YOKOTA AIR BASE, Japan -- Airmen from the 121st Air Refueling Wing’s Civil Engineer (CE) Squadron participated in a Deployment for Training (DFT) at Yokota Air Base, Japan, from June 1 – 15, 2026. The DFT provided opportunities for 121st CE Airmen to gain hands‑on experience, new certifications, and strengthened partnerships with their active‑duty counterparts in the Pacific.
A DFT is a program where Air National Guard (ANG) CE units are deployed to active-duty installations in two-week rotations to work on real-world projects, complete required training, and gain experience with equipment and assets they wouldn’t normally encounter at their home station, explained Lt. Col. Sean-Michael Kelly, 121st Air Refueling Wing Civil Engineer Squadron Commander.
Both Kelly and Chief Master Sgt. Eric Rau, job title, stressed that none of these benefits would be possible without the support of the 374th Airlift Wing and the National Guard Bureau (NGB). In a DFT, the active-duty base requests to host an ANG unit from the NGB, who in turn matches those units with the requesting bases.
“There's a lot of collaboration and coordination that goes on in preparation for these deployments, and it's very beneficial for both the hosting unit and the unit who will be deploying to take advantage of the training,” said Rau. “So, without the support of the 374th here at Yokota, as well as the NGB, this opportunity would have never existed.”
“The 374th opened their doors, their keys, their vehicles, and their knowledge to us to make us better,” said Kelly. “We hope we provided value to them as well, but we couldn’t do it without them.”
At Yokota AB, the Ohio team was able to gain exposure to equipment and processes it rarely sees, such as those supporting fighter aircraft. Airmen in the 121st CE Power Production Flight gained some experience with an aircraft arresting system, including gauge inspections and replacements, something that is not present at home with the KC-135 aircraft.
The121st Water and Fuels Systems Maintenance Flight Airmen were also able to gain experience on unfamiliar systems by working on a fuel hydrant system not available at their home station. Additionally, they were able to repair a four-inch water line in a confined space.
Next, the Pavements and Heavy Equipment Flight, along with the Structures Flight, planned and constructed a 25‑by‑80‑foot concrete pad from the initial site preparation to the pouring of the concrete. Additionally, they trained 15 personnel on forklift, dump trucks, loaders and skid steers, expanding the Airmen’s skillsets and increasing the unit’s operational flexibility.
The Engineer Assistant (EA) Flight also assisted with the concrete project by conducting testing and laser leveling to provide critical structural data to guide future project progression. Additionally, they collaborated with on-site engineering assistants to draft architectural drawings for multiple facilities.
The Operations Management and the Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning (HVAC) Flights both supported the base’s response to the unexpected arrival of Typhoon Jangmi. Operations Management assisted their 374th counterparts in the Unit Control Center, gaining firsthand experience in active‑duty command and control operations, while the HVAC team worked to clear debris from an installation-wide storm drain network.
Additionally, the HVAC team completed 18 real‑world work orders across the base, which included installing a mini split HVAC system in the Officer’s Club facility.
Finally, the Electrical Flight upgraded critical facility infrastructure by installing 75 feet of electrical conduit and junction boxes, securing communication lines and significantly enhancing the automated capabilities of the boiler systems.
Lastly, all flights were able to complete numerous tasks on their respective Career Field Education and Training Plans (CFETP).
“This opportunity to come out here to Yokota Air Base on this DFT was fantastic for upgrade training for our team. We earned several qualifications and certifications, and several folks were able to accomplish some of the tasks they needed to upgrade in their skill level,” said Kelly. “It was fantastic for our team and for their progress individually.”
Another event that had a large impact for the 121st CE Airmen was a weekly recurring event at the 374th CE Squadron called Prime BEEF Day. Prime BEEF, short for Prime Base Engineer Emergency Force, refers to a specialized and rapidly deployable Air Force CE unit, capable of providing full CE support to maintain continuity both at home and abroad. Prime BEEF forces specialize inairfieldoperations and are the primary units considered when establishing and sustaining airfield operations at locations where U.S. Air Force aircraft operate. During this event, 121st CE Airmen spent the day honing their skills on various types of heavy equipment.
“Prime BEEF Day was an opportunity for our Airmen to train and retrain on equipment such as excavators, backhoes, and loaders, that they may only have a few hours or even zero hours on,” said Rau. “That critical stick time allows them to be more efficient an effective when they use the same equipment downrange. Equipment operation is a big piece of what we do as civil engineers, so building competency for those everyday tasks is important.”
Across all the shops, the team logged more than 400 hours of wartime contingency training. Many Airmen completed skill upgrade tasks, job qualification standards, and equipment certifications.
According to Rau, another benefit of CE’s DFT at Yokota AB was that along with all the daily tasks and projects being accomplished, the 121st CE team also benefitted from fresh perspectives that are brought in by new Airmen when collaborating with more experienced Airmen.
“There can be multiple ways to complete a task and in allowing people to voice their opinions, it helps the environment to become a lot more collaborative and people will surprise you,” said Rau. “Airmen can think outside the box and be more innovative in developing solutions. It builds their confidence and sows trust within the unit.”
Rau also noted that being on a trip away from their home base, such as with a DFT, helps develop camaraderie and cohesion within the unit.
Additionally, a DFT serves as an opportunity for the 121st CE Airmen to build partnerships with their active-duty counterparts by allowing them to work side-by-side, learn new processes, and support real mission requirements.
“A Deployment for Training allows Guard units to integrate with active-duty units and share job knowledge and experience,” said Rau. “There could be specific equipment or processes that our Airmen would not be exposed to at home, and this rotation at Yokota provides that exposure.”
“The purpose of this DFT was to train in a real-world environment with our active-duty counterparts here at Yokota Air Base,” said Kelly. “It also sharpens our wartime skills, hones our unit's capabilities, and builds those allegiances and partnerships with the active-duty component as we prepare to deploy downrange together.”