Vermont Air National Guard deploys troops, F-35s to Japan – VTDigger

The Vermont Air National Guard has deployed more than 200 members to the United States’ Kadena Air Force base in Japan for training and support operations in the Indo-Pacific region, according to a press release.

The deployment, which includes the latest F-35 aircrafts and equipment, is expected to last several months and will include exercises in Japan and area islands.

As a result, there will be fewer local flight operations during that time, the release stated.

“With this latest deployment, more than a third of our Airmen are actively contributing to critical missions worldwide,” said U.S. Air Force Col. Daniel Finnegan in the release, which noted that 50 members had deployed last fall.

Almost 18,000 Americans and more than 4,000 Japanese employees and contractors are stationed at the Kadena Air Base, which is known as the Keystone of the Pacific, according to the website.

F-35 aircrafts assigned to Vermont’s 134th Expeditionary Fighter Squadron touched base in Kadena today, according to a press release from the air base in Japan.

“Our squadron eagerly anticipates the chance to elevate our training by testing ACE (Agile Combat Employment) concepts during this deployment,” said Lt. Col. Trevor Callen in that release. 

The operation includes participating in Cope North, the largest multilateral joint exercise of its kind in the region, to “maintain an open and free Indo-Pacific,” Col. David Deptula said in the release.

“Exercise Cope North is a unique opportunity to work closely with our allied partners,” said  U.S. Air Force Col. Michael Blair, 158th Operations Group Commander, in the Vermont release. “The level of interoperability required during this exercise demonstrates our collective ability to respond to emerging threats and ensure regional stability.”