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ACE: Forging Multi-Capable Airmen in the Indo-Pacific

08 August 2025

From Airman 1st Class Amy Kelley, 18th Wing

KADENA AIR BASE, Japan — U.S. Air Force Airmen from Kadena Air Base and Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, alongside Marine Corps Air Station Futenma Marines, recently completed a joint Agile Combat Employment training event at Okuma Recreation Facility, July 15-23, 2025.

The multi-day exercise focused on one key goal, developing warfighters trained to execute critical tasks outside their core specialties in support of operations from austere and contested environments as a part of an ongoing Pacific Air Forces initiative to prepare forces for agile and decentralized operations in contested battlespaces.

“ACE is about building resiliency, establishing a battle rhythm, and empowering Airmen to think critically and act beyond their comfort zones,” said U.S. Air Force Master Sgt. Daniel Maysonet, 18th Wing ACE senior enlisted leader. “It’s real-time problem solving with the tools and training we provide.”

Participants included personnel from Kadena’s 31st and 33rd Rescue Squadrons and a mission-ready team composed of Airmen from multiple support specialties. They were joined by pararescuemen from the 212th Rescue Squadron, Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson and Marines from Marine Light Attack Helicopter Squadron 169, MCAS Futenma.

Throughout the week, the joint team tackled training scenarios designed to simulate combat support in forward-operating environments.

A scenario involved a simulated mass casualty where pararescuemen pulled 14 mock casualties from the water, while MRA Airmen worked alongside Independent Duty Medical Technicians to transport and treat simulated injuries including broken bones, burns and chest trauma.

The teams also executed Tactical Combat Casualty Care drills, perimeter security, care under fire and patient evacuation. Armed with M4 carbines and simulated ammunition, participants trained close-quarters combat, defensive posturing and medical triage under fire.

“The MRA team exceeded every expectation,” said Tech. Sgt. Michael Espinoza, 18th Wing ACE MRA program manager. “They provided not only AFSC-specific expertise, but also vital cross-functional support in areas like communications, logistics, medical response, security, and contracting.”

Airmen expanded their capabilities and strengthened joint force integration by stepping outside traditional job roles and embraced cross-domain responsibilities. The result is a more lethal, flexible, and resilient U.S. presence in the Indo-Pacific.

“Multi-capable Airmen are critical to ensuring (that) Kadena can operate, adapt, and lead in dynamic combat environments,” Maysonet said. “Exercises like this ensure we’re ready – not just to respond, but to outmaneuver.”

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