More than 300 men and women of the 388th and 419th Fighter Wings and 12 F-35As are conducting business for the next six months on the subtropical Japanese island of Okinawa during a deployment known as a Theater Security Package.
Their business is to fly the F-35A, integrate with Kadena Air Base’s F-15Cs and other assets and demonstrate the continuing U.S. commitment to stability and security in the Indo-Asia-Pacific region—and they’re excited to do it.
“We were very excited to find out we were coming here,” said Lt. Col. “Scout” Johnston, 34th Fighter Squadron commander. “It’s a wonderful place with wonderful people and the facilities are excellent. The airspace is phenomenal. This allows us to have great training opportunities and integration with other Air Force assets as well as with the Navy and Marine Corps and hopefully with the Japanese Self-defense force. So, we are excited to be here.”