U.S. forces, Japan conduct fire, rescue training

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Malia Jenkins
  • 18th Wing Public Affairs
KADENA AIR BASE, Japan --  The flames roared high off the aircraft and smoke floated in the breeze as firefighters and police personnel from across Okinawa worked together to contain and extinguish a fire during a joint-field bilateral training exercise Feb. 26.

Staff Sgt. Andrew Kehl, 18th Civil Engineer Squadron fire department crew chief, said the exercise was conducted as a bilateral effort to have U.S. service members and Japanese counterparts work together in an emergency situation.

"These exercises are very important in fostering a better relationship with our Japanese counterparts," said Col. David Detata, Okinawa Area Field Office chief, U.S. forces, Japan. "It displays to the Okinawan people that both the Japanese and U.S. first responders are focused on safety and that the aircraft operations on Okinawa are safe. But, should an aircraft ever go down, this bilateral response will save lives and is for the safety of the Okinawan people."

More than 10 agencies from across the island participated in the exercise, where Japanese citizens and U.S. air crew members were injured during a simulated military aircraft crash scenario off base.

Personnel were then rescued during water and ground rescue scenarios. The 11th Regional Coast Guard Headquarters, Okinawa Prefectural Police and Kadena's Rescue Squadron rescued simulated downed air crew members in the water.   

The 18th CES Fire Department, Nirai Fire Department, Okinawa Prefectural Police Headquarters and Police Station and 18th Security Forces Squadron were a few of the agencies that participated on the ground.

Tech. Sgt. Kristen Bockman, 18th CES Emergency Management NCO in charge of plans and operations, said service members need to be able to communicate with their counterparts on the civilian side to ensure everyone is on the same page and can come together to do any kind of rescue in a real-world emergency.

Kehl said the ability of the participants to know how to work with their counter parts is an important aspect of the training.

"There are always areas for improvement, but it's scenarios like this and coming out here and training that gets us as close to perfection as we can," Kehl said. "That way if a disaster does strike, we already have a good bond."