Final Salute

Col. Paul "Otto" Feather, 386th Air Expeditionary Wing vice commander, renders a final salute to the Japanese Air Self Defense Forces during their mission closing ceremony on Dec. 17 at an air base in Southwest Asia. The JASDF members are departing the Iraq Reconstruction Support Airlift Wing after serving alongside U.S. and coalition forces for nearly five years. (U.S. Air Force photo/Tech. Sgt. Raheem Moore)

Japanese Air Self Defense Force

Members of the Japanese Air Self Defense Force render a salute during their mission ceremony on Dec. 17 at an air base in Southwest Asia. The JASDF members are departing the Iraq Reconstruction Support Airlift Wing after serving alongside U.S. and coalition forces for nearly five years. (U.S. Air Force photo/Tech. Sgt. Raheem Moore)

Closing Ceremony

Members of the Japanese Air Self Defense Force position themselves in formation during their mission closing ceremony on Dec. 17 at an air base in Southwest Asia. The JASDF members are departing the Iraq Reconstruction Support Airlift Wing after serving alongside U.S. and coalition forces for nearly five years. (U.S. Air Force photo/Tech. Sgt. Raheem Moore)

386th Airmen, coalition forces bid farewell to Japanese IRSAW

Published Dec. 24, 2008
By Capt. Suzanne VanderWeyst
386th Air Expeditionary Wing Public Affairs

SOUTHWEST ASIA -- U.S. and coalition forces at the 386th Air Expeditionary Wing celebrated the mission completion and partnership of the Japanese Air Self Defense Force Iraq Reconstruction Support Airlift Wing during a mission closing ceremony here on Dec. 17.

Col. Paul Feather, 386th AEW vice commander, presented a citation from U.S. Central Command commander Gen. David H. Petraeus to the JASDF, which included a hand-written note saying, "well done to you and your team."

On behalf of the men and women of the 386th AEW, Colonel Feather extended a salute to all JASDF members present and past, who served in the IRSAW alongside coalition forces for almost five years.

"You will long be remembered by our nation," said Colonel Feather.

The last IRSAW C-130 departed at the end of the ceremony with its final crew, while coalition guests and fellow JASDF members lined the airfield waved goodbye. A color guard representing all coalition countries at the air base waved its flags in salute. The remaining JASDF IRSAW members departed on Dec. 21, returning to Japan.

The IRSAW has worked side-by-side with Airmen and coalition partners in the airlift mission here since March 2004, providing C-130 airlift support to the United Nations and multinational forces. The ceremony was both a commemoration of their achievements and an appreciation of close coalition relationships held during their time here.

"Be proud of your accomplishments ... but do not forget we were not able to conduct this mission without the support of the coalition partners, the host nation and its forces, U.S. forces, Republic of Korea forces, Royal Australian forces and all those who cooperated together with unwavering solidarity," said Col. Yasuji Kitamura, IRSAW commander.

Colonel Kitamura is the 16th commander of the IRSAW.

That coalition partnership was enhanced in various ways, including a maintenance coalition exchange program between the 386th Expeditionary Maintenance Group, Republic of Korea Air Force and JASDF members. The program formally started in January with regular meetings to exchange ideas to improve maintenance techniques and processes. The program also featured an exchange of technicians who spent time on one another's ramps and learned hands-on methods.

A small contingent of JASDF members with the Redeployment Group will remain here through March 2009. The mission of the Redeployment Group is highly significant to finish the activities for the reconstruction of Iraq successfully, said Japanese Parliamentary Secretary for Defense Ryota Takeda.