YOKOTA AIR BASE, Japan -- Earlier this summer, the 9th Field Investigations Squadron celebrated its first year of operations, a milestone in the Air Force Office of Special Investigations’ Indo-Pacific mission.
Falling under the 6th Field Investigations Region at Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam, Hawaii, 9 FIS stood up July 25, 2023, and has since become a central command point for Air Force Office of Special Investigations detachments in Japan.
“AFOSI established 9 FIS with an initial leadership team to assume command and control of three OSI detachments throughout Japan,” said Lt. Col. Adam Kurzen, 9 FIS commander. “During the initial year of assessment, it became clear OSI needed to continue evolving in the region to meet the growing needs of the Department of the Air Force's mission in Japan.”
Since the initial assessment, 9 FIS has strengthened its operational capabilities, enhanced coordination with higher headquarters and engaged effectively with its Japanese counterparts, Kurzen said.
In addition to the operational role 9 FIS has in the region, they have also dedicated their first year to focusing on establishing a robust headquarters and refining organizational structure, all while continuing to build relationships with key partners in the region.
“Our liaison efforts have focused on building relationships with critical partners to enable joint operations, shape our mission focus and integrate OSI's law enforcement and counterintelligence capabilities,” Kurzen said. “These efforts have led to successful collaborations with U.S. Forces Japan and 5th Air Force staff directorates, as well as new relationships with Japanese counterparts in the military, intelligence and law enforcement fields.”
After only a year, the impact of the squadron has been felt in the region.
“Our overall impact across the military has allowed OSI to synchronize its operations across Japan, strengthen its support to U.S. and Japanese partners, shape OSI’s force posture to support military readiness, and streamline reporting to senior leaders,” Kurzen said.
In addition to these efforts, the squadron also supported Valiant Shield 2024, a large-scale joint and multilateral exercise in the Indo-Pacific which was expanded into the Japan area of responsibility for the first time, which became “one of the most defining and validating operations during the initial year,” Kurzen said.
Despite the successes, the squadron has faced significant challenges such as facilities, network issues, communications equipment and systems hierarchies, but those challenges only underscored how critical the personnel assigned to 9 FIS are to laying a strong foundation for the future, Kurzen said.
“The work that 9 FIS personnel have done to set up the squadron and consolidate the detachments is critical to supporting and protecting Department of the Air Force people and resources,” said Col. James Merenda, OSI Region 6 commander. “As the unit continues to develop, it will further synchronize and streamline OSI’s mission priorities and execution across Japan, which serves as a pivotal hub for INDOPACOM and PACAF operations.”