MCAS Futenma Agile Combat Employment exercise

MARINE CORPS AIR STATION FUTENMA, OKINAWA, Japan -- U.S. Marines with Marine Corps Air Station Futenma partnered with U.S. Air Force personnel from Kadena Air Force Base for an aircraft exercise, Feb. 21, at MCAS Futenma.

Agile Combat Employment, the partnership concept to the Marine Corps’ Expeditionary Advanced Base concept, enables the Air Force to rapidly command, control, and logistically support its aircraft within the enemy's Weapons Engagement Zone.

The ACE training was held to enhance the Air Force’s tactics, techniques and procedures by utilizing U.S. Air Force F-15C Eagles and C-130 Hercules at the MCAS Futenma flightline.

“This ACE training is an outstanding example of the strong partnership and interoperability between Kadena’s 18th Wing and MCAS Futenma,” said Harold B. Treadway Jr., the MCAS Futenma Airfield Manager. “It flexes our resilient capability to operate within an environment contested by our enemies,” he said.

MCAS Futenma is expanding on a previous and successful exercise done with the F-15’s on Kadena Air Base.

“The Agile Combat Exercise is all about getting off your home station and going somewhere new,” said Air Force Lt. Col. Brian Knauf, an F-15C Eagle pilot and the deputy director for 18th Wing.

“That is why Futenma is absolutely vital because it allows us to learn in a new environment,” he said. “It is a huge benefit to us and our training.”

MCAS Futenma additionally plays a vital role within the integration between Marines and Airmen by providing a non-standard operating location to rearm and refuel in a quick manner.

“By utilizing Futenma we have the capability to interoperate with Marines here on Okinawa, which is a huge win,” said Knauf. “The Marines have a ‘can do’ attitude, and honestly their desire to try something new and explore the realm of possibilities to say ‘yes, we can do this for you’ is a terrific attitude and learning experience.”