The 18th Operations Group partnered with the Japan Air Self-Defense Force and the 36th Airlift Squadron to complete Exercise Southern Beach, Oct. 25-29. Southern Beach is a bilateral exercise that brings the 18th Wing and JASDF units together to practice leading, mission planning, flying and debriefing with one another. The exercise primarily focused on offensive and defensive counter air operations, personnel rescue and airdrop missions, with a special emphasis on training during night time hours. This is the first time JASDF has conducted large-scale Japan-U.S. night operations and training,
