BS27-1: MAD for Military Assisted Departure

KADENA AIR BASE, Japan -- U.S. Air Force Airmen assigned to the 718th Force Support Squadron worked in conjunction with various units across the 18th Wing and joint services to coordinate a military assisted departure during Exercise Beverly Sword 27-1 at Kadena Air Base, Japan, Oct. 26, 2026.

The MAD exercise ensures military units are fully prepared to process several people at any time for mass evacuation. During the exercise, finance, legal and medical Airmen played a role in verifying each simulated dependents travel cards, identification, emergency contact data, and other essential documentation for evacuation.

“When the planes are ready, and we get the green light, our goal is to have as many dependents ready and processed so they can get off island as quickly as possible,” said U.S. Air Force Tech Sgt. Dylan Meyer, 718th Force Support Squadron readiness and mortuary affairs non commissioned officer-in-charge. Later that day, members of the 718th Force Support Squadron, U.S. Marines and U.S. Army soldiers worked together to simulate a similar mass evacuation drill at Marine Corps Base Camp Foster. The Okinawa Area Emergency Evacuation Plan requires two evacuation control centers to be established during a crisis, and the joint team practiced coordinating operations at the second location.

“Evacuations can come in a variety of forms and Kadena has to stay ready to take care of our families in crisis, conflict or contingency," said U.S. Air Force Capt. Cameron Rickle, 718th Force Support Squadron, deputy flight commander of readiness. “We created an environment where 42 families across the U.S. Army, Air Force and Marines could ask questions to all of the necessary agencies. It is imperative that service members and dependants are aware of the process.”

Exercises like BS 27-1 test the 18th Wing’s ability to rapidly support the evacuation of its residence in a contested environment. Evacuation simulated events validate Kadena's critical role in the Pacific theater while it is projecting airpower, deterring aggression, and strengthening regional stability.

Legal Disclaimer:

EIN Presswire provides this news content "as is" without warranty of any kind. We do not accept any responsibility or liability for the accuracy, content, images, videos, licenses, completeness, legality, or reliability of the information contained in this article. If you have any complaints or copyright issues related to this article, kindly contact the author above.