International students visit DAFB

  • Published
  • By Tech. Sgt. Matt Davis
  • 436th Airlift Wing Public Affairs
DOVER AIR FORCE BASE, Del. --  DOVER AIR FORCE BASE, Del. -- Students from Miyagi Prefecture, Japan, visited Team Dover Airmen during a tour of Dover AFB March 13, 2018. The tour showed the base’s mission capabilities and the growing history with Miyagi Prefecture.

“The visit is an educational and cultural exchange program, sponsored by both Iwanuma City (located in Miyagi Prefecture, Japan) and the City of Dover. Iwanuma City and Dover are friendship cities,” said Capt. Drew Beasley, 436th Operations Group executive officer. “This relationship is based on the sister-state relationship between the Prefecture of Miyagi and the State of Delaware. Visits like this play an important role for cultural understanding and the educational development of our future Japanese and U.S. leaders.”

Prefectures are areas of Japan that are divided into local government. This is comparable to a state or a province in other countries. Dover is considered a “friendship city” to Iwanuma, Japan, which is located in the prefecture; but Dover AFB also has a special relationship with the coastal Japanese community.

“The middle school students have been coming to the City of Dover for 19 years now. We've had the pleasure of hosting them at Dover Air Force Base for 14 consecutive years,” said Beasley. “Because of Dover AFB's strong relationship with Miyagi Prefecture and the City of Dover, we plan on hosting the students every year for the foreseeable future.”

In 2011, the island nation suffered a 9.0 magnitude earthquake and major tsunami. This resulted in more than 15,000 residents left dead, more than 250,000 buildings lay in ruin, and three nuclear reactors being destroyed. Team Dover Airmen were tasked during Operation Tomodachi with sending more than 70,000 pounds of humanitarian relief supplies and a search and rescue team to the areas affected by the disaster.

While visiting the base, the students had the opportunity to tour the 436th Operations Support Squadron’s air traffic control tower, aircrew flight equipment and a C-17 Globemaster III static display. Students also met with base leadership and many Team Dover Airmen.

“The students had an awesome time. According to the trip point of contact, Mrs. Miki Smith, their visit to Dover AFB has been the biggest highlight of their 10 days here in Delaware,” said Beasley.