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even Japan Air Self Defense Force noncommissioned officers recently traded work secrets with USAF counterparts at Kadena Air Base on the island of Okinawa, Japan. The bilateral exchange program with the JASDF featured airmen in specialties ranging from air traffic control to F-16 maintenance. Each Japanese NCO worked with a Kadena NCO in a matched career field during the 10-day program, one of dozens of exchanges that have been set up since 1996 with Air Force and Japanese units. In February, Kadena sent six of its NCO’s to Nyutabaru Air Base to work with JASDF colleagues at the F-15 Eagle base.
The U.S. began extensive air and artillery strikes against Islamic State group targets in Syria on Dec. 19 in retaliation for the killing of three Americans on Dec. 13 by a gunman affiliated with ISIS, U.S. officials said.
