A look from the top: JASDF senior enlisted gain AF perspective

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman Jessica Lockoski
  • 35th Fighter Wing Public Affairs
MISAWA AIR BASE, Japan --  Japan Air Self-Defense Force senior enlisted members visited senior NCOs from the 35th Fighter Wing June 18 to learn about how the U.S. Air Force keeps morale and productivity high within its junior enlisted corps.

The visit from 11 JASDF warrant officers, whose roles are similar to U.S Air Force chief master sergeants, and nine additional senior enlisted airmen is part of ongoing bilateral exchange efforts, allowing both groups of service members to learn about each other's quality of life program and professional military education. The emersion further enhances cultural and professional awareness between the USAF and JASDF.

JASDF senior enlisted will take what they learned back to their squadrons and make opportunities to discuss it with their airmen, said JASDF Warrant Officer Akihiko Ito, Northern Air Defense Force's senior enlisted advisor at Misawa. It was a great opportunity for their senior enlisted members to network together and hear how the Air Force chiefs and senior NCOs interact with their Airmen, he added.

During the visit, the JASDF senior leaders in units from Wakkanai, Kamo, Shariki, Ohminato and Misawa installations looked at junior Airman living quarters and recreational areas in an USAF dormitory. They learned this was one of four dorms being renovated along with the addition of new bedroom and living room furniture.

Single JASDF airmen also stay in base dormitories, said Warrant Officer Ito. However, there are some distinctive differences between the services including occupancy rates per room, dorm curfews, supervision and quiet hours, he added.

By showing them the USAF's approach to making improvements, JASDF may be able to funnel money into remodeling or instituting more private living quarters for their airmen, said Chief Master Sgt. Terry Tinsley, the 35th Maintenance Group's chief superintendant, who led the visit.

In the future, JASDF airmen may also have the opportunity to attend several enlisted career enhancing programs - a staple part in every USAF enlisted Airman's tenure.

"From the cross-cultural sharing of leadership, we can hopefully vet good ideas on both sides, such as professional military education - from the Airman Leadership School aspect to the Senior NCO Academy, to other types of academics and Senior NCO seminars," said Chief Tinsley."

Although the JASDF and USAF senior NCOs come from two different organizations, they are still charged with similar objectives - their expertise, experience, and leadership skills mold and manage direction of their Airmen into mission accomplishment, added Chief Tinsley.

"We live, breathe and operate in the same environment and share the same mission in the defensive of Northern Japan," Chief Tinsley said. "If we have good ideas about leadership and can intertwine, gather and adopt from each other, it's a win-win for everybody."