MISAWA AIR BASE, Japan -- The 35th Fighter Wing took to the skies during exercise Keen Sword 17 at Misawa Air Base, Japan, Nov. 7–11, to enhance bilateral confidences and working relationships with the Japan Air Self-Defense Force.
Exercises like Keen Sword are a decisive demonstration of the strength of the friendship between the people, and provide an indispensable field training environment to enhance mutual understanding of each country’s tactics, communication protocols, procedures and general interoperability.
“One of the biggest ways this exercise helps our partnership is by making relationships with the JASDF pilots and breaking through the language barriers,” said Capt. Joshua Lemair, a 13th Fighter Squadron F-16 Fighting Falcon pilot. “During our planning cycle, we work with each other for many hours figuring out our plan to win.”
The 35th FW focused on combat readiness and integrated with the VAQ-135 Naval Unit and JASDF from Misawa and Chitose Air Base in Hokkaido, Japan, to practice a defensive counter-air scenario.
For more than 50 years, the U.S.- Japan Alliance has been the foundation of peace and security in Northeast Asia and the cornerstone of U.S. engagement in the region. In 1960, Japan and the U.S. signed the Treaty of Mutual Cooperation and Security. The alliance plays an indispensable role in ensuring the security and prosperity of the U.S. and Japan, as well as regional peace and security.
Beginning in late October, approximately 11,000 U.S. personnel participated in the exercise and worked with their Japan Self-Defense Force counterparts at military installations throughout mainland Japan, Okinawa and in the waters surrounding Japan.
"We planned together for months,” Lemair said. “We brought our support, aircraft and pilots together to help setup the exercise and make it a success.”
Capt. Mark Jaszczak, a 13th FS Flight Commander, said each sortie took approximately 15 hours of mission planning, totaling around 75 hours of planning during Misawa’s portion of the exercise.
He added that even the 35th FW commander, Col. R. Scott Jobe, got in on the action and flew with the crews.
“There are varied experience levels throughout the pilot core,” Jaszczak said. “Col. Jobe has several thousand flying hours in the jet and the time spent as his wingman is invaluable. It’s that type of experience that helps you to identify the core essential skills necessary to be a fighter pilot.”
First Lt. Scott Pippin, a 13 FS F-16 Fighting Falcon pilot, said the opportunity was well worth the hard work.
“It is awesome working with our international partners,” Pippin said. “They are our host nation and we finally get to integrate the two Air Forces. It is more jets to train with and allows a more diverse experience.”
The U.S.- Japan alliance, strengthened by updated guidelines and the two countries’ respective security and defense policies, continues to serve as the cornerstone of peace and security in the Indo-Asia-Pacific as well as a platform for promoting a more peaceful and stable international security environment.