Housing office provides safe, U.S. Forces Japan extends Japan-wide clean homes for families, public health emergency ensures mission readiness By U.S. Forces Japan 5/12/2020 - YOKOTA AIR BASE, Tokyo — The commander of U.S. Forces Japan, Lt. Gen. Kevin Schneider, extended the public health emergency (PHE) today for all of Japan. This order extends the previous Japan-wide PHE declared on April 15, 2020. The PHE will remain in effect through June 14, 2020, unless it is renewed or terminated sooner by the USFJ Commander. USFJ continually assesses preventative measures and continues to encourage strict hygiene and social distancing to reduce the risk of transmission. 在日米軍、日本全国の米軍基地・施設を対象 とした公衆衛生非常事態宣言を延長 2020 年 5 月 12 日付 公衆衛生非常事態宣言は、在日米軍 A local contractor cleans a windowsill during a home 横田基地、東京 － 在日米軍司令官 司令官により更新または解除されな inspection May 7, at Kadena Air Base. Members from ケビン・シュナイダー中将は本日、日 い限り、2020 年 6 月 14 日まで有効 the 718th Civil Engineer Squadron’s Okinawa Military Housing office are performing inspections daily to ensure 本全国の米軍基 地・施設を対象とし です。 cleanliness in order to provide safe homes for military た公衆衛生非常事態宣言を延長しま families who arrive during the COVID-19 crisis. した。この命令は、2020 年 4 月 15 感染拡大のリスクを軽減するために、 (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Benjamin Sutton) 日に発令された以前の日本全国の米 在日米軍は必要な予防手段を継続的 軍基地・施設を対象とした公衆衛生 に検証し、厳格な衛生管理とソーシャ By Staff Sgt. on their mission knowing their must be ready to execute in sup- Benjamin Sutton families are taken care of. port of preserving peace in the 非 常 事 態 宣 言 を 延 長するも のです。 ル ディスタン シン グ を 奨 励しま す。 18th Wing Public Affairs There are currently over 300 Pacific. Providing safe and clean 5/12/2020 - KADENA AIR units prepared to support con- homes allows them to focus on BASE — For months, Okinawa tingency housing requirements their mission.” coronavirus Military Housing has worked across the island and the housing Upon arrival, members and If you are experiencing COVID-19 symptoms, to protect service members and office has the ability to surge and their families are placed into a families as well as their em- prepare more if needed 14-day Restriction of Movement CALL AHEAD before proceeding to a medical facility. ployees by providing available “Ensuring homes are safe is vi- phase where they’re monitored homes, protective equipment tal to preserving our readiness,” by both their unit leadership as Kadena Medical Clinic: and enforcing social distancing said Capt. Gregory Brady, 718th well as medical teams. Many of wherever possible. Civil Engineer Squadron hous- these members begin telework- 630-4817 or 098-960-4817 Providing a safe and clean ing flight commander. “In the ing during this time in order to be home allows service members midst of the ongoing COVID-19 U.S. Naval Hospital: who arrive at Kadena AB to focus pandemic, our service members HOUSING Page 2 090-6861-5230 1st SOS legacy continues with the MC-130J a fleet of MC-130J Air Commando IIs pre- active specialized air mobility squadron in viously assigned to the 17th Special Opera- the Pacific Theater. Col Michael Thomas tions Squadron on Friday, April 17. then officiated an in-flight Change of -Com This event marked a historic moment mand between Lt Col Joshua Petry and Lt for the 353rd Special Operations Group, Col Jaefen Thielker in the cargo compart- the 1st SOS and the 17th SOS. Due to the ment of Goose 01. COVID-19 pandemic a traditional cere- Members of the 1st SOS participated mony gathering the squadrons in forma- in Operation EAGLE CLAW 40 years ago. tion wasn’t possible so instead the 1st SOS Out of this operation, the 1st SOS earned and the 17th SOS flew in formation. A for- the motto “With the Guts to Try”. As is tra- mation flight made up of two MC-130Js, dition in the 1st SOS, each time a new type Jakal 01 and Goose 01, flew over Okinawa of aircraft becomes the primary aircraft, the to symbolically recognize the contribu- squadron’s flying callsign changes. The 1st tions the 17th SOS has made to U.S. air- SOS has flown under the callsign, “Stray” power since WWII, and to symbolize the with MC-130E Combat Talon aircraft, and transition of its members and aircraft to most recently with “Goose” when it flew the 1st SOS. MC-130H Combat Talon II aircraft. With This was the last flight of the 17th SOS the MC-130J Commando II aircraft the 1st in the Pacific Theater. This flight also SOS will now assume the callsign “Guts”. marked the inaugural MC-130J Comman- “A sincere thank you to the men and do II flight for the 1st SOS and the squad- women across the SOG who made this ron’s Change of Command. unique heritage ceremony possible, and to (U.S. Air Force photo by 1st Lt. Renee Douglas) ^Col Michael Thomas officiated an in-flight Change of Command between Lt Col Joshua Petry and Lt Col Jaefen Thielker When the two aircraft passed in forma- the many that have served in both squad- in the cargo compartment of a MC-130J Air Commando II. tion over Kadena Air Base the 17th SOS rons throughout the years,” said Colo- Commander, Lt Col Joshua Jackson, flying nel Michael Thomas, Commander, 353rd By 1st Lt. Renee Douglas unique Change of Command ceremony the Jakal 01, broke off from the formation and SOG. “The Batcats will remember there is 353rd Special Operations Group 1st Special Operations Squadron gained a landed for the last time. The moment Ja- “No Mission too Demanding” because we 4/21/2020 - KADENA AIR BASE — In a new commander and the responsibility for kal 01 landed the 1st SOS became the only will always have “The Guts to Try”.” 2 SAMURAI GATE MAY 15, 2020 HOUSING From Page 1 ed them on desks to provide droplet pro- prepared for mission essential tasks once tection for our customers and employees,” the ROM phase ends. Brady said. “Our furniture repair section “To date, we have had over more than switched from re-upholstering furniture 200 personnel complete their 14-day ROM to production of cloth masks. These masks in contingency housing,” Brady explained. were provided to both our employees and Beginning in February, the housing of- the rest of the 18th Wing.” fice was tasked with leaning forward to Along with providing increased protec- make sure there were areas and places to tive equipment, an important part of low- house members and their families who ar- ering the potential spread of COVID-19 is rived at KAB and needed to be put into a to reduce personal contact. ROM status. “We’ve moved to split shift operations “The first six contingency homes we to minimize the number of employees used are on Kadena AB and isolated from present in any of our facilities at any time,” the remainder of the base,” said Senior Brady continued. “We stopped all walk-in Master Sgt. Tyhae Willocks, 718th CES, support and moved to appointment only as housing flight superintendent. “The loca- many requests do not require the customer tion was perfect to ensure social distancing to visit our office in person and can be ad- and separation from the remaining base dressed remotely.” populace. These homes already had furni- These measures have reduced foot traf- Midori Hashmoto, 718th Civil Engineer Squadron ture and appliances in them so it made the fic in the housing office by 70% since Janu- housing office customer service clerk, speaks to a most sense to put members there for their ary, according to Brady. customer May 5, at Kadena Air Base. ROM duration.” Additionally, led by Willocks, the hous- (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Benjamin Sutton) After the initial wave of families arrived, ing office has held multiple Facebook live and maintenance teams did a full survey Marine Corps Base Camp Kinser where an the housing office located an additional 30 events to communicate with residents and of all the homes, addressed the minor re- apartment tower renovation was completed homes which met the criteria. They im- provide customer support and service. pair requirements, cleaned the houses, and just in time for use as contingency housing. mediately assigned maintenance teams to Customers can reach out to them via Face- delivered furniture,” Brady explained. “The “When the tower on Camp Kinser be- work on getting the homes up to standard book messenger for quick and convenient 718th Force Support Squadron provided came available it gave us the option to out- quickly to accommodate projected incom- responses to questions. linens to ensure service members can ar- fit the entire tower with appliances and ing arrivals. “While our Eagle Hardware stores have rive at a home that is ready for a family to furniture, then hand it over to the camp “The first iteration was relatively small reduced availability, we have ensured cus- live in.” leadership so they have the ability to isolate consisting of 36 homes,” Willocks said. tomers still receive self-help parts and have The goal is at least 500 houses ready and and ROM members as needed,” Willocks “However, as COVID-19 evolved we saw a volunteer-based delivery system which is available to be used as contingency homes. stated. the need to lean forward by locating and more convenient and safer for residents,” Additionally, the housing office has a plan Despite the suitable temporary living furnishing more homes for use. We ex- Brady said. for well over 800 homes to be available in conditions, the housing office wants to be panded our capabilities and our housing According to Brady, to support Oki- the coming months if required.