News United States Air Force
 PACAF hosts US, Japan civil engineer key leader engagement forumPublished April 16, 2023
                        
                        By Tech. Sgt. Jimmie D. Pike
                        
                        
                        Pacific Air Forces Public Affairs
                **JOINT BASE PEARL HARBOR-HICKAM, Hawaii (AFNS) --**
                Airmen from U.S. **Pacific Air Forces** and Japan Air Self-Defense Force recently participated in a civil engineer-focused discussion featuring key leaders at **Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam**.
Participants in the bilateral exchange discussed setting the theater and pre-positioning assets, infrastructure needs, possible construction opportunities and review of 5-year plans on capability development.
From the JASDF, Col. Mitsuhiko Shintaku, Air Staff Office Civil Engineer Division deputy director, and Col. Koji Mori, Air Defense Command Civil Engineer Division chief, along with their action officers Maj. Tomohiro Katsuda, ASO civil engineer, and Maj. Keitaro Toyonaga, ADC civil engineer, focused on what they could do to improve training at home.
“Opportunities to enhance training for our troops is important, and we can’t do that without these key leader engagements,” Shintaku said. “These engagements give us the opportunity to discuss policies and learn from each other as leaders before we take it back to our troops.”Photo of a U.S. Air Force chief master sergeant briefing officers from the Pacific Air Forces and Japan Air Self Defense Force.U.S. Air Force Chief Master Sgt. Casandra Nevins, Pacific Air Forces Emergency Management command functional manager, familiarizes Japan Air Self Defense Force Civil Engineering leaders on U.S. Air Force emergency management processes and organizations at Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam, Hawaii, March 29, 2023. Airmen from PACAF and JASDF participated in a key leader engagement to have civil engineering focused discussions about setting the theater, infrastructure needs, construction opportunities, and review of 5-year plans on capability building and shaping interoperability. (U.S. Air Force photo by Tech. Sgt. Jimmie D. Pike)
            
            
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    Photo of U.S. Air Force and Japan Air Self Defense Force officers attending a briefing.Pacific Air Forces host US, Japan Civil Engineer Key Leader Engagement forum
                    
                    
                    U.S. Air Force and Japan Air Self Defense Force Airmen attend a briefing during a bilateral U.S./Japan Key Leader Engagement event at Pacific Air Force headquarters on Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam, Hawaii, March 28, 2023. Attendees were leaders within their respective Civil Engineering career-fields who met to discuss CE challenges and training opportunities within the theater. (U.S. Air Force photo by Tech. Sgt. Jimmie D. Pike)
            
            
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    Photo of officers from U.S. Air Force and Japan Air Self Defense Force talking before a meeting.U.S. Air Force Col. Kevin Osborne, left, Pacific Air Forces Civil Engineering Division chief, meets with Japan Air Self Defense Force Col. Mitsuhiko Shintaku, right, Air Staff Office Civil Engineer Division deputy director, upon arrival to PACAF headquarters at Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam, Hawaii, March 28, 2023. Delegates from JASDF took part in a Key Leader Engagement which focused on discussions for setting the theater and pre-positioning, infrastructure needs and possible construction opportunities, and review of 5-year plans on capability building and shaping interoperability. (U.S. Air Force photo by Tech. Sgt. Jimmie D. Pike)
            
            
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While focusing on knowledge and skillsets that could be brought back and taught to others, one concept that depends heavily on multiple aspects of military civil engineering is **Agile Combat Employment**.
“Agile Combat Employment is the scheme of maneuver the Air Force is implementing across the globe for contested environments,” said U.S. Air Force Col. Kevin Osborne. “For that, we set the theater and better posture our forces for when we are called upon to respond. We ensure we are ready to defend free and open trade within the Indo Pacific.”
Through this concept, which U.S. Airmen have been exercising in recent years, there have been a lot of lessons learned that is shared with Allies and partners.
“The JASDF also has a basic concept similar to U.S. Air Force ACE,” Shintaku said. “We’re doing as much as we can to learn from the U.S. side about their ACE concept. Additionally, when we combine both concepts and other training in the Indo-Pacific region, we are identifying gaps, problems and issues as the first step.”
PACAF hosts multiple key leader engagements throughout the year with many Allies and partners to align knowledge and skills for enhanced interoperable capabilities.
“We know America can't go at it alone, so it's by working with our Allies and partners that we ensure readiness,” Osborne said. “The JASDF has been a great partner, and we look forward to continuing our work on bilateral agreements so that we can continue to break down any barriers together.”USAF 



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