News United States Air Force
 Yokota ‘Dirt Boys’ train Japan forces in KanoyaPublished May 17, 2023
                        
                        By Staff Sgt. Spencer Tobler
                        
                        
                        374th Airlift Wing Public Affairs
                **KANOYA AIR BASE, Japan (AFNS) --**
                Members of the 374th Civil Engineer Squadron from **Yokota Air Base**, Japan, traveled to Kanoya Air Base, Japan, to demonstrate a spall repair for Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force civil engineers, May 15.Spall repairs are an efficient way to keep airfields serviceable by cutting down and removing damaged parts of concrete slabs and quickly replacing them with new material.Prior to the training, JMSDF engineers would remove whole slabs of concrete, even if it was only partially damaged.“JMSDF relayed to us that it takes them roughly ten days to do minor repairs on their airfield,” said Master Sgt. Brent Fallon, 5th Air Force readiness branch superintendent. “We came down to teach our version of these repairs, which are normally done within a couple of minutes.”Master Sgt. Brent Fallon (middle), Fifth Air Force readiness branch superintendent, Senior Airman Jordan McGinnis (left) and Airman 1st Class John Olarte, 374th Civil Engineering Squadron pavement and heavy equipment journeymen, complete a spall repair at Kanoya Air Base, Japan, May 15, 2023. A four-man team from Yokota Air Base, Japan, traveled to Kanoya to teach Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force engineers how to complete a spall repair. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Spencer Tobler)Master Sgt. Brent Fallon, 5th Air Force readiness branch superintendent, Senior Airman Jordan McGinnis and Airman 1st Class John Olarte, 374th Civil Engineer Squadron pavement and heavy equipment journeymen, complete a spall repair at Kanoya Air Base, Japan, May 15, 2023. A team of Airmen from Yokota Air Base, Japan, traveled to Kanoya to teach Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force engineers how to complete a spall repair. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Spencer Tobler)
            
            
            Photo Details /
                Download Hi-Res
    
    Master Sgt. Brent Fallon, Fifth Air Force readiness branch superintendent, briefs Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force personnel on how to perform a spall repair at Kanoya Air Base, Japan, May 15, 2023. Spall repairs are a time-efficient way to keep airfields serviceable by removing and replacing damaged parts of concrete slabs. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Spencer Tobler)Master Sgt. Brent Fallon, 5th Air Force readiness branch superintendent, briefs Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force personnel on how to perform a spall repair at Kanoya Air Base, Japan, May 15, 2023. Spall repairs are a time-efficient way to keep airfields serviceable by removing and replacing damaged parts of concrete slabs. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Spencer Tobler)
            
            
            Photo Details /
                Download Hi-Res
    
    Airman 1st Class John Olarte, 374th Civil Engineering Squadron pavement and heavy equipment journeyman, flattens out wet concrete as part of a spall repair at Kanoya Air Base, Japan, May 15, 2023. A four-man team from Yokota Air Base traveled to Kanoya to teach Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force engineers how to complete a spall repair. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Spencer Tobler)Airman 1st Class John Olarte, 374th Civil Engineer Squadron pavement and heavy equipment journeyman, flattens out wet concrete as part of a spall repair at Kanoya Air Base, Japan, May 15, 2023. A team of Airmen from Yokota Air Base traveled to Kanoya to teach Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force engineers how to complete a spall repair. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Spencer Tobler)
            
            
            Photo Details /
                Download Hi-Res
Because of the training provided by Yokota’s very own ‘Dirt Boys,’ JMSDF engineers are now able to make improvements to the Kanoya Air Base airfield without closing it for long periods of time, enabling mission continuation.“The U.S. Air Force’s way of repairing airfield damage is much more efficient,” said JMSDF Lieutenant Commander Masato Tsuchiyama. “There are close to 30 spots that need to be repaired on our airfield. Implementing this new process will save us a lot of time.”The 374th CES engineers completed a spall repair in front of JMSDF engineers, who then conducted their own spall repair with coaching and guidance from their trainers.“We operate out of each other’s airfields constantly,” Fallon said. “Teaching our partners what we know will improve their capabilities and aid us in our mission.”Members of the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force listen to U.S. Air Force Master Sgt. Brent Fallon, Fifth Air Force readiness branch superintendent, as he gives instructions on how to complete a spall repair at Kanoya Air Base, Japan, May 15, 2023. Spall repairs are an efficient way to keep airfields serviceable by removing and replacing damaged parts of concrete slabs. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Spencer Tobler)Members of the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force listen to U.S. Air Force Master Sgt. Brent Fallon, 5th Air Force readiness branch superintendent, as he gives instructions on how to complete a spall repair at Kanoya Air Base, Japan, May 15, 2023. Spall repairs are an efficient way to keep airfields serviceable by removing and replacing damaged parts of concrete slabs. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Spencer Tobler)
            
            
            Photo Details /
                Download Hi-Res
    
    Members of the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force complete a spall repair in front of U.S. Air Force personnel at Kanoya Air Base, Japan, May 15, 2023. Spall repairs are an efficient way to keep airfields serviceable by removing and replacing damaged parts of concrete slabs. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Spencer Tobler)Members of the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force complete a spall repair in front of U.S. Airmen at Kanoya Air Base, Japan, May 15, 2023. Spall repairs are an efficient way to keep airfields serviceable by removing and replacing damaged parts of concrete slabs. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Spencer Tobler)
            
            
            Photo Details /
                Download Hi-Res
    
    A member of the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force cuts concrete to perform a spall repair at Kanoya Air Base, Japan, May 15, 2023. A four-man team from Yokota Air Base went to Kanoya to teach Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force engineers how to complete a spall repair. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Spencer Tobler)A member of the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force cuts concrete to perform a spall repair at Kanoya Air Base, Japan, May 15, 2023. A team of Airmen from Yokota Air Base went to Kanoya to teach Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force engineers how to complete a spall repair. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Spencer Tobler)
            
            
            Photo Details /
                Download Hi-Res
Tsuchiyama says he hopes to have more opportunities to exchange best practices with the U.S. Air Force.“I’m happy the Airmen from Yokota took time to come and teach us,” Tsuchiyama said. “We look forward to having more joint projects like this where we learn from each other.”Because of the success of this training, the 374th CES has now been specifically requested to tour other JMSDF bases to spread their knowledge of airfield repairs.FS 



USAF 



AF 



Air Force 



Yokota Air Base 



Dirt Boys 



374th Civil Engineer Squadron 



partnership 



training 



airfield 



Kanoya 



civil engineers 



spall repairs 



JMSDF 



PACAF 



Pacific Air Forces