515th AMOG Building Connections with Allies in Japan Published Oct. 10, 2023 By Theresa Valadez 515th Air Mobility Wing Public Affairs YOKOTA AIR BASE, Japan -- On Sept. 12, 2023, the 515th Air Mobility Operations Group hosted Japan Air Self-Defense Force leadership from the 7th Air Wing out of Hyakuri Air Base, Japan. Maj. Gen. Tomohiro Matsuura, JASDF commander, Hyakuri Air Base received a 515th AMOG mission brief and tour of the 730th Air Mobility Squadron, where he visited the port and maintenance facilities. “The general and his staff were extremely impressed by the size and amenities provided at the Yokota Passenger Terminal,” said MSgt. Joshua Crowley, 730th AMS Passenger Services, section chief. “He found that our terminal provides a robust passenger experience comparable with small civilian airports.” Maj. Gen. Matsuura had a special connection to the 515th AMOG. He attended the USAF Air War College (AWC) in 2017 and met Col. Trigg Randall, 515th AMOG commander, during recent AWC visits to Japan. Hyakuri AB had also hosted a 730th AMS air mobility team during Mobility Guardian 2023, which further strengthened the relationship between the two units. At the end of the visit, Maj. Gen. Matsuura presented coins to MSgt. Crowley, and Capt. Joseph Flemming, 730th AMS for their professionalism and informative briefing. He thanked the 515th AMOG for their hospitality and expressed his hope that the two units would continue to find new ways to partner together in the future. “Witnessing the 730th AMS Airmen in action, Maj. Gen. Matsuura was able to observe several events during his visit including ground operations support to a C-5 Galaxy aircraft, Space-A roll call, and passenger processing procedures,” said Flemming. “He was amazed by the professionalism, knowledge, and competency of the Port Dawgs at Yokota.”