KADENA AIR BASE, OKINAWA, JAPAN -- Members from the Japan Air Self-Defense Force, the Royal Australian Air Force, and Pacific Air Forces converged at Kadena Air Base for a subject matter expert exchange as a part of exercise Tropic Agile Combat Employment (ACE) Aug. 28 - Sept. 15, 2017.
Exercise Tropic ACE gives members of the Air Force, Marines, and even partner nations, such as Japan and Australia, a chance to come together, exchange ideas, and garner a path forward with joint interoperability and contingency solutions. They operationalize the Agile Combat Employment concept of operations, defined as the effective employment of airpower to seize, retain and exploit the initiative in a contested environment.
"Pacific Air Forces routinely deploys assets to various locations across the theater as part of exercises or events, which underscores the U.S. commitment to regional security and stability," said U. S. Air Force Maj. Sean Conley, 36th Contingency Response Group mission commander. "This dynamic presence is a cornerstone of increasing our military’s agility and global reach."
The exercise is designed to work on adaptive and mobile aircraft fueling solutions for expeditionary forces in austere environments.
“It is really important for us as we’re always looking to partner in the Pacific region,” said Royal Australian Air Force Wing Commander Greg Elliot, 382nd Expeditionary Combat Support Squadron commanding officer. “We’re looking at fueling operations like this to build a very similar interchangeable capability, something we can all operate in the same theater, and know that the airfield is going to run.”
ACE provides the opportunity for forces to be moved more fluidly across the theater to seize, retain and exploit initiative against an adversary, and exercising this capability is key to ensuring readiness and resiliency. By exercising ACE, Airmen are empowered to make disciplined decisions at subordinate levels, ensuring the air component maintains command and control of forces. Through exercises such as Tropic ACE, PACAF is validating new ways to deploy and maneuver assets during a crisis or conflict in order to operate in contested environments.