13th Air Force sharpens skills during Keen Edge

  • Published
  • By Tech. Sgt. Kerry Jackson
  • 13th Air Force Public Affairs
HICKAM AIR FORCE BASE, Hawaii --  Members of 13th Air Force here tested and refined their ability to plan, command and control, and assess air, space and information operations in the Asia-Pacific region during Keen Edge 2010 Jan. 22-27.

Keen Edge is a command and control exercise designed to increase readiness and interoperability between the U.S. military and Japan Self-Defense Force. It is part of an annual exercise series that alternates between field training exercises, called Keen Sword, and command post exercises.

"This exercise gave us a great opportunity to once again train and work alongside our Japan Self-Dense Force partners," said Col. Alan Kollien, 613th Air and Space Operations Center Combat Operations Division chief here. "Together we worked through a number of scenarios that, in great detail, simulated real-world operations we should prepare to encounter in the Asia-Pacific region."

The vast majority of the exercise was conducted via computer simulation to allow the participants to practice the steps they would take in the event of a crisis or contingency. Simulation was provided through the Joint Theater Level System, which allowed participants to direct and respond to various exercise scenarios.

Lt. Gen. Hawk Carlisle, 13th AF and Joint Forces Air Component Commander during Keen Edge 2010, relied on the expertise of his Air Force Forces staff, the 613th AOC, the 613th Support Group and 13th AF Detachment 1 at Yokota Air Base, Japan, to lead air, space and information operations during the exercise.

Col. Wesley Cockman, mobilization assistant to the 13th AF vice commander and night-shift AFFOR chief of staff during Keen Edge 2010, said the AFFOR staff scoped significant issues working closely with the rest of 13th AF and the U.S. Forces Japan staff to produce actionable and timely solutions for General Carlisle.

"The Air Force Forces staff demonstrated flexibility and responsiveness, and likewise learned significant lessons, within this bilateral environment to effectively provide and sustain our forces in Japan," Colonel Cockman said.

The exercise relied heavily on the 613th AOC to conduct the bilateral command post portion of the exercise in Hawaii. The 613th AOC's personnel developed strategy plans and control processes necessary to conduct air, space and information operations to achieve desired effects.

Det. 1 personnel made up most of the exercise's bilateral air component coordination element in Japan, and the 613th Support Group provided communications and weather support.

Approximately 450 U.S. personnel participated in Keen Edge 2010, including U.S. Forces Japan; 13th AF here; 13th AF's Det. 1; U.S. Naval Forces, Japan; U.S. Army, Japan; and Marine Forces, Japan.