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        Policy UpdatesNewsroomReoptimizationBIOGRAPHIESAF Senior Leaders      Japan Ground Self-Defense Force members prepare to construct a container delivery system bundle at Yokota Air Base, Japan, Nov. 7, 2016. As part of Keen Sword 17, U.S. and Japan Self-Defense Force members participated in C-17 Globemaster III tie-down training, UH-1N Iroquois night flight familiarization and C-130 Hercules container delivery system bundle drops, each designed to increase combat readiness and interoperability within the framework of the U.S.-Japan alliance. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Delano Scott/Released)Keen Sword 2017
                        
                        
                        Japan Ground Self-Defense Force soldiers prepare to construct a container delivery system bundle at Yokota Air Base, Japan, Nov. 7, 2016. As part of Keen Sword 17, U.S. and Japan Self-Defense Force members participated in C-17 Globemaster III tie-down training, UH-1N Huey night flight familiarization and C-130 Hercules container delivery system bundle drops, each designed to increase combat readiness and interoperability within the framework of the U.S.-Japan alliance. (U.S. Air Force photo/Senior Airman Delano Scott)
                
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        Japan Ground Self-Defense Force and 36th Airlift Squadron members load container delivery system bundles onto a C-130 Hercules during Keen Sword 2017, Nov. 10, 2016, at Yokota Air Base, Japan. Keen Sword is the largest joint, bilateral field training exercise between the U.S. military and the Japan Self-Defense Force. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Donald Hudson/Released)Keen Sword 2017
                        
                        
                        Japan Ground Self-Defense Force and 36th Airlift Squadron members load container delivery system bundles onto a C-130 Hercules during Keen Sword 2017, Nov. 10, 2016, at Yokota Air Base, Japan. Keen Sword is the largest joint, bilateral field training exercise between the U.S. military and the Japan Self-Defense Force. (U.S. Air Force photo/Airman 1st Class Donald Hudson)
                
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        Japan Ground Self-Defense Force container delivery system bundles parachute to a drop zone after being dropped out of a C-130 Hercules during Keen Sword 2017, Nov. 10, 2016, over the Kyushu prefecture, Japan. Keen Sword is designed to practice the critical capabilities to support the defense of Japan, and to respond to a potential crisis or contingency in the Indo-Asia-Pacific region. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Donald Hudson/Released)Keen Sword 2017
                        
                        
                        Japan Ground Self-Defense Force container delivery system bundles parachute to a drop zone after being dropped out of a C-130 Hercules during Keen Sword 2017, Nov. 10, 2016, over the Kyushu prefecture, Japan. Keen Sword is designed to practice the critical capabilities to support the defense of Japan, and to respond to a potential crisis or contingency in the Indo-Asia-Pacific region. (U.S. Air Force photo/Airman 1st Class Donald Hudson)
                
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US, Japan forces work together during Keen SwordPublished Nov. 15, 2016
                    
                    By Senior Airman Delano Scott
                    
                    
                    374th Airlift Wing Public Affairs
            **YOKOTA AIR BASE, Japan (AFNS) --**Members from the Japan Self-Defense Forces and U.S. Forces, Japan, came together for Keen Sword 2017 at Yokota Air Base from Oct. 30 – Nov. 11.KS17 involved U.S. forces and the JSDF from all components of both militaries, training to conduct bilateral operations in support of the defense of Japan.“Operational readiness is a guiding principle for U.S. Forces, Japan,” said Lt. Gen. Jerry Martinez, the U.S. Forces, Japan and Fifth Air Force commander. “KS17 is an opportunity to increase readiness by providing a realistic training environment for U.S. forces and the JSDF to practice, evaluate and improve our coordination procedures and interoperability requirements.”At Yokota, U.S. and JSDF military members participated in variety of training exercises, each designed to increase combat readiness and interoperability within the framework of the U.S.-Japan alliance.“During the first week of Keen Sword, we held a pair of subject matter expert exchange events (SMEE) between the 374th Operations Group and the Japan Ground Self-Defense Force, 1st Airborne Brigade, from Camp Narashino in Chiba prefecture,” said Capt. James McKinney, a 374th OG C-130 Hercules instructor navigator. “The events focused around an exchange of professional knowledge between airborne-qualified soldiers and jumpmasters.”This was the first time the U.S. Air Force and JGSDF jumpmasters at Camp Narashino participate in bilateral SMEE.The second week of KS17 focused on preparing and airdropping container delivery system bundles. In a collaborative effort, the 374th Logistics Readiness Squadron combat mobility flight offered up space in their hanger to accommodate JGSDF personnel to build their CDS bundles.“After the bundles were built and our Joint Airdrop Inspectors made their final safety inspections, we airdropped the bundles on Nov. 10.”During the exercise, U.S. and JASDF military members also participated in C-17 Globemaster III tie-down training and UH-1N Huey night flight familiarization.McKinney said that exercises such as KS17 provide an indispensable real-world training environment for enhancing mutual understanding of each country's tactics, communication protocols, procedures and general interoperability.“This exercise has given us confidence that in whatever contingency, we will be able to use the maximum amount of resources available to respond,” McKinney said. “With the relationships we built at Keen Sword, we can, in the future, work together more effectively. Keen Sword offered us flexibility in how to respond to contingencies while also giving us the proof that we can all cooperate to accomplish the same mission.”Keen Sword 



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