Tsubasa-Kai / JAAGA sent a delegation to United States in order to promote friendship more between Japan Air Self Defense Force (JASDF) and United States Air Force (USAF) from 6 to 17 September.　Delegation members were JAAGA president Toutake (head of delegation), JAAGA secretariat Kagawa, Hori, Nagaiwa.　We visited headquarters of US. Pacific Command (PACOM, Hawaii), Pacific Air Force (PACAF, Hawaii), 14th Air Force (14AF, Vandenberg AFB. CA, unit of Air Force Space Command).　Secretariat Ochi joined to the delegation in Washington DC after visiting these units.　Then we participated in AFA Annual Convention 2009 and visited Department of Defense, headquarters of USAF and Japan Embassy in Washington DC to exchange opinions.
　　At each visiting place, we could meet many USAF general officers who have duty experience in Japan and former 5th Air Force commanders who are JAAGA honorary members now, and we could have good information through conversation with them.　We improved the reliability between Japan and US blue uniform.　Also we could touch USAF's strong will which they are aiming the absolute superiority in Air, Space, Cyber - Space.　This gave us valuable suggestion to our future Air Power.
　　We made call at HQ.PACOM, HQ.PACAF and HQ of 13rd Air Force (13AF) in Hawaii where we visited first.　We paid courtesy visit to BG.Hooper (Deputy Director for Strategic Planning and Policy, PACOM), Maj.Gen. Jouas (Director of Operations, Plans, Requirements and Programs, PACAF) and Lt.Gen.Carlisle (commander of 13AF).　There we exchanged opinions related on our each interesting issues.
　　Gen.Hooper has 3 duties experience in China for 8 years included military attache since 1989 when Tiananmen Square incident had occurred.　We suppose that his assignment in PACOM is for China military argument which United States is focusing on.
　　General North (commander of PACAF) had TDY to CONUS, so he was out of office then.　There we could exchange information with Gen.Carlisle and Gen.Jouas at HQ.PACAF.　We were able to meet Gen.North at AFA Convention.
　　13AF is key unit of USAF which mainly perform air operation over aerospace from India to West coast of United States including Far East theater, so I think we have to coordinate with this unit soon for our air defense and deterrent.　They strongly pointed the importance of maintaining the superiority of Air, Space and Cyber-Space, and the importance of cooperating and unifying of them.
　　After arriving LA from Honolulu, we drove to Vandenberg AFB for 3 hours.　At Vandenberg.we had courtesy call to Lt.Gen.James (commander of 14AF and former vice commander of 5th Air Force).　We were guided to Space Launch Complex 3 (SLC3) where military weather satellite was ready for launching and 14AF Space Operation Center (CSpOC).　This base is very extensive and there are some satellite launching sites.　United States has many kind of space operation, early warning, reconnaissance, positioning, and space surveillance etc..　Defense operation in space was released few years ago with Space Basic Law in Japan.　We have to invest national resources for this field even small defense budget, and should take strong interest in US military structure and trend of satellite operation in future.
.　　In Washington DC we participated in the opening ceremony of AFA Annual Convention and had courtesy call to Mr.Dunn, AFA president.　And we could have chance to talk with General Schwalt (Chief of Staff, USAF) in this convention.　We understood potential power of US Air Force, because active airmen, civilian employee, government officials, Air Force veteran and many contractors meet together, and argue about their Air Power which is core and vital force for national interest and national security.　In the huge exhibit hall next to convention hall, many defense contractors displayed military material and equipment and set up many explanation displays in order to show their latest and sophisticate technology.　Specially they showed off unmanned vehicle, equipment for space and Cyber-Space and aerospace materials which are directly effective for ground operation.
　　Next day we visited Pentagon to meet Mr.Wallace Gregson (Assistant Secretary of Defense, Asian and Pacific Security Affairs), Maj.Gen.Rew (Director of Operational Planning, Policy and Strategy, HQ.USAF), Brig.Gen.Callahan (Deputy Director for Politico-Military Affairs for Asia, Joint Staff).　There they explained us about US Asian policy, present situation of USAF and latest USAF operation conception, and we exchanged opinions and information on the these issues with them.
　　Mr.Gregson commented about the importance of strengthening of US-Japan alliance with "De-nuclearization without coming back" against North Korea, and the importance of approaching to China issue with caution and "reliable stake holders".　And he pointed　the importance of close cooperation with Japan, US and Korea for stability of East Asian- Pacific region, including PKO (Peace Keeping Operation) and International Disaster Relief.
　　Gen.Rew elucidated us about Global Strike Command （GSC) organized in August and Air Combat Command.　GSC has basically responsible for nuclear operation.　Today nuclear disarmament debate is hot, but GSC was reorganized this time to maintain nuclear superiority in future.　And USAF's primary mission in battle in Iraq and Afghanistan are CAS (Close Air Support) and ISR (Information, Surveillance and Reconnaissance), he said.　Hereafter US Army will be accelerated to withdraw from Iraq, USAF will be lastly withdraw from there because Iraq Air Force is not regulated well and does not function enough now.　In Afghanistan theater, USAF will make more positive support system to US Army including manned and unmanned air vehicles.
　　During this tour we could touch that USAF concerns that next generation war will be in Cyber-Space.　So USAF organized 24th Air Force under Air Force Space Command, 24AF specially engages Cyber war and now is accelerating their activity in order to get the superiority in Cyber-Space era
　　By the way, Ambassador Fujisaki has showed us deep understanding about fraternizing with JASDF and USAF, so he invited JAAGA delegation, Gen.Myers, Gen.Everhart, Lt.Gen.Wascow, Lt.Gen.Wright ( former commanders of USAFJ) and Gen.Jumper (former USAF Chief) to his official residence.　And when we visited Minister Shinoda, he said that they started to build up grass-roots network of reliability with strong solidarity between USAF and JASDF airmen by the strong leadership of ambassador Fujisaki.
　　JAAGA delegation's mission has become fulfilled each time because of great support by persons concerned, we could have interchange with honorary members and exchange our opinion with many peoples at the places we visited.　Finally I would like to put a pen with great appreciation to the peoples who supported this tour, Gen.Hokazono (JASDF Chief) and his staffs, Col.Ozaki and Lt.Col.Tazaki (Air Attache in Washington DC)　(reported by secretariat Nagaiwa)