Skip to main content (Press Enter).
 News
    
        Photos

    Week in Photos

    Air Force TV

    Commentaries

    Features

    Art

    About Us
    
        Air Force Senior Leaders
    
        SECAF

    CSAF

    CMSAF

    Biographies

    Fact Sheets

    SECAF Reading List

    CSAF Leadership Library
    
        CSAF Leadership Library 2022

    CSAF Leadership Library 2021

    CSAF Reading List Pre-2020 Archive
    
        2018 CSAF Reading List

    2017 CSAF Reading List

    2016 CSAF Reading List

    CSAF Leadership Library 2023

    CMSAF Leadership Library

    50 Years of the CMSAF

    Adjunct Professors

    Air Force Strategic Documents

    Arctic Strategy

    Empowered Airmen

    State Licensure Portability

    Careers

    AF Federal Advisory Committees

    AF 75th Anniversary

    Policy Updates

    AF Content Management

    Contact Us

    AF Sites
    
        Site RegistrationU.S. Air Force LogoAir Force

        Policy UpdatesNewsroomReoptimizationBIOGRAPHIESAF Senior Leaders      Yutaka Higa, a 18th Civil Engineer Squadron firefighter, poses for a photo in front of a fire truck on Kadena Air Base, Japan, April 2, 2015. Higa, who has been working at the fire department for more than 24 years, recently won the 2014 Air Force Firefighter of the Year award, civilian category, for his day-to-day accomplishments. (U.S. Air Force photo/Naoto Anazawa)Two firefighters from Kadena, receive Air Force level award
                        
                        
                        Yutaka Higa, a 18th Civil Engineer Squadron firefighter, poses for a photo in front of a fire truck on Kadena Air Base, Japan, April 2, 2015. Higa, who has been working at the fire department for more than 24 years, recently won the 2014 Air Force Firefighter of the Year award, civilian category, for his day-to-day accomplishments. (U.S. Air Force photo/Naoto Anazawa)
                
                Photo Details /
                        Download Hi-Res
        


        Yuji Nakayama, the 18th Civil Engineer Squadron district chief, poses for a photo in front of a fire truck on Kadena Air Base, Japan, April 2, 2015. Nakamura, who has been working at the fire department for more than 22 years, recently won the 2014 Air Force Fire Officer of the Year award, civilian category, for his hard work and dedication. (U.S. Air Force photo/Naoto Anazawa)Two firefighters from Kadena, receive Air Force level award
                        
                        
                        Yuji Nakayama, the 18th Civil Engineer Squadron district chief, poses for a photo in front of a fire truck on Kadena Air Base, Japan, April 2, 2015. Nakamura, who has been working at the fire department for more than 22 years, recently won the 2014 Air Force Fire Officer of the Year award, civilian category, for his hard work and dedication. (U.S. Air Force photo/Naoto Anazawa)
                
                Photo Details /
                        Download Hi-Res

Kadena Fire and Emergency Services wins three AF-level awardsPublished April 16, 2015
                    
                    By Tech. Sgt. Alexy Saltekoff
                    
                    
                    18th Wing Public Affairs
            **KADENA AIR BASE, Japan (AFNS) --**Kadena's fire department and two of its civilian firefighters were selected recently to represent the Air Force in the upcoming Defense Department Fire and Emergency Services annual awards.
The 18th Civil Engineer Squadron Fire and Emergency Services flight won the Air Force Fire Department of the Year award, large category, which is awarded to the most outstanding large fire department for achieving the highest degree of excellence in mission support and fire protection management.
As the best large fire department in the Air Force, Kadena Fire and Emergency Services protect the largest combat wing in Pacific Air Forces command. They are responsible for more than 80 aircraft, 7,000 buildings, 24,000 personnel, 8,000 housing units and 11,000 acres.
"Kadena FES is unlike any other fire department in the Air Force," said Master Sgt. Aaron Duggins, the Kadena FES assistant chief for fire prevention. "With an average of 1,400 annual emergency responses and protecting the largest combat wing the Air Force has to offer, our firefighters are constantly reminded how truly important our job at Kadena Air Base is."
Among their many accomplishments in 2014, they saved the lives of a mother and her prematurely born baby, rescued a local farmer trapped under faming equipment, and revived a car accident victim. They led fire drills for Kadena's schools and daycare facilities, raised money for the Kadena Special Olympics and led bilateral training with host nation partners. They also made international news by cutting through the roof of a concrete 18th Security Forces Squadron guard shack to rescue two trapped Airmen during a flash flood on July 9, 2014, after Typhoon Neoguri.
"Our department accepts these awards with great humility," Duggins said. "To be recognized as the 2014 USAF Fire Emergency Services Flight of the Year is great, but to be recognized as the Large FES Flight is an extraordinary accomplishment and speaks to the dedication and professionalism of our firefighters." 
Two of the firefighters involved in the success of the Kadena fire department also won Air Force-level awards; Yuji Nakayama, the 18th Civil Engineer Squadron district chief, won the Air Force Civilian Fire Officer of the Year award, and Yutaka Higa, a 18th CES firefighter, won the Air Force Civilian Firefighter of the Year award. Both awards are given to recognize superior job performance and outstanding contributions to a DOD fire and emergency services organization
"I was very surprised because I was focused on doing the day-to-day work," Nakayama said. "I am very grateful to everyone who supported me. It takes everyone's cooperation. I couldn't have achieved this award without co-workers support." 
Higa echoed the belief in and influence of strong teamwork.
"I think I won this award because I was blessed with good colleagues and supervisors," Higa said. "I will increase the enthusiasm to work by becoming a good example for the young people."
The annual DOD Fire and Emergency Services Awards Program recognizes the accomplishments and honors of DOD fire departments, fire officers and firefighters.Japan 



PACAF 



award 



firefighter 



Kadena AB Featured News
        Senior Leader Priorities
                DAF leaders talk budget, reoptimizing the force
                    
                    DAF leaders speak at National Character and Leadership Symposium
                    
                    DAF members recognized during BEYA STEM awards
                    
                    DAF senior enlisted advisors discuss Airmen, Guardians in the fight
                    
                    SecAF Kendall AFA Warfare Symposium Q&A: Reoptimizing for Great Power CompetitionInnovation
                AFWERX director discusses role of tech startups, quick innovation in Great Power Competition
                    
                    DAF delivers lethality at the speed of data during Project Convergence Capstone 4
                    
                    DAF welcomes industry partners to HQ development program
                    
                    DAF announces Spark Tank 2024 finalists
                    
                    Chief Digital, Artificial Intelligence Office to host hackathon in HawaiiMAJCOM News
                Air Combat Command welcomes new commander
                    
                    USAFE-AFAFRICA commander discusses Integrated Air, Missile Defense during Munich Security Conference
                    
                    Flosi to AFMC family: Embrace change, make every day count
                    
                    AMC rises to increasing global tension
                    
                    USAFE-AFAFRICA commander emphasizes five focus areas during AFA Warfare Symposium
 Quick Links
AccessibilityContact UsEqual OpportunityFOIA | Privacy | Section 508Information QualityInspector GeneralJAG Court-Martial DocketLink DisclaimerNo FEAR ActOpen GovernmentOSI Tip LinePlain LanguageQuestionsResilienceRSSSite MapVeterans Crisis LineCareers
Join the Air ForceAir Force BenefitsAir Force CareersAir Force ReserveAir National GuardCivilian ServiceConnect
            Get Social with Us
            
            Official United States Air Force Website
    Hosted by Defense Media Activity - WEB.mil