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5th Air Force

18th CES, 3DMEDBN conduct snake handling SMEE

An akamata and hime habu snake are held up to differentiate their patterns during a subject matter expert exchange at Kadena Air Base, Japan, June 13, 2023. This SMEE enabled the 18th Civil Engineering Squadron and 3d Medical Battalion to share expertise on pest management methods and increase interoperability. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Sebastian Romawac)

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18th CES, 3DMEDBN conduct snake handling SMEE

U.S. Air Force Staff Sgt. Britton Cummings, 18th Civil Engineer Squadron pest management non-commissioned officer in charge, left, Senior Airman Austin Diaz, 18th CES pest management technician, center, and Petty Officer 1st Class Dario Perez-Rincon, 3d Medical Battalion preventative medicine unit leading petty officer, discuss invasive snake species at Kadena Air Base, Japan, June 13, 2023. Cummings organized the subject matter expert exchange between the 18th CES and the 3DMEDBN to allow the Sailors more hands-on experience with local snakes and to strengthen relations between the sister service branches. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Catherine Daniel)

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18th CES, 3DMEDBN conduct snake handling SMEE

A group of sailors from the 3d Medical Battalion preventative medicine unit and Airmen from the 18th Civil Engineer Squadron practice using snake tongs to hold an akamata at a safe distance during a subject matter expert exchange at Kadena Air Base, Japan, June 13, 2023. This SMEE created an avenue for the 18th CES and the 3DMEDBN to share information and experiences to build more capable service members. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Catherine Daniel)

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18th CES, 3DMEDBN conduct snake handling SMEE

A ball python squeezes an Airman’s arm during a subject matter expert exchange at Kadena Air Base, Japan, June 13, 2023. The 18th Civil Engineer Squadron pest management used this SMEE to inform Sailors from the 3d Medical Battalion preventative medicine unit about safe practices when handling wildlife on Okinawa and while deployed. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Catherine Daniel)

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18th CES, 3DMEDBN conduct snake handling SMEE

U.S. Navy Seaman Jushtine Reantazo, 3d Medical Battalion preventative medicine unit preventative medical technician, examines a ball python during a subject matter expert exchange at Kadena Air Base, Japan, June 13, 2023. The joint-service SMEE helped share the best practices for handling local wildlife on and off base. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Catherine Daniel)

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18th CES, 3DMEDBN conduct snake handling SMEE

U.S. Navy Seaman Jason Toro, 3d Medical Battalion preventative medicine unit preventative medical technician, and U.S. Navy Lt. Elaine Cotton, 3DMEDBN environmental health officer, handle a ball python during a subject matter expert exchange at Kadena Air Base, Japan, June 13, 2023. Navy preventive medicine technicians learn preventive medicine, operational preventive medicine, food service sanitation, water safety, entomology and the deployment environmental surveillance program in order to support service members’ health and safety. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Catherine Daniel)

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18th CES, 3DMEDBN conduct snake handling SMEE

U.S. Navy Seaman Jacob Russell, 3d Medical Battalion preventative medicine unit, crouches beside a snake enclosure at Kadena Air Base, Japan, June 13, 2023.This SMEE helped medical entomologists and preventative medicine specialists identify the snakes found on and around Kadena Air Base so they may create a safer environment for service members living and working on base. . (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Catherine Daniel)

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18th CES, 3DMEDBN conduct snake handling SMEE

Two of Okinawa’s local snakes, an akamata and a hime habu, are displayed during a subject matter expert exchange at Kadena Air Base, Japan, June 13, 2023. This SMEE helped medical entomologists and preventative medicine specialists identify the snakes found on and around Kadena Air Base so they may create a safer environment for service members living and working on base. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Catherine Daniel)

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18th CES, 3DMEDBN conduct snake handling SMEE

U.S. Navy Petty Officer 1st Class Dario Perez-Rincon, 3d Medical Battalion preventative medicine unit leading petty officer, poses for a picture with a snake during a subject matter expert exchange with the 18th Civil Engineer Squadron at Kadena Air Base, Japan, June 13, 2023. This SMEE enabled the 3DMEDBN and 18th CES to share expertise on pest management methods and increase interoperability. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Sebastian Romawac)

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18th CES, 3DMEDBN conduct snake handling SMEE

18th Civil Engineer Squadron Airmen and 3d Medical Battalion Sailors pose for a photo during a subject matter expert exchange at Kadena Air Base, Japan, June 13, 2023. The 18th CES entomology flight is responsible for pest management for more than 8,000 military housing units, 19 dormitories and more than 7,000 operational facilities all over Okinawa, Japan. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Sebastian Romawac)

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18th CES, 3DMEDBN conduct snake handling SMEE

Published June 20, 2023
By Senior Airman Sebastian Romawac and Airman 1st Class Catherine Daniel
18th Wing Public Affairs

KADENA AIR BASE, Japan -- An akamata and hime habu snake are held up to differentiate their patterns during a subject matter expert exchange at Kadena Air Base, Japan, June 13, 2023. This SMEE enabled the 18th Civil Engineering Squadron and 3d Medical Battalion to share expertise on pest management methods and increase interoperability. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Sebastian Romawac)