Twenty-four U.S. and Japan Air Self-Defense Force members met for the first time at Yokota's Enlisted Club for the start of the 2015 noncommissioned officer exchange program Feb. 17, 2015.

The 10-day program pairs JASDF members from multiple bases around Japan with U.S. personnel to get a better understanding of the various missions at Yokota and experience a different culture.

The program pairs individuals from each service based on their career fields.

"The program has been great," said Tech. Sgt. Jason Hemphill, 374th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron crew chief lead technician. "We've really gotten to know each other and we've talked about our different jobs and how similar and different they are. I'm fairly new to this base and I've been able to ask them a lot about their culture and I've been able to tell them about ours."

By participating in events like these, U.S. service members get to know the person behind the uniform.

"This helps break down the cultural barriers," Hemphill said. "We get to know these guys on a personal level. It allows us to open up to each other."

There's talk about family, culture, their jobs and the one thing that everyone can talk about: food.

"I learned from Hemphill a great barbeque recipe," said JASDF Tech. Sgt. Takenobu Masuda, Central Air Defense Force 7th Air Wing. "In exchange, I taught him a recipe for ramen. I also was able to try banana pudding, which I thought was amazing."

Overall, the program has been a big hit for those who took part.

"I think the experience has been invaluable," Hemphill said. "It's not something you can go and pay for. It's been an honor to experience it."