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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.
With key members of Congress wavering on the possibility of a $350 billion defense reconciliation bill, defense experts told Air & Space Forces Magazine that the Pentagon is likely drawing up budget backup plans—but such plans would face hard choices between high-end weapons and low-cost drones and other programs in…