Air University hosts Japan Air Defense Chief > Air Education and Training Command > Article Display

Air University welcomed Gen. Hiroaki Uchikura, Chief of Staff of Koku-Jieitai (Japan Air Self-Defense Force) during the 2024 International Honor Roll event, at Maxwell Air Force Base, April 17-20, 2024.

Uchikura was inducted into the International Honor Roll, an Air Force Chief of Staff and a Master Sergeant of the Air Force-sponsored program, as a graduate of an Air University program who has since risen to a prominent position within his service.

“First of all, I feel very honored to be part of the prestigious IHR,” said Uchikura, a 1998 graduate of the Air Command and Staff College. “I also feel that, beyond my personal understanding, this symbolizes the traditional relationship between the United States Air Force and the Koku-Jieitai and the depth of the human connection.”

Uchikura talked about his memories as a student at Air University, including overcoming a language barrier, interactions with his classmates and experiences he had in the classroom.

“Conversations and writing essays were tough,” he said. “As I am not a native English speaker, it was difficult to keep up with the discussions during the seminar, especially to express my opinion on time. We enjoyed playing soccer, golf, softball and going on excursions. I had many opportunities to experience the lifestyle and culture in Montgomery. Also unforgettable was Gathering of Eagles, where I met the living legends, former Chief of Staff to General Ronald R. Fogleman and Charles Yeager.”

The Koku-Jieitai leader completed the internal ACSC curriculum and immersed himself in a 10-month graduate-level program delivered through seminars and small-group lectures. Courses cover topics such as the profession of arms, leadership and ethics, joint operations, air power, and the international security environment.

“Receiving lectures directly from the Air Force Chief of Staff and other service chiefs on how they think about leadership were indispensable experiences,” Uchikura said. “The knowledge of war history, war theory and conflict resolution, as well as the latest military trends taught in a systematic manner, remain with me to this day. Critical thinking is still at the core of my thinking and preparing military briefings based on 3 main points is the way I still follow.”

In conjunction with his induction into the International Honor Roll, Uchikura was able to speak with current ACSC students and participate in several bilateral meetings with the military leaders of other countries. The opportunity to accomplish all of these items in one place reminded him of the value of the professional military education environment.

“The value of PME is not only a learning opportunity from the best U.S. Air Force in the world, but also an opportunity to gain the network among U.S. personnel and international students, which can be long-lasting,” he said. “In my case, I was able to spend time at ACSC from captain to major, and in 2015 I returned to CFACC as a major general. That experience allowed me to fully absorb and update the idea of ​​the value and culture of the United States Air Force, the world’s strategic environment, and the leadership required in each position, which led me to from multiple perspectives and made a major contribution to my subsequent career. This may be a coincidence, but five consecutive Koku-Jieitai chiefs of staff, including myself, have graduated from AU.”