Team Kadena exercises real-world scenarios

by Airman 1st Class Stephen G. Eigel
18th Wing Public Affairs

8/20/2014 - KADENA AIR BASE, Japan -- Team Kadena's F-15C Eagle fighter jets and pilots participated in a mission-focused exercise on Kadena Air Base, Japan, Aug. 18-21.

With Kadena Air Base as the Keystone of the Pacific and home to the Air Force's largest combat wing, the F-15s play a big role in providing unmatched combat power and a forward power projection platform in addition to providing for the common defense of Japan.

As the largest combat wing in the Pacific, it is important to keep Kadena's F-15 pilots' skills honed and ready to go at a moment's notice.

"For the 44th during an exercise, it's an all around war-type scenario," said Maj. Brett Faber, 44th Fighter Squadron assistant director of operations and F-15 pilot. "The pilots are briefed from the mission planning cell and given minimal time to be able to go out there, give our own brief, fly, come back and get ready for the next sortie."

Faber said exercises like this help prepare for real-world situations by giving pilots the time compression and stress that will be present in a real life situation from the building all the way to the air.

"We have been out here working, keeping the jets fully capable to bring the fight to our enemy," said Airman 1st Class Cody Cobbs, 18th AMXS crew chief. "The exercise does prepare us for the real thing, because you are under a lot of pressure and working as fast as you can to get as many jets in the air as possible."

It takes everyone to fulfill the 18th Wing mission and that's why everyone practices and prepares themselves like it is the real thing.

"If anyone was planning on attacking U.S. or Japanese soil right now, I would say be prepared because we definitely are, and we will give you a tough fight," Faber said.