Cope North 2013 kicks off on Guam

Airmen from the 35th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron, Misawa Air Base, Japan, load pallet with a fork lift into a Royal Australian Air force C-130 with the help of Airmen from the 37th Squadron, RAAF Base Richmond, Australia during Cope North Feb. 4, 2013. Cope North is a multilateral Pacific Air Forces-sponsored Field Training Exercise (FTX) conducted annually at Andersen Air Force Base, Guam. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Alex Montes/RELEASED)

Yokota teens clean the streets of Fussa

FUSSA CITY, Japan - Abram Smith, 12, and Besma Brewer, 13, from the Yokota Air Base Teen Center search for trash with a local volunteer at Fussa City, Japan, Jan. 19, 2013. “I had fun today and I felt good about myself and for the town, “Abram Smith said. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Soo C. Kim)

F-22 Raptors deploy to Kadena

F-22A Raptors and about 300 Airmen from the 1st Fighter Wing, Joint Base Langley-Eustis, Va., and the 192nd Fighter Wing, Va. Air National Guard, deployed to Kadena Air Base, Japan, on Jan. 14, 2013. The F-22 deployment is in support of U.S. Pacific Command's security obligations in the Western Pacific. (U.S. Air Force photo/Airman 1st Class Justin Veazie)

Frostbite run

A group of Japanese children begins the 2K race during the annual Frostbite Run Jan. 13, 2013, at Yokota Air Base, Japan. Team Yokota welcomed more than 10,000 Japanese runners from the local area during the annual event. (U.S. Air Force photo Capt. Raymond Geoffroy)

909th ARS conducts training sortie

A KC-135 Stratotanker refuels an F-15 Eagle during a training sortie near Kadena Air Base, Japan, Dec. 27, 2012. The 909th Air Refueling Squadron provides combat ready KC-135 tanker aircrews to support peacetime operations in all levels of conflict in the Pacific theater. (U.S. Air Force photo/Airman 1st Class Tyler Prince)

Okinawa orphanage receives holiday cheer

U.S. Air Force Senior Airman Cody Hyde, 18th Dental Squadron dental assistant, helps a child get on his bike at the Ai Rin Orphanage in Okinawa, Japan, Dec. 21, 2012. The 18th Medical Group collected more than 40 toys for different age groups to give Christmas presents to the children at the orphanage. (U.S. Air Force photo/Capt. Jan Kolenda)

Airpower integrated into Yama Sakura 63

Col. Stephen Myers, 5th Battlefield Coordination Detachment commander (left), discusses the coordination of bilateral air and ground operations during Yama Sakura 63 with Maj. Gen. Masashi Yamada, Air Defense Command commander (middle), in the Bilateral Air Operations Command Center at Yokota Air Base, Japan, Dec. 11, 2012. (U.S. Air Force photo by Capt. Cody Chiles)

Operation Christmas Drop 2012

12/13/2012 - Senior Airman Timothy Oberman, left, and Staff Sgt. Nick Alarcon, loadmasters with the 36th Airlift Squadron, Yokota Air Base, Japan, watch out the back of a C-130H aircraft after dropping the first pallet of humanitarian goods to the island of Ulal Dec. 11, 2012. This year is the 61st anniversary of OCD, making it the longest running humanitarian mission in the world. (U.S. Air Force photo by Tech. Sgt. Samuel Morse/Released)

Kadena, Tinker units team up for presidential support

An E-3 Sentry aircraft deployed from Kadena Air Base, Japan, takes off from an airfield in Thailand, Nov. 20, while providing security support for a U.S. presidential visit to Southeast Asia. A total of four E-3s and 150 Airmen from the two bases provided air battle management support during President Barrack Obama's four-day visit to Thailand, Cambodia and Burma. (Courtesy photo)

Japanese Defense Minister Satoshi Morimoto Visits Yokota

11/27/2012 - Japanese Defense Minister Satoshi Morimoto, left, and Lt. Gen. Sam Angelella, U.S. Forces, Japan, and 5th Air Force commander, walk through a saber cordon at Yokota Air Base, Japan, Nov. 27, 2012. The Yokota Air Base Honor Guard organized the saber cordon to formally welcome Morimoto. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Krystal M. Garrett) http://www.yokota.af.mil/news/story.asp?id=123327747

Yokota Airmen participate in ORE

YOKOTA AIR BASE, Japan -- Airman 1st Class Trevor Greentree, back, 374th Civil Engineer Squadron, scans for simulated chemical agents on a C-130 Hercules aircrew member during an operation readiness exercise at Yokota Air Base, Japan, Nov. 8, 2012. Yokota airmen use exercises to maintain operational readiness capabilities. (U.S. Air Force photo by Osakabe Yasuo) http://www.yokota.af.mil/news/story.asp?id=123325732

Acing Keen Sword: practice makes perfect

A U.S. Air Force F-16 Fighting Falcon aircraft takes off during Keen Sword 2013 at Misawa Air Base, Japan, Nov. 8, 2012. Keen Sword is a two-week long exercise that provides Airmen with an environment to enhance their mutual understanding of bilateral tactics, communication protocols and general interoperability. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Kenna Jackson) http://www.misawa.af.mil/news/story.asp?id=123327599

Jungle Air Force Det 1 furls its flag

YOKOTA AIR BASE, Japan -- Japan Air Self-Defense Force generals attend the 13th Air Force Detachment 1 inactivation ceremony at Yokota Air Base, Japan, Sept. 26, 2012. Since its activation in January 2007, the detachment has worked intelligence, operations, planning, logistics and communications issues on behalf of Pacific Air Forces to strengthen the alliance between U.S. and Japan. (U.S. Air Force photo by Osakabe Yasuo)

Jungle Air Force Det 1 furls its flag

YOKOTA AIR BASE, Japan -- U.S. Air Force Brig. Gen. Jerry Harris Jr. (left), 5th Air Force vice commander, and U.S. Air Force Col. Marc Reese, 13th Air Force Detachment 1 commander, stand at attention while the Yokota Honor Guard presents "The Colors" during the 13th AF Det 1 inactivation ceremony at Yokota Air Base, Japan, Sept. 26, 2012. The consolidation of Det 1 personnel into 5th Air Force is expected to streamline cooperation between 5th Air Force and the Japan Self Defense Forces, ultimately leading to increased interoperability and efficiency. (U.S. Air Force photo by Osakabe Yasuo)

Commanders host local community leaders

Honorary commanders visiting Kadena Air Base, Japan, as part of the Honorary Commander orientation tour talk with a 44th Fighter Squadron F-15C Eagle and Joint Base Langley-Eustis F-22 Raptor pilots on the Kadena flightline Sept. 7, 2012. The event was held as part of the Honorary Commander program, which is designed to build a better relationship and reinforce ties between the U.S. military and the community as well as give commanders the opportunity to showcase the 18th Wing mission. (U.S. Air Force photo/ Senior Airman Maeson L. Elleman)

Commanders host local community leaders

U.S. Air Force Capt. Stephen Emborski, 18th Civil Engineer Squadron Explosive Ordnance Disposal Flight commander, helps Akari Yakabi, 2011 Okinawa Junior Chamber of Commerce president, try on an explosive ordnance disposal bomb suit helmet during the Honorary Commander orientation tour on Kadena Air Base, Japan, Sept. 7, 2012. During the tour, more than 30 local Okinawan leaders caught a glimpse of the wing's mission through demonstrations by the 18th Civil Engineer Group and the 18th Security Forces Squadron's military working dogs. The visitors were also treated to a showcase of a Kadena F-15C Eagle and Joint Base Langley-Eustis F-22 Raptor on Kadena's flightline. (U.S. Air Force photo/ Senior Airman Maeson L. Elleman)

Yokota welcomes approximately 178,000 during annual Japanese-American Friendship Festival

YOKOTA AIR BASE, Japan -- Thousands of Japanese patrons fill the street in front of the entrance to the flightline during the 2012 Japanese-American Friendship Festival at Yokota Air Base, on Aug. 19, 2012. Over a span of two days, approximately 178,000 patrons attended the event. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Chad C. Strohmeyer)

USFJ, 5 AF CC flies Wild Weasel territory

U.S. Air Force Lt. Gen. Sam Angelella, U.S. Forces, Japan, and 5th Air Force commander, takes off in an F-16 Fighting Falcon at Misawa Air Base, Japan, Aug. 10, 2012. This was Angelella’s first visit to Misawa as the commander of USFJ, and 5 AF. He previously served as the 35th Fighter Wing Commander from 2005-2007. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Kia Atkins/Released)

5 AF Airmen killed in 1943 plane crash honored in Australia

MACKAY, Australia -- Maj. Gen. Jay Raymond, center, Fifth Air Force Vice Commander, poses for a picture here June 3, 2012, along with various Royal Australian Air Force leaders and civilian members of the Bakers Creek Memorial committee. The group is standing in front of a monument in honor of the 40 Fifth Air Force members who died in a plane crash there in 1943 during World War II. This year marked the 20th anniversary of the dedication of the monument. (Courtesy photo)

JASDF ADC grand opening ceremony

YOKOTA AIR BASE, Japan -- Senior Japanese and U.S. guests unveil a picture honoring the Japan-U.S. Alliance during the Japan Air Self-Defense Force Air Defense Command Headquarters grand opening ceremony at Yokota Air Base, Japan, May 30, 2012. The ADC headquarters was relocated from Fuchu Air Base as part of the 2006 Realignment Roadmap, a bilateral initiative to enhance the U.S.-Japan Security Alliance and address force realignments in the Pacific. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class John D. Partlow)

JASDF ADC grand opening ceremony

YOKOTA AIR BASE, Japan -- Japanese Defense Minister Naoki Tanaka gives remarks during the Japan Air Self-Defense Force Air Defense Command Headquarters grand opening ceremony at Yokota Air Base, Japan, May 30, 2012. Tanaka congratulated the successful completion of the ADC move to Yokota AB, which will further strengthen defense cooperation and interoperability between the two forces. (U.S. Air Force photo by Osakabe Yasuo)

JASDF ADC grand opening ceremony

YOKOTA AIR BASE, Japan -- U.S. Air Force Lt. Gen. Burton Field, U.S. Forces Japan and Fifth Air Force commander, gives a speech during the Japan Air Self-Defense Force Air Defense Command Headquarters grand opening ceremony at Yokota Air Base, Japan, May 30, 2012. Field said, "The ADC relocation optimizes both nations’ ability to meet traditional, new, and future threats, and will ensure the Japan-U.S. partnership remains an anchor for regional security for the next several decades and beyond." (U.S. Air Force photo by Osakabe Yasuo)

Kadena refuels JASDF's interoperability skills

U.S. Air Force Staff Sgt. Brian Porter, 909th Air Refueling Squadron boom operator, trains Japanese Air Self Defense Force Col. Mitsushi Fukunaga on boom operations aboard a U.S. Air Force KC-135 Stratotanker over Okinawa, Japan, May 10, 2012. Kadena Airmen conducted familiarization training with Japanese fighter pilots from Komatsu Air Base, Japan, aboard the air refueler to prepare for an upcoming Red Flag exercise. (U.S. Air Force photo/Airman 1st Class Brooke P. Beers)

Kadena refuels JASDF's interoperability skills

U.S. Air Force Staff Sgt. Brian Porter, 909th Air Refueling Squadron boom operator, goes over safety procedures with Japanese Air Self Defense Force airmen before performing refueling training at Kadena Air Base, Japan, May 10, 2012. For the past five years, JASDF airmen have been training with Kadena Airmen to familiarize themselves with air refueling before participating in exercises such as Red Flag in Alaska. (U.S. Air Force photo/Airman 1st Class Brooke P. Beers)