Spotlight on You!

U.S. Air Force Col. Andrew Roddan, 374th Airlift Wing commander, addresses members of the Japan Air Self Defense Force during a celebratory New Year’s reception in Tachikawa, Japan, Jan. 21, 2023. Leaders from the 374th Airlift Wing were invited to discuss and reflect on the successful joint operations from the previous year, such as Operation Christmas Drop and the New Year’s jump events. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman Jarrett Smith)
Col. Andrew Roddan

Team Yokota celebrates a New Year with JASDF partners

Leaders from the 374th Airlift Wing and the 5th Air Force participated in a Japan Air Self Defense Force (JASDF) New Year’s Reception hosted by their Operations Support Wing (OSW) in Tachikawa, Japan, on Jan. 21, 2023.

U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Askia Collins
Capt. Walt Mainor and Cmdr. Colin Roberts

USS Ralph Johnson conducts Change of Command

Capt. Walt Mainor, left, Commodore of Commander Task Force (CTF) 71/Destroyer Squadron (DESRON) 15, awards Cmdr. Colin Roberts his end of tour award the flight deck of the Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Ralph Johnson (DDG 114) anchored in Tokyo Bay, Japan, during a change of command ceremony, Jan. 26.

U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Natalie Doan
1st Lt. Simon Castro

Yokota tour enhances US, Japan relations

Members of the National Base Relations Council, which represents 14 municipalities both locally and across Japan, toured Yokota Air Base to learn about the 374th Airlift Wing’s mission on January 20, 2023.

Summer Martinez, a cadet from Edgren High School, reloads a pellet into her rifle during a marksmanship match inside Zama Middle High School's gym at Camp Zama, Japan, Jan. 20, 2023. More than 70 cadets from all eight Department of Defense Education Activity high schools in Japan competed in the invitational event. (Photo Credit: Sean Kimmons)
Summer Martinez

Zama Middle High School holds its largest marksmanship match in years

More than 70 cadets are competing in a two-day marksmanship match, the largest of which to be held at Zama Middle High School in years.

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U.S. Marine Corps Cpl. Yocelin Vertiz, an Allen, Texas native, and an administrative specialist assigned to Headquarters and Headquarters Squadron, Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, poses for a photo at MCAS Iwakuni on Dec. 8, 2022. Vertiz currently serves as the H&HS Primary Single Marine Program Representative, where she helps coordinate events for her Marines. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Raymond Tong).
Cpl. Yocelin Vertiz

How volunteering changed a MCAS Iwakuni Marine’s life

Information Systems Technician Seaman Jessenia Clark, from Snellville, Georgia, renders honor as the ship returns to Commander, Fleet Activities Yokosuka, forward-deployed to Japan, Dec. 21. Milius is assigned to Commander, Task Force 71/Destroyer Squadron (DESRON) 15, the Navy’s largest forward-deployed DESRON and the U.S. 7th Fleet’s principal surface force. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Richard Cho)
Information Systems Technician Seaman Jessenia Clark

USS Milius returns to Yokosuka after a successful deployment

Staff Sgt. Heath Bain, assigned to the U.S. Army Japan Band, sings during the “An American Holiday Festival” concert Dec. 16 at Zama Harmony Hall in Zama City, Japan. The event was also held Dec. 17 and featured performances from the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force Tokyo Band, the Third Marine Expeditionary Force Band, the Guam National Guard Band, and community members from Camp Zama and Zama City alongside the USARJ Band. (Noriko Kudo)
Staff Sgt. Heath Bain

USARJ Band holiday concert enhances partnership between Camp Zama, Zama City

U.S. Air Force Master Sgt. Travis Parton, 730th Air Mobility Squadron first sergeant, volunteers to help the 374th Force Support Squadron collect packages for customers at the Yokota Post Office located at Yokota Air Base, Japan, Dec.10, 2022. Volunteers help the 374th FSS keep Yokota community members connected to friends and family around the world, by helping to ensure packages are delivered during the holiday season. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Manuel Zamora)
U.S. Air Force Master Sgt. Travis Parton

1st Sergeants help post office during holiday rush

Senior Airman Jeremy Jutba-Hake, 36th Airlift Squadron loadmaster, poses for a photo after landing at Andersen Air Force Base, Guam, Dec. 11, 2015, during Operation Christmas Drop. SrA Jutba passed away following a mission during OCD 2015. (U.S. Air Force photo by Yasuo Osakabe)
Senior Airman Jeremy Jutba-Hake

36th EAS members honor fallen airman during Operation Christmas Drop

U.S. Army National Guard Photo by Sgt. Justin Nye
Sgt. Jonathan Benavente

Yama Sakura 83 Spotlight: U.S. Army Sgt. Jonathan Benavente

(U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class Deanna C. Gonzales
2nd Class Maxwell Bohnert

CTF 70, 71 conduct bi-lateral ASW training, logistics support with Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force

Ms. Marietta Epps-Williams sings Christmas carols at the Force Support Squadron's Christmas market at Yokota Air Base, Japan, Dec. 8, 2022. Yokota hosted a Christmas market, where the base community participated in holiday themed events. Face painting, live music, photos with Santa and food were some of the activities offered for participants to enjoy. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Brooklyn Golightly)
Ms. Marietta Epps-Williams

Christmas market at Yokota Air Base Dec. 8

U.S. Army National Guard Photo by Sgt. 1st Class Tom Foster
Command Sergeant Major Michael Burns and JGSDF Command Sergeant Major Isa Nakamura

An enduring bond of brotherhood between the U.S. and Japan

U.S. Air Force photo by Tech. Sgt. Christopher Hubenthal
Barry Oxendine

The art of baking: Yokota teacher bringing back a taste of home

U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Justin Stack
Cryptologic Technician 2nd Class David Helms

USS Chancellorsville (CG 62) returns to Yokosuka, Japan

U.S. Army National Guard Photo by Sgt. 1st Class Tom Foster
Maj. Vanessa Remus

Yama Sakura Spotlight

U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Braden Anderson
Maj. Nicholas Reeves

Yokota receives traffic safety award

Retired Vice Adm. Cutler Dawson, Navy Federal Credit Union's CEO.
Retired Vice Adm. Cutler Dawson

Life lessons: The road from military service to beyond

U.S. Army Maj. Gen. JB Vowell, U.S. Army Japan commanding general, gives remarks during the opening ceremony for Exercise Yama Sakura 83 at Camp Asaka, Japan, Dec. 5, 2022. Since its inception in 1982, Yama Sakura has focused on the development and refinement of joint force lethality between the U.S. Army and Japan Ground Self-Defense Force. (U.S. Air Force photo by U.S. Air Force Staff Sgt. JaNae Jensen)
Maj. Gen. JB Vowell

Yama Sakura 83 kicks off; fortifies U.S.-Japan Alliance in support of Indo-Pacific stability