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JASDF Surgeon General visits PACAF

  • Published
  • By Tech. Sgt. Zachary Vaughn
  • Pacific Air Forces Public Affairs
U.S. Air Force Col. (Dr.) Lee Harvis, Pacific Air Forces (PACAF) command surgeon, and Koku Jieitai, Japan Air Self-Defense Force, Maj. Gen. Shinya Bekku, Koku Jieitai surgeon general, met at Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam, Hawaii, for their first face-to-face meeting July 9-12, 2018.

The talks gave them an opportunity to share medical services lessons learned, subject-matter expert exchanges and ways forward for future interoperability.

“It’s critical to build bilateral ties with our Japan Air Self-Defense Force counterparts,” Harvis said. “Sharing medical capabilities breaks down barriers and opens doors for regional engagements.”

The bilateral exchange highlighted past multinational exercise successes and addressed objectives for U.S. and Japanese patient support across the continuum of care to include 5th generation aircraft pilots.

“We hope to further the development of innovative training and support for aeromedical evacuation, F-35 pilots, and humanitarian operations,” Harvis said.

The discussions focused on joint partnerships and training opportunities meant to spark positive process improvements for the two allied air forces.

“Sharing knowledge and experiences with one another is very important for building relationships and developing an innovative mindset,” Bekku said. “Innovation is very important throughout all areas of military operations, including training. It’s a mechanism for us to change our thinking in order to solve regional challenges.”

Members of the Koku Jieitai and the PACAF international health specialist (IHS) team visited a number of organizations including the U.S. Indo-Pacific Command Surgeon General's office, 18th Aeromedical Evacuation Squadron Detachment 1, and the Asia-Pacific Center for Security Studies.

The IHS team laid the ground work for future bilateral U.S. and Koku Jieitai medical career field engagements and enhanced training and support throughout the Indo-Pacific region.

“We are stronger together,” Bekku said.