11/17/2004 - HYAKURI AIR BASE, Japan -- U.S. Air Force weapons crews and Japan?s air self-defense forces conducted a turn-around familiarization exercise inside an aircraft hangar here Nov. 15. during Keen Sword 2005.

Keen Sword is designed to increase the defensive readiness of Japanese and American forces though training in air, ground and sea operations, and to improve the ability to work together.

A crowd of U.S. and Japanese military hollered, clapped and cheered as airmen from both countries showcased their ability to load munitions on each other?s aircraft.

?This was a great learning experience for me. I really enjoyed the opportunity to work with Japanese forces,? said Staff Sgt Paul Riley, an aircraft armament systems specialist from the 18th Maintenance Group at Kadena Air Base, Japan.

Aside from acquiring new skills, Airman 1st Class Brian Gates, also from Kadena, said the best part of Keen Sword is meeting new friends.

?(The Japanese forces have) really taken good care of us,? Airman Gates said.

He said the Americans were welcomed here with open arms; the lodging facilities are excellent, and food in the dining facility is delicious.

The Kadena troops also are grateful that Japanese troops have taken time to show Americans around the area during breaks from the exercise.

Before the Nov. 15 event, both forces familiarized themselves with one another?s aircraft. The Japanese spent one week training with U.S. Airmen at Kadena, while the Americans worked shoulder-to-shoulder with the Japanese maintainers when they arrived here a couple weeks ago.

During the hourlong training, the Airmen from both countries loaded chaff, flares, AIM-7 Sparrow and AIM-9 Sidewinder munitions on two F-15 Eagle fighter aircraft. The Americans used Japanese equipment to load munitions on a Japanese F-15 while Japanese troops used American tools to load munitions on an American F-15.

?This training is excellent for both forces. Although their equipment, terminology and procedures are different, weapons loading is fundamentally the same,? said 2nd Lt. Mitsuhiro Kawano, the Japanese team leader.

This event is one of the many examples that demonstrate how U.S. and Japanese forces can combine and work together as a team, exercise officials said.

by Master Sgt. Val Gempis