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Fifth Air Force hosts bilateral contingency response exchange

  • Published
  • By Capt. AnnMarie Annicelli
  • 5th Air Force

Fifth Air Force hosted the 36th Contingency Response Group and Koku Jieitai (Japan Air Self Defense Force) for a contingency response subject matter expert exchange, Oct. 11-12, 2018, here.

A combined 50 subject matter experts attended from the 36th CRG and Koku Jieitai from across Japan’s Air Staff Office, Air Defense Command, Air Support Command, and Air Tactics Development Wing. The participants shared information on topics ranging from airfield management to medical and air traffic control to increase interoperability and the capacity to rapidly provide humanitarian assistance and disaster response.

  “Subject matter expert exchanges are critical to advancing our ability to work together and achieve common objectives, said Capt. Rachelle Crespo, 36th CRG Air Advisor. “They not only allow us to come together and generate ideas on how our air forces can improve interoperability, but also they allow us to come together as Airmen and have an open dialogue about how we can have a significant impact on the security and stability in the region.”

The SMEE culminated in a table top exercise that tested the 36th CRG and Koku Jieitai’s capacity to rapidly coordinate and scale the appropriate size response to the level of disaster.

Moving forward, the 36th CRG and Koku Jieitai will continue to share tactics and techniques, as well as lessons learned during exercises like COPE NORTH and follow-up table exercises to further strengthen integration between U.S. Air Force and Koku Jieitai’s contingency response capabilities.

“Forum’s like these provide the opportunity to strengthen our partnerships and build valuable relationships on an individual level, Crespo added. “We look forward to continuing candid discussions that shape our efforts during exercises, engagements and real-world operations.”

Events such as the contingency response SMEE continue to strengthen the U.S.-Japan alliance and demonstrate the commitment from both U.S. Air Force and Koku Jieitai to expand areas of collaboration.