In a combat environment communication between allies is important.

That’s why more than 25 Kadena Airmen practiced English communication with Japan Air Self Defense Force Airmen preparing to deploy to Southwest Asia recently.

Kadena Airmen -- from senior airmen to major -- paired up with their Japanese counterparts and practiced English conversation for three hours.

Senior Master Sgt. Diane Scott-Dailey, 18th Wing protocol superintendent, said she talked to her senior master sergeant counterpart about rank structure, decorations and her role in the Air Force.

“At first it was very difficult to communicate,” the sergeant said. “But once we got the momentum going I learned that our Air Force isn’t much different from theirs.”

Senior Master Sgt. Kenneth Trawick, 18th Component Maintenance Squadron, started the program in the spring of 2004. The first class was held just before Japanese troops forward deployed for the first time since World War II.

“The (Japanese) were paying for private English lessons off base, but the tutors had no kind of deployment experience,” Sergeant Trawick said. “They were deploying to the desert and had no idea about Air Force acronyms or terminology to do business. So, when they asked for help, the rest was history.”

Tech. Sgt. Ron Berard, 18th Logistics Readiness Squadron, said he heard about the class from coworkers that attended in the past. He wanted to participate before he left the island next month.

“Our group taught them (Japanese Airmen) how to ask for a bus while traveling on a military base and how to ask where the restrooms were,” said Sergeant Berard, who moves to Moody Air Force Base, Ga. next month. “We also got them familiar with acronyms like DFAC for the dining facility.”

The class was the fifth since last year. Sergeant Trawick said Kadena volunteers have helped train more than 125 troops since the program started.

Sergeant Trawick said he tries to hold a class quarterly. Typically, volunteer positions for the program fill up within the first day of announcement.

“It makes me feel good knowing that I can help put their minds at ease so they can concentrate on the mission, instead of being worried about their English-speaking skills,” he said.