Celebrating Partnerships: JAAGA Hosts 2025 Annual Convention Published May 21, 2025 By Captain Tisha Yates Fifth Air Force YOKOTA AIR BASE, Japan -- U.S. Air Force Brigadier General John Schutte, Fifth Air Force Deputy Commander, was the keynote speaker at the Japan America Air Force Goodwill Association (JAAGA) annual convention on 13 May 2025. The convention included senior leaders of the U.S. Air Force, Japan Air Self-Defense Force and JAAGA, providing an opportunity for leaders to reflect on their organizations’ successes. Over the last year the U.S.-Japan alliance has accelerated cooperation through major bilateral and multilateral exercises such as Keen Sword, Yama Sakura, Freedom Edge, and Cope North, each demonstrating the importance of interoperability, capability, and tactical excellence. In addition to these large-scale exercises, smaller, focused, bilateral training engagements such as airfield damage repair, airborne command and control, and integrated security forces operations build real world proficiency, strengthen unit-level relationships, and enhance collective readiness at the tactical edge. “These engagements may not make headlines – but they build the organizational muscle that makes our alliance stronger everyday”, said Schutte during his keynote speech. As the security environment becomes more interconnected and volatile, the U.S.-Japan alliance stands as a beacon of strength and stability in the Indo-Pacific region, and JAAGA is an important supporter of this critical relationship. “Together – through transformation, posture alignment, and emerging partnerships with industry – we are building a force designed not just to meet tomorrow’s challenges, but to define the future of joint and allied air defense in the Indo-Pacific,” said Schutte, concluding the event with an assertion that despite changes in the environment and missions, the U.S.-Japan alliance is “adaptable, enduring, and deeply rooted in mutual respect.” After the keynote engagement, JAAGA recognized several U.S. and Japanese service members for their efforts to further strengthen the alliance during bilateral and multilateral exercises. SSgt. Tyrese T. Beeson made significant efforts in instructing the members of Koku-Jieitai which contributed to the successful outcome of the first bilateral participation in the multinational Advanced Combat Skills Assessment Competition held at Anderson Air Base, Guam. SSgt Dhruv Singh enhanced the Japan-US friendship through coordinating food drives, leading street clean-up activities, and holding cultural exchanges with Koku-Jieitai personnel including a thanksgiving potluck. His efforts integrated many U.S. members into Japanese local community and Koku-Jieitai. Major Ellen A. Hermann, as a command-and-control expert, maintained a spirit of camaraderie through regular mission execution with the Koku-Jietiai and trained them on the capabilities of equipment during Exercise Valiant Shield.