185th ARS works hand in hand with the 909th during Keen Sword

An F-15 with the 67th fighter squadron gets refueled during the Keen Sword exercise here at Kadena Air Base, Japan, Dec. 8. Keen Sword is designed to allow the United States and Japan to practice and evaluate the coordination procedures and interoperability elements required to effectively and mutually respond to the defense of Japan, or to a regional crisis or contingency situation in the Asia-Pacific region, while building bilateral confidences and working relationships. ( U.S. Air Force photo/ Staff Sgt. Lakisha A.Croley)

Keen Sword

An F-16 Fighting Falcon from Misawa Air Base, Japan taxis-the-runway as two Japanese F-15s prepare for take-off at Komatsu Japanese Air Self Defense Force Base, Japan, Dec. 7. Airmen from the U.S. and Japan are currently operating out of the base as part of exercise Keen Sword 2011. Dubbed the largest exercise ever between the two nations, Keen Sword involves all components of U.S. Joint Forces and Japanese Self-Defense Forces training to conduct bilateral operations in support of the defense of Japan in a number of locations throughout the country. (Courtesy Photo)

Keen Sword

U.S. Air Force Senior Airman Andy Irizarry, an aircraft crew chief from the 35th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron, marshals Lt. Col. Steve Jantz, 14th Fighter Squadron director of operations at Misawa Air Base, Japan, as he lands at the Komatsu Air Base, Japan, runway in support of Keen Sword 2011 on Dec. 1, 2010. Keen Sword is a week-long exercise which provides an environment for enhancing a mutual understanding of American and Japanese tactics, communication protocols, and general operability. (U.S. Air Force photo by Capt. Strysan Murrell)

Keen Sword

U.S. Air Force Airman 1st Class Daniel Babis, a weapons load crew member from the 35th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron, secures an F-16 Fighting Falcon after the aircraft landed at the Komatsu Air Base, Japan, runway on Dec. 1, 2011. Twelve F-16s from Misawa arrived at Komatsu AB Dec. 1 in support of the Japan-wide, week-long Keen Sword exercise, Dec. 3 to 10. (U.S. Air Force photo by 1st Lt. Cammie Quinn)

Airmen train during largest ATR yet

A three ship of F-15s from the 44th Fighter Squadron train with Japan Air Self Defense Forces over waters of Hokkaidō, Japan, Nov. 17. Twelve jets and nearly 200 Airmen from Kadena are partcipating in an Aviation Training Relocation. Working with Japan Air Self Defense Forces is just one of the goals of the ATR. (U.S. Air Force photo/Tech. Sgt. Mike Tateishi)

Airmen train during largest ATR yet

A three ship of F-15s from the 44th Fighter Squadron train with Japan Air Self Defense Forces over waters of Hokkaidō, Japan, Nov. 17. Twelve jets and nearly 200 Airmen from Kadena are partcipating in an Aviation Training Relocation. Working with Japan Air Self Defense Forces is just one of the goals of the ATR. (U.S. Air Force photo/Tech. Sgt. Mike Tateishi)