Joint Effort: Japanese airmen sharpen skills at JBER

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman Christopher Gross
  • JBER Public Affairs
JOINT BASE ELMENDORF-RICHARDSON, Alaska --  According to U.S. Air Force Capt. Kenny Bierman, 374th Airlift Wing's Red Flag-Alaska misson commander, 374th AW Airmen and the Japan Air Self-Defense Force have taken extra steps to increase the military cohesion between the two nations.

This year, they picked up where they left off in last year's RF-Alaska and have continued to make improvements in their working relationships. This RF-Alaska began July 11 and is scheduled to finish July 22.

"We're just one team right now, planning missions everyday and flying them together," Bierman said.

Bierman said these exercises are held to help improve the bond between the two militaries, which will help in future operations.

"Today, we don't go into combat or any humanitarian assistance (relief efforts) by ourselves," he said. "It's much better for us to get together in these controlled environments to sort and work things out for smooth real-world scenarios."

It's been a smooth ride for Japan, who has approximately 200 participants along with three C-130 Hercules, an E-767 Airborne Warning and Control System and two KC-767 refuelers here, according to Col. Koji Takagaki.

Takagaki said, participating in RF-Alaska has opened up many training opportunities which can't be practiced in Japan, like low-level flying.

Due to Japan's large population and small-island country there are many places where they can't fly or can't fly very low. The Joint Pacific Alaska Range Complex, which has 67,000 square miles of airspace, gives Japan the opportunity to fly as low as 500 feet.
Along with low-level flying, Japanese air crews have the opportunity to practice air refueling, cargo-air drops and semi-prepared runway operation landings.

Not only does Takagaki think getting in as much of this training as possible is important, but he also wants his troops to take home some lessons learned about how other nations' logistics, operations and tactics run.

Takagaki said, it's very important his team and other nations worked closely together and learned how one another operates, because they are neighbors.

Bierman said this has been one of the smoothest exercises he has ever been a part of.
"I think its credit to how we've been building our relationships over the last couple of years," he said.

Bierman said he believes the success is due to the fact that they come into these exercise knowing what to expect from each other to get the job done.

"We work very well together in these environments," Bierman said.

In closing, Takagaki said he would like to thank all of those involved with the tsunami relief efforts of Operation Tomodachi and he's very glad that he and his troops are able to be a part of RF-Alaska.