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137th SOW operated alongside 35th FW at Misawa Air Base

Photo By Staff Sgt. Nicholas Swift | Flight and operational medical technicians with the 137th Special Operations Wing,...... read more read more

MISAWA AIR BASE, AOMORI, JAPAN

08.21.2025

Story by Senior Airman Erika Chapa, Staff Sgt. Nicholas Swift and Airman Kaedin Teel

137th Special Operations Wing

MISAWA AIR BASE, Japan – Components of the 137th Special Operations Wing, Oklahoma Air National Guard, integrated with the 35th Fighter Wing to complete annual training at Misawa Air Base, Japan, Aug. 12-18, 2025.

Air National Guardsmen conduct extended training annually to meet readiness requirements in addition to unit training weekends.

The hands-on training was fundamental to support specialists, medical professionals, defenders and logistics readiness Air Commandos assigned to the 137th SOW as they worked alongside their active duty counterparts at Misawa Air Base to gain new perspective toward routine operations.

“Our Airmen are getting to experience way more here in Misawa than we would back in the states,” said a food services manager with the 137th SOW. “This is relatable to what our career entails in a deployed environment and gives us a greater scope of our responsibilities than what we typically can do back home.”

Services Airmen are responsible for providing a wide range of resources tailored to enhance the quality of life of service members on their base. These resources can be assigned through various roles including community activities, fitness and recreational activities, dining and lodging.

While at Misawa Air Base, 137th SOW services Airmen monitored official physical fitness tests, prepared for the lunch meal period and conducted accounting and bookkeeping procedures. Participants also learned about force support mortuary operations, entitlements, roles and responsibilities regarding care and service to the fallen and their families.

Medical specialists with the 137th SOW trained with 35th Medical Group specialists in administrative work, flight medicine, labor and delivery and tactical combat casualty care.

“In terms of a hospital emergency clinic, this is my first time,” remarked a 137th SOW medical admin about their experience. “I think seeing all of the different things they do will help if I get deployed.”

The varied training these medical specialists completed enhances their ability to serve the needs of 137th SOW Guardsmen on a regular basis by providing alternative approaches to everyday operations and emergency response capabilities.

“The biggest takeaway has honestly been working here as a team, ” said a flight and operational medical technician assigned to the 137th SOW. “Anytime you're in a joint setting – whether it's with other United States forces or with foreign nationals, it's a huge opportunity to collaborate with people, see how they do things.”

Security forces defenders and combat arms training and maintenance instructors assigned to the 137th SOW also optimized emergency response training on patrol, and embedded instructors with the CATM team . This amplified their physical security abilities and law enforcement skillsets to serve both while deployed or at their home station.

“Active duty has a bit of a different mindset about things, and we deploy with a lot of active duty people,” said a security forces Airman with the 137th SOW. “Many of our Airmen were on the flightline working with the 35th SFS, observing how they mix in with town patrol, or training in different aspects of security forces.”

Logistics readiness and munitions specialists assigned to the 137th SOW were also enhancing mission readiness and interoperability alongside the 35th Logistic Readiness Squadron and the 35th Munitions Squadron to conduct training for automatic counting machines for small parts, electronic shelving carousels and palletizing munitions kits.

“I’d definitely recommend for Guardsmen get more hands-on training to familiarize themselves with how active duty gets it done,” said a munitions specialist assigned to the 137th SOW. “Be prepared when it's time to deploy and be prepared for any mission at hand."

Opportunities to work with other units reinforces 137th SOW Air Commandos’ skillsets and expertise as they achieve individual and unit readiness. By adopting new strategies and developing more efficient strategies, 137th SOW Airmen can increase their preparedness as Mission Ready Airmen while upholding the Oklahoma Standard locally and globally.