35th FW, joint allies participate in ACE exercise at Misawa, Yokota AB Published May 18, 2022 35th Fighter Wing Public Affairs MISAWA AIR BASE, Japan (AFNS) -- Airmen assigned to the 35th Fighter Wing showcased their Agile Combat Employment, or ACE, capabilities during readiness exercise Beverly Sunrise 22-04, at Misawa Air Base, and Yokota AB, May 7-13. U.S. Air Force Col. Jesse J. Friedel, 35th Fighter Wing commander, Japan Air Self-Defense Force Maj. Gen. Takahiro Kubota, 3rd Air Wing commander, and U.S. Navy Capt. Paul Hockran, Naval Air Facility Misawa commanding officer, stand in front of aircraft assembled for a base capabilities demonstration to culminate a week-long readiness exercise at Misawa Air Base, Japan, May 13, 2022. The large formation displays the joint, bilateral capabilities of Misawa Air Base, with a mission to protect U.S. interests in the Pacific, defend Japan and deter adversaries through our presence, readiness, and ability to project combat air power. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Joao Marcus Costa) Photo Details / Download Hi-Res Exercise Beverly Sunrise 22-04 tested real-world contingency operations capabilities, significantly focusing on ACE by physically moving personnel and F-16 Fighting Falcons to Yokota AB, a task that was only simulated in previous exercises. Beverly Sunrise 22-04 tested Airmen’s ability to operationalize ACE through the employment of techniques previously associated with special operations forces, but at a much larger scale. In addition to demonstrating the steadfast U.S. commitment to defend Japan and partner nations in the Indo-Pacific region, exercises like Beverly Sunrise 22-04 ensure Misawa AB fulfills Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. CQ Brown, Jr.’s challenge to accelerate change across the Air Force. “The goal of the exercise is to test the wing's ability to respond to and defend themselves from all potential adversaries in the Indo-Pacific theater,” said U.S. Air Force Capt. Benjamin Shipley, 35th FW inspector general director of wing inspections. “The 35th FW will continue to exercise the movement of aircraft off station, to multiple austere locations, and advance the multi-capable Airman (MCA) concept.” Teams of MCA forward deployed to Yokota AB and simulated movement to multiple locations across Japan to further demonstrate mastery of ACE concepts. ACE is designed to generate airpower from multiple, small-footprint locations, complicating adversaries’ decision-making processes and increasing survivability for U.S. and partner-nation assets and personnel. U.S. Airmen from Yokota and Misawa Air Base, Japan, unload cargo from a C-130J Super Hercules assigned to the 36th Airlift Squadron during exercise Beverly Sunrise 22-04 at Misawa Air Base, Japan, May 12, 2022. Agile Combat Employment enables U.S. forces in the Indo-Pacific region to operate from locations with varying levels of capacity and support, ensuring Airmen and aircrews are postured to respond across the spectrum of military operations. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Leon Redfern) Photo Details / Download Hi-Res U.S. Airmen assigned to the 35th Security Forces Squadron simulate a capture and restrain of a protestor who broke through the gate during exercise Beverly Sunrise 22-04 at Misawa Air Base, Japan, May 10, 2022. The exercise tested Airmen’s abilities to support Agile Combat Employment concepts to ensure forward-deployed forces in the Indo-Pacific region are ready to protect and defend the United States, allies, and partner interests at a moment’s notice. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Leon Redfern) Photo Details / Download Hi-Res U.S. Air Force C-130J Super Hercules assigned to the 36th Airlift Squadron sit on the flightline during exercise Beverly Sunrise 22-04 at Misawa Air Base, Japan, May 12, 2022. Agile Combat Employment is the result of the 2018 National Defense Strategy instructing services to alter their posture and transition from a large, centralized, unhardened infrastructure to smaller, dispersed, resilient, adaptive basing. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Leon Redfern) Photo Details / Download Hi-Res The exercise culminated in a Misawa AB capabilities demonstration, in which U.S. Air Force, Japan Self-Defense Air Force, and U.S. Navy service members showcased Misawa AB’s ability to generate joint and bilateral airpower in support of the defense of Japan quickly. The base generated 16 U.S. Air Force F-16CM Fighting Falcons, 12 Japan Air Self-Defense Force F-35A Lightning II joint strike fighters, two JASDF E-2C Hawkeyes, one JASDF CH-47 Chinook, one U.S. Navy EA-18G Growler, one USN C-12 Huron, and one USN P-8 Poseidon. “The purpose of the capabilities demonstration was to showcase the defense capabilities of the U.S.-Japan alliance, strengthen joint and bilateral operations, and deter against a range of threats from strategic competitors,” said U.S. Air Force Col. Jesse J. Friedel, 35th FW commander. “We demonstrated our commitment to stand shoulder-to-shoulder with our Japanese counterparts to defend Japan and ensure a free and open Indo-Pacific region.”