U.S., JASDF Airmen work side by side during ATR

  • Published
  • By Staff Sgt. Rachel Martinez
  • 35th Fighter Wing Public Affairs
TSUIKI AIR BASE, Japan --  Aviation training relocation exercises offer an opportunity for U.S. and Japanese forces to increase operational readiness and bilateral interoperability. For a select few Airmen, the ATR offered a chance to learn first-hand how the other nation's service operates.

U.S. Air Force crewchiefs and fuels specialists worked side by side with their Japan Air Self-Defense Force counterparts as a part of a cross-familiarization program during an ATR at Tsuiki Air Base March 8-12.

Staff Sgt. Curtis Roe and Airman 1st Class Curtis Watson, refuelers from the 35th Logisitics Readiness Squadron, spent the entire week embedded with the JASDF petroleum, oil and lubricants unit. They helped the JASDF Airmen refuel F-16s and participated in a fuel spill exercise. Both Airman said they were surprised by the similarities between the two nations.

"Everything is pretty much the same, except we use computers more," said Sergeant Roe. "When it came to the fuel spill exercise, they did everything the same way we would do it, except the entire supply squadron was out there to help."

Both Airmen said the highlight was the graciousness and hospitality they encountered in the unit. On the second day of training, they were given coffee mugs with their names in Kanji, just like the rest of the JASDF crew had.

"The friendly welcoming we were given and the bonding that happened was great," said Airman Watson. "I enjoyed getting to know the JASDF guys on and off duty."

Staff Sgts. Robert Ensley and Christopher Audet, 35th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron crewchiefs, worked with the JASDF crewchiefs on U.S. and Japanese aircraft. During the week, two JASDF crewchiefs showed Sergeants Ensley and Audet how to launch and recover a jet, perform an end-of-runway inspection, and complete an integrated combat turn inspection, among other things, all with the JASDF F-15.

"We hit the ground running with maintenance," said Sergeant Ensley.

"We really did a lot considering we've never worked with F-15s before," added Sergeant Audet.

During their time with JASDF, the two sergeants had the opportunity to compare the F-15 and F-16, as well as compare how USAF and JASDF operate.

"They way they did things and ran things were different," said Sergeant Audet. "They use more personnel for each aircraft and they fly less -- so it's an easier workload, but they only work one shift and it can be long."

"Seeing the teamwork they had was interesting," Sergeant Ensley added. "They have 10 people do an inspection on a jet, all at the same time. In 15 minutes the entire jet is looked over."

The language barrier had little effect on the maintenance exchange. The JASDF crewchiefs were prepared for the U.S. Airmen and had technical orders in Kanji and English available. Most of the JASDF Airmen spoke decent English and used a dictionary when they would get stuck.

In exchange, Sergeants Audet and Ensely brought a few crewchiefs with them to work on the F-16. The JASDF Airmen said they were interested in looking at the various parts and seeing how the U.S. Airmen do business.

"They seemed to like the way we marshal jets," explained Sergeant Ensley. "When I marshaled their F-15 I couldn't remember all the steps they do, so I reverted back to what I know and their chief seemed to really like it."

The JASDF Airmen then received the chance to shadow the U.S. Airmen during their pre-flight inspections and each had the opportunity to launch and recover an F-16.

"I haven't had that much fun on the flightline in a long time," Sergeant Ensley said in reference to the cross-familiarization program.