Keen Sword Exercise

Senior Airman Jeremy Garrett, a flight engineer with the 33rd Rescue Squadron, lowers a stokes down into the waiting hands of the pararescuemen below during the Keen Sword exercise here at Kadena Air Base, Dec. 6. Keen Sword 2011 will include an estimated 10,500 U.S. participants from the Army, Navy, Air Force and Marines. Significant training events during Keen Sword 2011 will include integrated air and missile defense, base security and force protection, search and rescue, close air support, live-fire training, and maritime defense and interdiction. ( U.S. Air Force photo/Staff Sgt. Lakisha A. Croley)

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Keen Sword to the 'rescue'

Published Dec. 8, 2010
18th Wing Public Affairs

OFF THE COAST OF OKINAWA, Japan -- Pararescuemen from the 31st Rescue Squadron, along with aircrews from the 33rd Rescue Squadron, conduct simulated search and rescue operations during exercise Keen Sword, near Kadena Air Base, Dec. 6.

Significant training events during Keen Sword 2011 include search and rescue as well as integrated air and missile defense, base security and force protection, close air support, live-fire training, and maritime defense and interdiction.

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.

Click here to view photos of search and rescue training during Keen Sword 2011.

Keen Sword Exercise