Members of the Koku Jieitai, or Japan Air Self-Defense Force, taking a runway crater repair class begin their day by clearing away debris from a crater they will repair at the U.S. Air Force Detachment 1, 554th RED HORSE Squadron training site on Kadena Air Base, Japan, March 13, 2012. Training with the Japanese builds on the strong bilateral friendship between the U.S. military and Japan's defense forces. (U.S. Air Force photo/Airman 1st Class Tara A. Williamson/Released)

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An engineer of the Koku Jieitai, or Japan Air Self-Defense Force, engineer gives the "OK" sign for his fellow engineers to mark a spot on the edge of a crater they are repairing at the U.S. Air Force Detachment 1, 554th RED HORSE Squadron training site on Kadena Air Base, Japan, March 13, 2012. The Japanese spent March 8-12 participating in the classroom portion of the training before moving outside to practice what they learned. (U.S. Air Force photo/Airman 1st Class Tara A. Williamson/Released)

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Engineers Koku Jieitai, or Japan Air Self-Defense Force, train for command and control by overseeing and documenting each stage of the runway crater repair during a class at the U.S. Air Force Detachment 1, 554th RED HORSE Squadron training site on Kadena Air Base, Japan, March 13, 2012. Training with the Japanese builds on the strong bilateral friendship between the U.S. military and Japan's defense forces. (U.S. Air Force photo/Airman 1st Class Tara A. Williamson/Released)

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Runway repair raises bilateral relations

Engineers of the Koku Jieitai , or Japan Air Self-Defense Force, take a class on runway crater repair and command and control provided by the U.S. Air Force Detachment 1, 554th RED HORSE Squadron to learn more practical methods of repairing runway damages on Kadena Air Base, Japan, March 12, 2012. The classroom portion of the training was conducted March 8-12 and taught the Japanese engineers how to get their runways operational if they were damaged. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Tara A. Williamson/Released)

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Runway repair raises bilateral relations

An engineer of the Koku Jieitai, or Japan Air Self-Defense Force, takes notes as a U.S. Air Force Detachment 1, 554th RED HORSE Squadron runway repair class is translated into Japanese on Kadena Air Base, Japan, March 12, 2012. The class taught the Japanese engineers runway crater repair and command and control over the repair operations. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Tara A. Williamson/Released)

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Runway repair raises bilateral relations

Published March 14, 2012
By Airman 1st Class Tara A. Williamson
18th Wing Public Affairs

KADENA AIR BASE, Japan -- Kadena's Airmen and the Koku Jieitai, known as the Japan Air Self-Defense Force, have created a strong bilateral friendship over the years.

Sharing skills is one of the biggest ways to strengthen this friendship.

Beginning March 8, Kadena hosted a class on runway repair for the Japanese engineers.

"We're training the JASDF on crater repair and command and control," said Maj. Matthew Rochon, Detachment 1, 554th RED HORSE Squadron commander. "We have a group from Tokyo and also Naha Air Base and we're teaching them our combat support engineering techniques."

The RED HORSE Squadron provides the site and 34 instructors to train not only the Japanese airmen, but also others throughout Pacific Air Forces and some of our sister services.

Japanese Col. Kanta Kogure, Koku Jieitai chief of facilities standardization section, said the U.S. military members taught them a more practical method of how to repair the damages to runways.

"We're out here doing crater repair for airfield damages," said Staff Sgt. Yoshi Kenji, a Koku Jieitai engineer. "By doing these operations the runway can be used again and we can operate aircraft again."

"Our hope is to enhance this bilateral relationship that we have and to build on that so we can respond to things together," Rochon said. "[If] regional disasters, any sort of humanitarian aid, [or] disaster assistance [is needed] we can work together as engineers to provide the support that is asked of us."