Kadena Completes Successful Deployment Test

Most of the more than 100 airmen from the 18th Wing at Kadena Air Base, Japan, who had gone to Andersen AFB, Guam, on Aug. 31 in a test of the wing’s deployment capabilities returned home Sept. 8. During those eight days, tankers from Kadena’s 909th Air Refueling Squadron and F-15s from its 67th Fighter Squadron trained alongside F-22s and B-52s deployed from stateside units to Andersen. “We don’t do this often, but it’s a good workout and it’s a testament to the operations group and the 18th Wing’s ability to organically operate and be successful in this environment,” said Capt. Tom Hunt, 67th FS project officer. The wing’s contingent overall was more efficient this time around compared to a similar test in 2006, flying the same number of sorties per aircraft despite with a smaller footprint. (Andersen report by TSgt. Mike Tateishi)