Thank you very much for your generous introduction. Gentlemen, officers, distinguished guests, friends and above all members of the Japan-America Air Force Goodwill Association, good evening. (Konnichiwa)
　　It is an honor for me to be able to join you today. Thank you Major General Nakatsukasa, JAAGA Secretariat, for inviting me to speak at your annual convention.I am a big supporter of JAAGA and applaud your goals of promoting friendship between the Japan Air Self Defense Force and the United States Air Force.
　　This afternoon I will briefly discuss our mission at Kadena and the forces we have to do that mission.　I will also discuss why we think Kadena is a strategic base for the United States and why we call it the Keystone of the Pacific.　Then I will explain the Expeditionary Air and Space Force concept, or EAF, and the Air and Space Expeditionary Force, or AEF.　Finally, I will highlight how our combat forces support AEFs, the global war on terrorism in Operation Enduring Freedom, Operation Iraqi Freedom and our efforts at Kadena to support the United States’ flexible deterrent options to keep North Korea in check.　

Mission Statement
　　Our mission statement is simple - to Defend Japan and U.S. mutual interest by providing a responsive staging and operational air base with integrated, deployable, forward based airpower. To accomplish this goal, Kadena Air Base maintains a combat ready composite force of fighters, tankers, rescue helicopters, airborne and ground based radar systems along with the infrastructure necessary to mobilize, deploy, and employ forces in support of our mutual interests. The 18th Wing represents an air supremacy team like no other -- ready to fly, fight and win.

Keystone of the Pacific.　
　　Because of its strategic location, the Air Force often calls Kadena the Keystone of the Pacific. We’re only about 2 hours flying time from Tokyo, approximately one hour and 45 minutes from the demilitarized zone in Korea and about 45 minutes from Taiwan.　Our presence on Okinawa supports our mutual interest of regional peace, stability, and the resulting prosperity for everyone.　Approximately 40 percent of U.S. trade is with Asia and our economy has become interdependent with most nations in this region.
　Many countries in this region, including Japan, favor having a U.S. presence.　Our forces convey a tangible commitment to defending mutual interests in the Pacific Rim, especially those in the Western Pacific.　In the event of a major conflict, terrorist attack, or threat to our mutual interests, time may be the difference between defeat and victory. And as technology advances, the reaction times are getting shorter as ballistic missile technologies improve and weapons of mass destruction proliferate.
　The 18th Wing is subordinate to the Fifth Air Force at Yokota AB Japan, and Pacific Air Forces (PACAF) at Hickam AFB, Hawaii.　We support all four military services, several Department of Defense agencies, the State Department and five other US Air Force major commands.
　There are approximately 6,500 military members assigned to the wing. The total base population of 21,000 includes dependents, U.S. civilians, Japanese base workers, and contractors. The wing manages $6 billion in resources, including our F-15s, KC-135s, E-3s, and HH-60s aircraft valued at more than $4 billion.
　Kadena’s presence on Okinawa contributes significantly to the island’s economy. The base’s annual economic impact is estimated above $700 million. This includes payment of local employee salaries, rent for off-base housing, and contracts with local companies. Additionally, approximately 7,400 Japanese citizens who own land on Kadena receive substantial payments from the Government of Japan.　

Air Asset
　　I would like to talk about the combat airpower at Kadena that represents our commitment. The 18th Wing, part of the Pacific Air Forces, is the host unit at Kadena Air Base. With 80 aircraft assigned, it’s the largest overseas combat composite wing in the Air Force.
　We have two F-15 squadrons with 24 aircraft each, the 44th and 67th Fighter Squadrons that represent our air superiority capability.　Our F-15s carry up to eight air intercept missiles including the AIM-7, AIM-9 and AIM-120 advanced medium range air-to-air missile or AMRAAM. The F-15 achieved the most air-to-air success during the Gulf War in 1991 of any U.S. combat aircraft.
　Our 15 KC-135s in the 909th Air Refueling Squadron are the only permanently based United States Air Force tanker aircraft in the Western Pacific. They provide crucial air refueling to our aircraft during any contingency. This capability extends our on-station time of our air forces across the region.
　The two E-3 Sentrys, otherwise known as AWACS, are in the 961st Airborne Air Control Squadron and are a critical command and control element, which provides both surveillance and control during any crises.
　Our 10 HH-60 Black Hawk helicopters are part of the 33rd Rescue Squadron and can operate day or night, performing rescue missions for anyone in distress during contingencies or peacetime.　This is an important capability considering the vast areas of water we both operate over.
　In addition to Kadena’s 18th Wing assets, we also host 13 associate units on Kadena, units that aren’t within the 18th Wing chain of command.　

Team Kadena　
　　For example, the RC-135 Rivet Joint, assigned to the 82nd Reconnaissance Squadron, provides electronic surveillance for the Pacific region.
　The 353rd Special Operations group 10 MC-130s provide combat and tactical airlift of cargo and troops under adverse conditions.
　Navy P-3’s provide training and support for the　Seventh Fleet.　Three to 10 P-3 Orions operate out of Kadena on a rotational basis conducting sea-lane surveillance.　Navy and Marine Corps fighters also deploy from Kadena and the Navy maintains two C-12 transport aircraft at Kadena.
　The United States has no more important partner or ally than Japan. For nearly two generations, our citizens have forged a friendship that is as durable as any in the history of nations.　Now, as we embrace a new threat against us, the Global War on Terrorism, our nations have a unique opportunity to work alongside a coalition of 90 nations, the largest coalition in the history of mankind, to encourage prosperity and enhance security.
　As you may know, our President reaffirmed his commitment to freedom and democracy and the fight against terrorism on March 17 when he announced that the United States, along with coalition partners, would work to advance liberty and peace in the Southwest Asia region.　Our two countries joined together and called upon our armed forces to meet the challenge against the Afghan Army, the Al Qaeda, the Taliban, Osama Bin Laden and now Saddam Hussein.
　President Bush stated, “The power and appeal of human liberty is felt in every life and every land. And the greatest power of freedom is to overcome hatred and violence, and turn the creative gifts of men and women to the pursuits of peace.”
　Within 72 hours of the campaign to free Iraq, coalition forces captured over 3,000 prisoners and hundreds of civilians surrendered as a means of getting food and water.
　In less than seven days we flew over 15,000 sorties…the targets included the headquarters of the Iraqi intelligence service, otherwise known as the enforcement arm of the Iraqi regime, barracks facilities of the Palace Guard, and a number of presidential palaces, which had been used to hide weapons. The attacks in and around the capital of Baghdad and throughout Iraq were obviously effective.　
　You might ask how can a military force deploy 37,000 air force people to the region to support Operation Iraqi Freedom?　This is a direct result of the way we organized the United States Air Force under a new concept called Expeditionary Air and Space Forces or EAF.　If you think of WWII, Korea, Vietnam, Desert Storm, or Operation Iraqi Freedom you should have a good idea of the EAF concept.　Most of the airpower was from the United States and it moved forward to fight the war.　The cold war, when the Air Force had thousands of people and aircraft deployed, was not expeditionary.　It was forward based and designed to fight in place.　
　Let me explain a little about our Air and Space Expeditionary Forces, or AEFs.　First, the United States Air Force took all of its combat power and divided it into 10 relatively equal combat forces.　These forces include approximately 175 aircraft and over 15,000 airmen each.　The aircraft range from B-52, B-1 and B-2 bombers, to F-15 and F-16 fighters, to U-2s and Airborne Warning and Control Aircraft, and every other type aircraft in our inventory.　

AEF
　　During the first 10 months, our airmen receive their home station training and a validation exercise such as Red Flag or Cope Thunder.　The next 2 months they prepare for deployment and then the last 3 months they actually deploy for 90 days or so.　Once they return, they have an opportunity to take some time off and then get restarted on the next cycle.　
　The Air Force implemented the AEF system in September 1999 to allow unit commanders and airmen to better plan for deployments and make them more predictable.　We are now on our third 15-month cycle.　Our airmen can more easily plan their lives around these cycles.　Issues such as raising a family or advanced education are easier to plan when our folks know when they will deploy.　Our superior training and ability to use the AEF rotation concept as a foundation to enable combat power has made our airmen happier, kept them in the Air Force, provided better trained troops and allowed the Air Force to complete our multi-faceted missions with less stress and improved morale.　
　For Operation Iraqi Freedom, the Air Force originally had AEFs 7 and 8　deployed.　Because the Operation was so large, we kept AEFs 7 and 8 in place and deployed AEFs 9 and 10 and elements of AEFs 1 and 2 to put the right mix and number of people and aircraft in the field.　
　At Kadena, the 18th Wing supports AEFs 5 and 7.　Most of the 750 people we deployed from Kadena were extended in the region indefinitely.　Many came from our F-15 squadrons and the 961st Airborne Air Control Squadron.　They were supposed to return home by the end of February this year.　Many will not return until well after 6 months.　We also support AEF with many of our support personnel.　We call it Expeditionary Combat Support or ECS.　People such as Security Forces, Civil Engineering, Services, Medical and almost every other capability we have at Kadena have deployed as ECS support on the AEFs and are deployed now as part of AEF 7.
　Let me emphasize that the purpose behind each of the AEFs is to organize, train and equip ready forces to deliver versatile and responsive air and space power to meet mission requirements worldwide. Our focus is in support of national objectives while providing Air Force service members and their families with more stability and predictability.　
　Air Force service members serving in South Korea do not deploy under AEF because they would remain on the peninsula should a conflict arise there.　In fact, the Air Force just　recently recognized the forces in Korea as the 11th AEF.　
　Now that we have explored how an AEF works, I would like to let you know what our forces at Kadena have done over the past year in support of AEF, the global war on terrorism, which is called Operation Enduring Freedom, Operation Iraqi Freedom and our flexible deterrent option used as a show of force to North Korea.　
　In Sep 02 we sent our first squadron of F-15s, the 44th Fighter Squadron, to Southwest Asia in support of Operation Southern Watch.　In Dec 02, the 67th Fighter Squadron replaced them and was there until the middle of this month. 　I am convinced that our pilots, maintainers and mission support personnel who fly and fix our F15s are the principal reason that Iraqi’s Air Force never launched a single aircraft…let me repeat that…the Iraq Air Force, with billions of dollars invested in fighter aircraft, never launched a single fighter because of Kadena F-15s.　
　The 961st Airborne Air Control Squadron supported AEF 5 and 7 deployments to Operation SOUTHERN WATCH and Operation Iraqi Freedom.　They provided crews and support personnel for AEF 5 and crews, support personnel and aircraft to AEF 7.　They provided a 100% accurate air picture to the Combined Air Operations Center.　They also provided World Cup Surveillance for the soccer games played in both South Korea and Japan.　
　The 909th Air Refueling Squadron was deployed in support of world contingencies providing enroute refueling to our E3s and F15s to get them to Southwest Asia, as well as establishing air bridges for other aircraft coming into the Pacific region.　They had two unit deployments to Utaphao, Thailand and Paya Lebar AB, Singapore in support of both bomber and cargo aircraft, including B-1, B-2 and B-52 bombers.These bombers were enroute to targets in Afghanistan and the cargo aircraft were carrying humanitarian supplies.　The 909th played a very large part supporting B-1 and B-52 aircraft into Guam along with F-117s to the Korean Peninsula as part of our flexible deterrent option for North Korea.　　
　The 33rd Rescue Squadron supported Operation Enduring Freedom in the Philippines when they deployed for 140 days to Zamboanga to provide Combat Search and Rescue support to Joint Task Force 510 operations in the vicinity of Basilan Island.　During that timeframe, crews of the 33rd flew 15 combat missions and saved 19 lives including U.S. Air Force, Marine and Filipino.　In addition to providing combat alert, the unit provided casualty evacuation training and numerous vertical lift support missions for the multinational force.　In August, the 33rd provided two crews and two helicopters to the Korean peninsula, covering 24-hour, 30-minute response capability for a multinational force involved with salvage operations of a Republic of Korea Navy vessel.　They　also provided 30-minute search and rescue alert coverage during the entire World Cup soccer tournament.　
　Our 18th　Operational Support Squadron was instrumental in working the historic week-long air-to-air refueling familiarization visit for 21 JASDF guests, providing familiarization flights, tours, orientations, and academics.　We feel the increased cooperation and inter-operability while enhancing bilateral operations paves the way for participation in multinational exercises and initial Japan Air Self Defense Force air capabilities.　The air-to-air refueling training will improve current JASDF capabilities and assist with preparing the JASDF to participate in future training exercises.　It also paves the way for the JASDF to receive your own tankers.　Even our 623rd Air Control flight was involved in the JASDF visit by providing air refueling rendezvous training to JASDF members.　
　The ultimate goal of this bilateral air refueling and ground control battle management and intercept training is to develop and improve techniques and procedures that enhance bilateral air operations for the purpose of being able to better serve the defense of Japan.　
　Let me provide you with some insight into the affect the AEF program has on operations overall.　Since the start of Operation Enduring Freedom on October 7th, 2001, more than 18 months ago, the Air Force team -- active, Guard, Reserve -- have flown nearly 80,000 sorties, greater than three-quarters of all Operation Enduring Freedom missions.　Air Force bombers, fighters, airlifters, tankers and intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance assets are in action daily.　
　B-1s, B-2s, B-52s, F-15E’s, F-16s, A-10s and AC-130s have flown more than 75 percent of combat missions in Afghanistan, dropping nearly 10,000 tons, approximately 75 percent of the Operation Enduring Freedom total, and damaged or destroyed approximately three-quarters of planned targets.　Throughout combat operations in Afghanistan, the Air Force has flown more than 39,650 airlift missions.　These missions have moved more than 418,000 passengers and more than 429,000 tons of cargo from the U.S. to the Afghan theater of operations.　
　And we paid the price with some of our people from Kadena. Two of our 353rd Special Operation Group teammates lost their lives while supporting Operation Enduring Freedom in the Philippines. These men paid the ultimate price and just like our fallen heroes fighting to liberate Iraq, their courage, dedication and commitment to preserving freedom and democracy will never be forgotten.　
　In Operation Iraqi Freedom, the United States Air Force has more than 800 aircraft employed and we are averaging more than 1,000 sorties per day.　In fact, as of last week, since the beginning of the war on March 19th, the Air Force has flown more than 18,000 sorties, which is more than half of the total coalition sorties.　In that time,coalition aircraft have dropped more than 23,000 munitions, roughly 70 percent of which were precision guided.　
　We have also continued to fly airlift sorties and have conducted more than 6,500 sorties to date.　Even though the coalition has been very successful, we have had to conduct more than 200 Combat Search and Rescue sorties, which is more than 84 percent of the coalition total.　Unfortunately, we have paid the price with our sons and daughters.　We now have more than 122 US Forces killed in action and prisoners of war.　
　We must have resolve as we approach the future. We know that air power often will be the military option of choice for situations that occur in this region. These situations will probably be for a limited objective, dictated by changing political constraints. We will not fight these fast developing conflicts alone, but with our friends and allies.　
　As Secretary of State Colin Powell said during his swearing in ceremony, “Our world is on a new road to democracy, to freedom, and to allowing every man and woman in the world to pursue their individual destinies, if given the chance at freedom and democracy.”　
　But just as important,both your government and the U.S. reaffirmed that the presence of American military forces remains vital to the peace and prosperity in the region.　
　JASDF like the USAF has a long and rich history. On June 3, 1954, the Japan Diet authorized the establishment of JASDF, which was established less than one month later on July 1. For close to 50 years your air self defense force has maintained air sovereignty, prevented unidentified aircraft from entering your air space and assured peace and stability.　Your organization will help celebrate JASDF’s 50th anniversary in 2004.　
　I am excited about the future for both our air forces. We have a proud legacy as well as a promising future.　I don’t think people question the value of air and space power anymore. I know we will continue to have the ability to face tough problems with courage and commitment. 　
　We also need to make sure the next generation of men and women will have the technology and skill to fulfill their mission. Currently, the USAF has plans to replace the F-15s with the Advanced Tactical Fighter, the F/A-22 Raptor.　But we also need to remember that the success of our ability to win a battle, or resolve a conflict comes from the courage, commitment and the character of our people. 　
　As President Bush said before he took office, “America remains involved in the world, by history and by choice, shaping a balance of power that favors freedom. To achieve this goal, we need a foreign policy that serves America's vital interests and speaks for our highest ideals; a foreign policy that is clear and consistent and confident, true to our values, and true to our friends.” And Japan is our friend, a strong friend, which remains dedicated to the principals of freedom and democracy.　
　I hope I have left you with a greater understanding of our forces at Kadena and how they contribute to the United States Air Force in the context of Air and Space Force Expeditionary forces.　Kadena is the Keystone to the Pacific from an airpower perspective and we are there to defend Japan and U.S. mutual interests.　Yet, we are flexible enough to support AEFs, the global war on terrorism and present a formidable force to keep North Korea in check.　The Japan-America Air Force Goodwill Association remains a valuable support group for the JASDF and the United States Air Forces in Japan.　I am thankful for the opportunity to tell you about the commitment those in the 18th Wing and Kadena have in support of our shared commitment to peace and prosperity.　Thank you