We set award presentation ceremony at No4. conference room of Iruma-Inn, and held the party at Iruma Air Base Club. Award winners with spouse and subordinates, distinguished guests and JAAGA officers, totally 30 people participated in. Lt.Gen. Kataoka (CADF/CC), Maj.Gen. Ikeda (CAC&W/CC, Iruma AB/CC) from JASDF, Lt.Col. Johnnie Martinez (commander of 374th Operation Support Sq.) from USAF and Mr.Mitsuo Ogino (president of Iruma AB Friendship Club) and two base supporters were present at as distinguished guests. President Tohtake and three officers joined from JAAGA.
Ceremony started with performance of United States and Japan national anthem by "ZOOT36J (Iruma Air Base musical band)", president Tohtake had openning speech and explained about purpose of JAAGA and outline of JAAGA award. Also he expressed appreciation about supporting to Iruma Air Base by many American and Japanese friends.
Award winners of JASDF this year are CMSgt. Satoshi Ohtaki (Air Intelligence Wing, Fuchu AB.) and CMSgt. Keita Satoh (1st Air Defense Missile Group, Iruma AB.), they have contributed to positively exchange between JASDF and USAF NCOs. And award winner of USAF is Maj. Mark E.Andrews (Yokota AB.) who has contributed for mutual understanding and friendship between JASDF and USAF, and for establishment of cooperation procedure with Tokyo Metropolitan government at the time of large-scale natural disaster outbreak.
President Tohtake conferred award to tree winners, handed memorial plaque to their spouse while praising their achievement. Lt.Col. Martines stated as representative of USAF attendants in the ceremony, "I'm very honor to be here. Persons concerned who made effort to improve mutual understanding and friendship between JASDF and USAF, are steadily promoting the relationship of mutual trust between Japan - U.S. two countries. Those effort will be more and more important in future". (outline)
At the party after ceremony, Mr.Mitsuo Ogino requested to toast for winners with words of congratulation and for friendship between two countries. After then, winners had speech, they all said "I'm very proud of receiving JAAGA Award this time. And I would like to keep making effort to cooperate together from now on". Finally JAAGA secretariat Yamamoto lead closing toast with word of "Looking in your eyes!", and JAAGA Kanto Area Award presentation event ended.
We would like to express sincere appreciation to many JASDF and USAF airmen who supported for this JAAGA event which were not their duties. We could have very good event with their support. (reported by secretariat Kagawa)
