Spotlight on You!

U.S. Air Force photo by Naoto Anazawa
Staff Sgt. Aaron Nacey

18th EMS supports Kadena’s aircraft

U.S. Air Force Staff Sgt. Aaron Nacey, 18th Equipment Maintenance Squadron aircraft structual maintenance craftsman, cuts a piece of metal at Kadena Air Base, Japan, Oct. 4, 2019.

Ron Barr, the son of an Air Force senior noncommissioned officer, has been hosting the "Sports Byline USA" radio show for more than three decades. STEVEN HOOVER
Ron Barr

After three decades of ‘Sports Byline,’ radio host still strives ‘to connect with athletes in a human way’

As he sat in front of a microphone, about to debut a talk radio program on WRTL 1260-AM in central Illinois, Ron Barr fought off a major case of nerves before his first time on the air in 1961.

Hilary Valdez

A career counseling, consoling servicemembers

Hilary Valdez is a retiree living in Japan. Prior to his retirement, Valdez was a Master Resiliency Trainer at Camp Zama.

U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Karis Mattingly
Jesika Long

SMP hosts a Japanese 101 class

Jesika Long teaches U.S. service members how to speak Japanese during a language class at the Camp Foster Single Marine Program (SMP), Okinawa, Japan, Oct. 8, 2019.

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U.S. Air Force Tech Sgt. Ryan Edison, military police officer with 18th Wing Security Forces, competes in the biking portion of the 2019 Futenma Triathlon on Marine Corps Air Station Futenma, Okinawa, Japan, Oct. 6, 2019. The triathlon is held in order to strengthen the relationship between U.S. service members and residents of Okinawa through athletic events. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Samuel Brusseau)
Tech Sgt. Ryan Edison

Marine Corps Air Station Futenma hosts the 2019 triathlon

U.S. Air Force Senior Airman Andre Butler, 33rd Rescue Squadron crew chief, checks the tail of an HH-60 Pave Hawk Sept. 19, 2019, at Kadena Air Base, Japan. The HH-60 Pave Hawk has a hoist capable of lifting up to 600 pounds during personnel recovery missions. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Rhett Isbell)
Senior Airman Andre Butler

Rescue Airmen: Low density, high demand

U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Cynthia Belío
Senior Airman Aurora Ortiz

Kadena Airman climbs to resiliency

U.S. Marine Corps 1st Lt. Wyatt McAlpine, company executive officer, with 3rd Law Enforcement Battalion, executes a farmers carry during the Okinawa's Strongest: Battle of the South, Sept. 29, 2019 on Camp Foster, Okinawa, Japan. The competition challenges men and women to compete in physically demanding events to find the strongest on the island. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Brennan J. Beauton)
1st Lt. Wyatt McAlpine

U.S. Military community competes to be Okinawa’s Strongest

U.S. Marine Corps Lt. Col. Michael Hlad, right, presents trophies to the winners of the 2019 Chef of the 4th Quarter competition, Cpl. Tommy Pham, left, and Cpl. Jaden Brown, at Camp Hansen, Okinawa, Japan, Sept. 26, 2019. Pham, a native of Broussard, La., is a food service specialist with, 1st Battalion, 12th Marine Regiment. Brown, a native of Washington D.C., is a food service specialist with 3rd Battalion, 12th Marine Regiment. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Kindo Go)
Cpl. Tommy Pham

U.S. Marines compete for Chef of the Quarter on Camp Hansen

Official U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Harrison Rakhshani
Sgt. Maj. Michael J. West

III MIG sergeant major relief ceremony

U.S. Air Force photo by Tech. Sgt. Matthew B. Fredericks
U.S. Air Force Airman 1st Class Victor Luna-Pena

Maintainers keep the Eagle ready to fly

Air Force Tech. Sgt. Kenneth O'Brien of the 320th Special Tactics Squadron at Kadena Air Base, Japan, is pictured here at Kadena Air Base, Japan, on July 30, 2019. O?Brien, who was one of 12 recipients of the Air Force Association?s award for outstanding airmen of 2019 on Sept. 16, 2019, saved a child's life on his way to the awards ceremony. (18TH WING PUBLIC AFFAIRS)
Air Force Tech. Sgt. Kenneth O'Brien

‘Outstanding’ airman on way to collect award performs one more good deed, saving a child’s life

Photos by Samantha Bettenhausen
Samantha Bettenhausen

Dear Okinawa… A love letter to the island

U.S. Marine Lance Cpl. Gabriel Marrero, a fire directional control specialist with Headquarters Battery, 12th Marine Regiment, 3rd Marine Division, stands security during Thunder Field Training Exercise on Camp Hansen, Okinawa, Japan, Sept. 18, 2019. The purpose of the exercise is to rehearse setting up an expeditionary combat operations center and refine procedures for doing so. Marrero is a native of Atlantic City, N.J. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Pfc. Jamal Norris)
Lance Cpl. Gabriel Marrero

2019 Thunder FTX

U.S. Air Force photo by Naoto Anazawa)
Airman 1st Class Toni Webber

Initial certification training gains Airmen capabilities

U.S. Air Force Maj. Mark Fraser, 18th Operations Support Squadron chief of wing weapons and tactics, was recently recognized for his outstanding performance at Kadena Air Base, Japan, by receiving the 2019 Air Rescue Association Richard T. Kight Award. Fraser distinguished himself through superior innovation and team management. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Rhett Isbell)
Maj. Mark Fraser

Kadena Airman wins Air Force award

U.S. Air Force Capt. Cole Holloway a pilot from the 67th Fighter Squadron, hugs his wife, Meghan Holloway, Dec. 14, 2018, on Kadena Air Base, Japan. After processing his diagnosis of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), Holloway’s focus is on being a good husband, family member and friend. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Micaiah Anthony)
Capt. Cole Holloway and Meghan Holloway

Team Kadena pauses operations to recharge, assist each other

U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airmen Rhett Isbell
Seaman Blakley Jones

18th SFS hosts first-ever blood drive

U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Peter Reft
Staff Sgt. Chandler Nowell

Small shop, Big mission