Photo By Airman 1st Class Arnet Tamayo | U.S. Air Force Airman 1st Class Carson Shearer, 356th Fighter Generation Squadron weapons load crew member, prepares training munitions for loading during a routine 18th Wing operational readiness exercise at Kadena Air Base, Japan, Nov. 3, 2025. FGS load crews are trained to swiftly and safely load proper munitions onto aircraft, ensuring operational readiness for real-world scenarios. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Arnet Tamayo) see less
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BH 26-1: 356th maintainers sharpen rapid deployment readiness at Kadena
KADENA AIR BASE, Japan – U.S. Air Force Airmen from the 356th Fighter Generation Squadron, deployed to Kadena Air Base, recently participated in base-wide operational readiness exercise BH 26-1 at Kadena AirBase, Japan, Nov. 3, 2025.
The deployed Airmen, assigned to Eielson Air Force Base, Alaska, preformed preflight checks and loaded munitions onto multiple F-35A Lightning IIs assigned to the 356th Expeditionary Fighter Squadron. The training sharpened their ability to rapidly generate airpower and respond to real-world scenarios, while giving both seasoned and new Airmen valuable hands-on experience in a realistic, high-tempo environment.
“After going through several of these exercises, I am confident in what I’m doing,” said U.S. Air Force Airman 1st Class Sky Berry, 356th FGS weapons load crew member. “For me, this is more about helping our newer Airmen figure out their role and understand how they contribute to the mission.”
During contingency operations, deployed and transient units at Kadena work together to ensure mission readiness and support ongoing operations across the Indo-Pacific region.
“As a visiting unit, we help generate aircraft to meet the operational needs of Kadena,” said U.S. Air Force Master Sgt. Michael Barnes, 356th FGS weapons section chief. “If a deployment order were issued, all tenant units would respond with the fleets they brought over and utilize them to meet specific mission requirements.”
Exercises like these provide Airmen the opportunity to validate deployment procedures, reinforce interoperability between units, and strengthen Kadena’s ability to project airpower throughout the region.
Working side-by-side with other deployed and permanent party units, the 356th FGS continues to advance combat readiness and ensure aircraft remain ready to launch at a moment’s notice —supporting a free and open Indo-Pacific.
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