Japanese officials visit 353rd SOG

KADENA AIR BASE, Japan -- Senior Airman Salvatore Portelli, a pararescueman with the 320th Special Tactics Squadron, discusses how pararescuemen would rescue an unconscious person that needed to be airlifted out of an area to civilians and officers from Japan's National Institute for Defense Studies here Feb. 17. The officers and civilians visited the 353rd Special Operations Group as part of a bilateral exchange program between the United States and Japan. (U.S. Air Force photo by Tech. Sgt. Aaron Cram)

Photo Details / Download Hi-Res
Japanese officials visit 353rd SOG

KADENA AIR BASE, Japan -- Staff Sgt. Frank Gonzales, a combat arms instructor with the 320th Special Tactics Squadron, shows an officer from Japan's Self Defense Force how to line up a shot on an Mk 48 here Feb. 17. Civilians and officers from Japan's National Institute for Defense Studies visited the 353rd Special Operations Group as part of a bilateral exchange program between the United States and Japan. (U.S. Air Force photo by Tech. Sgt. Aaron Cram)

Photo Details / Download Hi-Res
Japanese officials visit 353rd SOG

KADENA AIR BASE, Japan -- Staff Sgt. Sarah Hystad, a loadmaster with the 17th Special Operations Squadron, discusses her roles and responsibilities as a loadmaster on a MC-130P Combat Shadow to civilians and officers from Japan's National Institute for Defense Studies here Feb. 17. The officers and civilians visited the 353rd Special Operations Group as part of a bilateral exchange program between the United States and Japan. (U.S. Air Force photo by Tech. Sgt. Aaron Cram)

Photo Details / Download Hi-Res

Japanese officials visit 353rd SOG

Published March 16, 2010

KADENA AIR BASE, Japan -- About 15 civilians and officers from Japan's National Institute for Defense Studies visited the 353rd Special Operations Group here Feb. 17 as part of a bilateral exchange program between the United States and Japan.

The officers and civilians were briefed on the mission of the 353rd SOG and discussed missions and capabilities with members of the 320th Special Tactics Squadron and 17th Special Operations Squadron during their visit.

The National Institute for Defense Studies (NIDS), as the main policy research arm of the Ministry of Defense, is dedicated to strategic studies of policy relevance. It also functions as a war college-level educational institution for senior uniformed officers of Japan's Self Defense Forces and civilian officials of the MOD.