Kadena has the TARRP mission. pallets are ready to be sent on their way. said. “As we constantly rotate personnel build up.” During the exercise, Staff Sgt. Beau “We have a timeline for when people in-and-out of Kadena, the civilians are Every missile, container and pallet Bridges, 18th MUNS production super- need these munitions downrange,” the constant. Th ey are very experienced built is inspected numerous times during visor, monitored the start and stop times Bridges said.