WEBVTT 00:01.370 --> 00:03.730 We have the Air Force's most advanced 00:03.730 --> 00:07.219 fighter , and it's not designed to just 00:07.219 --> 00:10.609 fly in Vermont . We have the capability 00:10.609 --> 00:13.569 to be anywhere in the world , but once 00:13.569 --> 00:15.720 we're there , what's important is our 00:15.720 --> 00:17.776 ability to work with the people that 00:17.776 --> 00:19.887 are there that support us and support 00:19.887 --> 00:21.887 the mission . So whether that be in 00:21.887 --> 00:23.720 Europe or whether that be in the 00:23.720 --> 00:25.831 Pacific , the Green Mountain Boys are 00:25.831 --> 00:27.942 ready to work with the friends of the 00:27.942 --> 00:29.998 United States wherever that may be . 00:57.770 --> 00:59.819 As it was then , it is now we are 00:59.819 --> 01:02.759 providing the best possible product to 01:02.759 --> 01:04.592 the Air Force , to the combatant 01:04.592 --> 01:06.648 commanders of the MATHCOM , and it's 01:06.648 --> 01:08.870 just great to be here . Ever since that 01:08.870 --> 01:11.529 F-35 has hit our ramp in Vermont , we 01:11.529 --> 01:13.769 know that we're different . We are 01:13.769 --> 01:16.010 needed for the nation , and we're ready 01:16.010 --> 01:17.177 to answer the call . 01:20.769 --> 01:23.250 We are currently standing just outside 01:23.250 --> 01:25.306 the flight line of Kadina Air Base , 01:25.569 --> 01:28.569 Okinawa , Japan . So similar to how we 01:28.569 --> 01:32.279 fly in Vermont , the aircrew are 01:32.279 --> 01:34.001 fulfilling all of the training 01:34.001 --> 01:36.223 requirements that they normally do . So 01:36.223 --> 01:38.557 currently they're doing basic . Attacks , 01:38.584 --> 01:40.806 which means that they are dropping live 01:40.806 --> 01:43.305 in inert GBUs on targets out in the 01:43.305 --> 01:46.305 airspace . They were flying ACM air 01:46.305 --> 01:48.705 combat maneuvering missions a few weeks 01:48.705 --> 01:51.345 ago , which is an extension of basic 01:51.345 --> 01:55.239 fighter maneuvers . It's been a 01:55.239 --> 01:57.350 great experience . I'm a drill status 01:57.350 --> 01:59.461 guardsman , so to be able to come out 01:59.461 --> 02:01.572 here and have the opportunity to work 02:01.572 --> 02:04.160 real world scenarios and do real world 02:04.160 --> 02:06.440 missions has been huge for me . This is 02:06.440 --> 02:08.662 what I trained to do to be able to come 02:08.662 --> 02:10.662 out here and be a part of something 02:10.662 --> 02:12.800 bigger than myself and have everyone 02:12.800 --> 02:14.856 working together towards this common 02:14.856 --> 02:17.078 goal , common mission has been a really 02:17.078 --> 02:18.467 good experience for me . 02:26.869 --> 02:29.091 Our first base of deployment was Kadina 02:29.091 --> 02:31.313 Air Force Base in the Pacific theater , 02:31.389 --> 02:33.990 but once we were there , the mission 02:33.990 --> 02:36.046 dictated that we bring aircraft to a 02:36.046 --> 02:38.139 number of different places and work 02:38.139 --> 02:40.470 with different countries and different 02:40.470 --> 02:43.330 partners , different services around 02:43.330 --> 02:45.608 the theater , which was very important . 02:45.608 --> 02:47.719 Cope North , for example , was one of 02:47.719 --> 02:50.259 the exercises that . Uh , the team went 02:50.259 --> 02:52.481 to in very short order . They were only 02:52.481 --> 02:54.481 on the ground for a couple of weeks 02:54.481 --> 02:56.592 before they were picking up airplanes 02:56.592 --> 02:58.759 and moving airmen to Guam , and it was 02:58.759 --> 03:00.759 a great thing to walk in the door , 03:00.759 --> 03:02.981 establish ourselves , and then do great 03:02.981 --> 03:05.037 work over there . It was just a huge 03:05.037 --> 03:04.470 accomplishment . 03:14.699 --> 03:18.419 Yeah . It's been an incredible place , 03:18.429 --> 03:20.540 uh , everything from scuba diving . I 03:20.540 --> 03:23.130 got my advanced scuba certification to , 03:23.179 --> 03:25.290 uh , whale watching and then swimming 03:25.290 --> 03:27.401 with whales , which was an absolutely 03:27.401 --> 03:29.512 incredible life changing experience . 03:30.059 --> 03:32.970 Yeah . Oh . 03:36.389 --> 03:38.500 And then , uh , just going around the 03:38.500 --> 03:40.556 town exploring , uh , talking to the 03:40.556 --> 03:42.778 locals and , and just seeing what Japan 03:42.778 --> 03:45.000 is all about . It's a brand new country 03:45.000 --> 03:47.167 for me . I've never been here before , 03:47.167 --> 03:49.056 so to experience this has been an 03:49.056 --> 03:52.940 absolute blast . We just debriefed the 03:52.940 --> 03:55.107 18th wing commander and I had a chance 03:55.107 --> 03:58.160 to speak to him , and he told me that 03:58.160 --> 04:00.382 he was incredibly impressed not only by 04:00.382 --> 04:02.789 the product that we provide him , i.e. 04:02.789 --> 04:05.011 the aircraft , but also the way that we 04:05.011 --> 04:07.178 maintain high standards and discipline 04:07.178 --> 04:09.289 on and off duty . All the airmen that 04:09.289 --> 04:11.779 we work with are all professionals . We 04:11.779 --> 04:14.001 all know that we not only represent the 04:14.001 --> 04:16.112 Air Force but also the Green Mountain 04:16.112 --> 04:18.335 Boys , and we carry that sentiment very 04:18.335 --> 04:17.769 strongly . 04:24.100 --> 04:25.933 While we are in Okinawa , it's a 04:25.933 --> 04:28.100 beautiful island , uh , but at the end 04:28.100 --> 04:30.267 of the day you're still away from your 04:30.267 --> 04:32.489 family and so I'm thankful that we were 04:32.489 --> 04:34.656 received and sent off , uh , the right 04:34.656 --> 04:36.767 way and I think we're all ready to to 04:36.767 --> 04:38.767 get home . As soon as that airplane 04:38.767 --> 04:40.878 lands and the chocks are put in , the 04:40.878 --> 04:40.739 first thing you want to do is see your 04:40.739 --> 04:43.440 family . I am . 04:48.670 --> 04:50.892 When you're away for 4 months from your 04:50.892 --> 04:52.892 family , there's a lot of life that 04:52.892 --> 04:55.003 happens , and there's a lot of things 04:55.003 --> 04:54.690 that are missed while people are gone , 04:54.750 --> 04:56.972 and at the end of the day they exceeded 04:56.972 --> 05:00.230 all expectations . You just feel really 05:00.230 --> 05:03.510 excited about the airmen that construct 05:03.510 --> 05:06.070 this wing , um , and it's no small ask 05:06.070 --> 05:08.181 and for the people who are doing it , 05:08.181 --> 05:10.237 we're immensely proud and I hope the 05:10.237 --> 05:11.779 community can share in that pride .