Beyond Remembering: How Stray 59 Continues to Shape a Squadron

KADENA AIR BASE, Japan -- The 1st Special Operations Squadron conducted its annual memorial flight to the Philippines, honoring the lost crew and passengers of STRAY 59, Feb. 26, 2022. Its 40th iteration with one important first: Every member on board this year’s flight was selected by rank and

1st SOS conducts Flight of the Flock

Seven 1st Special Operations Squadron MC-130J Commando II aircraft conducted “Flight of the Flock” off the coast of Okinawa, Japan Jan. 6, 2022. “Flight of the Flock” is a rare training opportunity designed to challenge the pilots and aircrew on conducting operations as efficiently as possible.

Connecting Kadena to the Indo-Pacific

Every day Airmen wake up and put on their uniform to perform a job essential to executing the mission. While getting the mission done is critical, understanding the strategic environment in which Airmen serve is equally important. U.S. Air Force Tech. Sgt. Matthew Begeman, 353rd Special Operations

Air Commandos Conduct Search and Rescue Training with Japanese Air Self Defense Force

An MC-130J Commando II and a CV-22 Osprey both assigned to the 353rd Special Operations Wing fly alongside a Japanese Air Self Defense Force UH-60J assigned to Naha Air Rescue on Nov 9, 2021 during a search and rescue exercise. The purpose of this training is to enhance the Japan-U.S. bilateral

Kadena Maintainers Manufacture The Future

The process began with maintainers from the 353rd Special Operations Aircraft Maintenance Squadron requiring an HF Antenna Clamp Block Assembly.However, the part materials are costly, and it could cost the Air Force upwards of thousands of dollars and several years to obtain the part through

ADAPT Champions: Promoting healthy relationships with alcohol

The Alcohol and Drug Abuse Prevention and Treatment Champions program, an alcohol abuse prevention program created by the ADAPT clinic at Kadena Air Base, Japan, aims to promote healthy relationships with alcohol by building a community of Airmen who have the knowledge to provide basic alcohol

Exercise Gryphon Thunder Showcases ACE Across the Pacific

Fully-vaccinated members from 353rd Special Operations Wing deployed from Okinawa, Japan to Hawaii, where they practiced establishing refueling capabilities, maintenance operations, and personnel/equipment drops alongside conventional Air Force partners and joint military partners in the Army,

AC-130J GHOSTRIDER VISITS JAPAN

An AC-130J Ghostrider gunship has arrived at Kadena Air Base, Okinawa, Japan on March 29, 2021. Regularly stationed at Hurlburt Field, Florida, this is the first time the updated J model of the AC-130 has landed or operated in Japan.

Exercise Gryphon Ox Search and Rescue

U.S., Japan Sharpen Skills During Keen Sword 21

Exercise Keen Sword 21, began Oct. 25 and has been going at full steam across the Indo-Pacific region over the past two weeks.Approximately 9,000 U.S. service members from the U.S. Navy, Marine Corps, Army, and Air Force conducted training with their Japan Self-Defense Force counterparts from