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18th AES showcases the in-flight medical equipment and supplies used in executing aeromedical evacuation missions. (Courtesy Photo)

Language-enabled Airmen support medical training initiatives with Japanese partners at Kadena Air Base

18th AES showcases the in-flight medical equipment and supplies used in executing aeromedical evacuation missions. (Courtesy Photo)
Photo Details / Download Hi-Res
Maj. Christian Coleman, Director of Operations, provides the 18th AES mission brief to the JSDF medical team. (Courtesy Photo)

Language-enabled Airmen support medical training initiatives with Japanese partners at Kadena Air Base

Maj. Christian Coleman, Director of Operations, provides the 18th AES mission brief to the JSDF medical team. (Courtesy Photo)
Photo Details / Download Hi-Res
JSDF personnel toured the 18th AES Training Sustainment Center, where a KC-135 simulator is used as a ground training device to accomplish clinical and flight training requirements for Aeromedical Evacuation crewmembers. (Courtesy Photo)

Language-enabled Airmen support medical training initiatives with Japanese partners at Kadena Air Base

JSDF personnel toured the 18th AES Training Sustainment Center, where a KC-135 simulator is used as a ground training device to accomplish clinical and flight training requirements for Aeromedical Evacuation crewmembers. (Courtesy Photo)
Photo Details / Download Hi-Res
  • 18th AES showcases the in-flight medical equipment and supplies used in executing aeromedical evacuation missions. (Courtesy Photo)

    Language-enabled Airmen support medical training initiatives with Japanese partners at Kadena Air Base

    18th AES showcases the in-flight medical equipment and supplies used in executing aeromedical evacuation missions. (Courtesy Photo)
    Photo Details / Download Hi-Res
  • Maj. Christian Coleman, Director of Operations, provides the 18th AES mission brief to the JSDF medical team. (Courtesy Photo)

    Language-enabled Airmen support medical training initiatives with Japanese partners at Kadena Air Base

    Maj. Christian Coleman, Director of Operations, provides the 18th AES mission brief to the JSDF medical team. (Courtesy Photo)
    Photo Details / Download Hi-Res
  • JSDF personnel toured the 18th AES Training Sustainment Center, where a KC-135 simulator is used as a ground training device to accomplish clinical and flight training requirements for Aeromedical Evacuation crewmembers. (Courtesy Photo)

    Language-enabled Airmen support medical training initiatives with Japanese partners at Kadena Air Base

    JSDF personnel toured the 18th AES Training Sustainment Center, where a KC-135 simulator is used as a ground training device to accomplish clinical and flight training requirements for Aeromedical Evacuation crewmembers. (Courtesy Photo)
    Photo Details / Download Hi-Res

Language-enabled Airmen support medical training initiatives with Japanese partners at Kadena Air Base

  • Published
  • By Mikala McCurry
  • Air Force Culture and Language Center Outreach Team
MAXWELL AIR FORCE BASE, Ala. --  

When the Japanese Self Defense Forces’ medical team from Naha Air Base, Okinawa, Japan, visited the 18th Aeromedical Evacuation Squadron at Kadena Air Base, Japan, for capabilities familiarization training, three language-enabled Airmen led the charge in facilitating partnership building by bridging language and cultural gaps.

This initiative is an ongoing effort between partner nations to build relationships and interoperability for future training and exercises. The event provided U.S. and JSDF members with an understanding of the mission and mutual capabilities to support medical operations and aeromedical evacuation.

“Everyone benefits from these initiatives. Our cultural and military alliances are strengthened, our techniques and tactics are improved, language skills are exercised, and we grow personally, too,” said Maj. Christian Coleman, 18th AES Director of Operations.

Tagalog Language Enabled Airman Program Scholar Maj. Jewelyn De La Cruz served as the event organizer. She solicited the help of Japanese LEAP Scholar Capt. Jarem Tano and Staff Sgt. Yeongjun Kwon - a fluent Japanese speaker at Kadena Air Base - to provide language support and cultural context during the visit. These Airmen played a critical role in the event’s success by providing their support and expertise in language translation and cultural engagement.

The 18th Aeromedical Evacuation Squadron is the sole aeromedical evacuation unit in the U.S. Indo-Pacific Command region, supporting 24/7 patient movement capabilities for internal and external theater missions. During their visit, the JSDF medical team had the opportunity to learn about the daily operations, training programs, and aeromedical evacuation capabilities of the 18th AES.

“For me, these personal interactions are foundational in building and maintaining the larger organizational partnership and relationship. The support from the Japanese linguists made a huge difference in ensuring both organizations were able to effectively communicate with each other,” Maj. De La Cruz said.

The goal for the Kadena Air Base team is to have ongoing future engagements between 18th AES and the Naha Air Base medical team with the help of language-enabled Airmen like De La Cruz, Tano, and Kwon.