JAAGA award 2010 ceremony was opened at JASDF Misawa Air Base on 18th February (Fri).　The ceremony of this year is 13rd since this award system was established by JAAGA in 1998.　The presentation ceremony and reception was carried out at JASDF airmen club "Ogawahara", Lt.Gen. Harukazu Saitoh (commander of Northern Air Defense Force), Maj.Gen. Katsunori Kiyofuji (commander of 3rd Wing and JASDF Misawa AB) and 11 JASDF members, and Col. Michael Rothtein (commander of 35th Wing and USAF Misawa AB) and 7 USAF airmen participated in this event.　And as the distinguished guests, Mr. Shozoh Yamamoto (president of Misawa City Defense Association), Mr. Eiji Ichinohe (chairman of Misawa Area SDFs Retiree Employment Council) and 2 JASDF supporters were invited.　Vice president Toshimi Enoki and three members attended form JAAGA, .　Presentation ceremony was started with national anthems playing by NADF band members lead by Tech.Srg. Zenichi Kuriyama.　At the opening speech, vice president Enoki explained the purpose of JAAGA and expressed sincere appreciation regarding to supporting JAAGA activities by members of USAF and JASDF and lots of supporters around Misawa AB..
　　JASDF winner of this year is C.M. Srg.Kazuya Oda (member of Air Defense Group, Northern Aircraft Control & Warning Wing) who is the head of NCOs Association of JASDF Misawa AB and contributes to strengthening mutual understanding and friendship between NOOs of JASDF and USAF through NCOs Exchange Program.　USAF winner is M.Srg. Christopher Burch (member of Misawa Security Operation Center), and he actively contributes to revitalizing many kinds of US-Japan exchange programs as the chairperson of Misawa AB International Relation Committee.
　　Vice president Enoki presented the awards and memorial plaques, and then honored their achievement and blessed their receipt JAAGA award.　At this ceremony, Col Rothtein had congratulatory address, he applauded the winners' achievements, expressed appreciation to JAAGA and pointed the importance of this kinds of activities for mutual understanding.　Successively Maj.Gen. Kiyofuji admired their meritorious deed and added this award system is very significant because Misawa AB is the only air base of US-Japan joint use, keeps good relation with local citizens, and is a base such as the symbol of US-Japan friendship.
　　At the reception after ceremony, Mr.Yamamoto took a lead of toast for admiring the winners and improving friendship between US and Japan.　After then, the winners had speech.　They looked so glad and proud of the receiving JAAGA award.　M.Srg. Burch emphasized "the glass-root activity consists of the basis of mutual understanding", C.M.Srg. Oda expressed words of thanks to the peoples who support and will contribute for improving US-Japan exchanging through various events.　At the end of reception, Mr.Maruyama, head of JAAGA Misawa branch, had closing speech in frequent English and lead the closing toast.　We would like to express our sincere appreciation to JASDF and USAF staffs who kindly assisted for this award event.　(reported by secretariat Ogawa)