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Kadena AB

Okinawa, AP, Japan

Kadena Air Base on Okinawa, Japan, hosts Space-A flights at Air Mobility Command's passenger terminal under the 733rd Air Mobility Squadron. Official Kadena pages call the installation the hub of airpower in the Pacific and the Keystone of the Pacific, home of the 18th Wing. This Okinawa AMC gateway is a PACAF combat-wing airfield, not a CONUS aerial port and not a Navy passenger terminal.

Terminal contact

Address
733rd Air Mobility Squadron BLDG. 3409 Schreiber Ave. Kadena AB, Japan 96368
Hours
0600 - 2200
Commercial
81-98-938-1111 first then 634-3784 #
DSN
315-634-3784
Sign-up email
733ams.space-available@us.af.mil
Official webpage
https://www.amc.af.mil/AMC-Travel-Site/Terminals/PACOM-Terminals/Kadena-AB-Passenger-Terminal/

Departing Space-A Flights

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Terminal FAQ

Last verified 27 August 2026. Hours, fees, and presence rules change. Confirm with this terminal’s official page before you travel. Pop’s is unofficial.

Where is the passenger terminal?

733rd Air Mobility Squadron, Bldg 3409 Schreiber Ave, Kadena AB, Japan 96368.

GPS that Schreiber Avenue / Bldg 3409 address, not a generic “Kadena Air Base” pin. On base. No published terminal map URL on the AMC page.

How do I get on base / which gate should I use?

Official 18 SFS Pass and Registration page (kadena.af.mil, indexed 27 Aug 2026):

  • Gate 1 Visitor Control Center (Bldg 31): 0600–2200, 7 days a week
  • Gate 2 Visitor Control Center (Bldg 346): 0600–0100, 7 days a week
  • Pass and Registration Office (Bldg 31): 0730–1600 weekdays for SOFA permits / RABs / DBIDS; closed weekends, holidays, wing family days, and the last Friday of the month for training

CAC / DoD ID holders use a vehicle-access gate. Visitors without CAC or dependent ID process at a VCC. The AMC terminal page does not name “the Space-A gate.” Gate hours change; confirm with 18 SFS / AF Connect before a late show.

What are hours, phone, DSN, and email?

Hours (official AMC page): 6 a.m. to 10 p.m. daily (0600–2200). Workbook matches.

Phone — official page wins; print the directory conflict:

Official AMC terminal page (live, indexed 27 Aug 2026):

  • From a Japanese cell: 098-962-6487
  • From a U.S. cell: +81-98-938-1111 first, then 634-3784 # (workbook matches this procedure)
  • DSN: 315-634-3784
  • Note on the live page: they are unable to answer calls from unknown / blocked caller-ID numbers. Disable blocking and call again.

Live AMC directory (27 Aug 2026) prints a different pair: commercial 011-81-611-734-6487/2159, DSN (315) 634-6487/2159. That is a flagged conflict with the terminal page (6487/2159 vs 3784 / 098-962-6487). Do not silently pick the directory pair.

Other official-adjacent numbers (do not treat as the Space-A counter):

  • kadena.af.mil “Frequent Numbers” lists AMC Terminal 632-6487 (and base operator 098-938-1111)
  • Dated Advice to Passengers PDF on amc.af.mil lists DSN 315-632-6487 and 315-634-3784, Comm 011-81-98-962-6487

Start with the terminal-page procedure (938-1111 → 634-3784 #, or 098-962-6487). Do not publish directory DSN (315) or any (312) as a commercial number.

Email: 733ams.space-available@us.af.mil (page, directory, workbook agree). The dated Advice PDF also prints 733AMS.TROP.PassengerTerminal@us.af.mil — extra mailbox, not a replacement for the Space-A address on the live page.

How do I sign up for Space-A?

Email 733ams.space-available@us.af.mil, or use the HQ AMC Space-A email form and select Kadena AB Japan. Kadena is on the 40-location form list.

HQ AMC does not process sign-up; the terminal does. Print the completed form or confirmation and bring it. Follow whatever Cat 6 vs Cat 1–5 labels the live page is showing the day you sign up; do not invent a category split from a truncated snippet. AMC Travel Self-Signup Tool is available for AMC locations.

How and when do I mark present?

The page does not print a separate remote “mark present.” Be in person at the Passenger Service Counter for the roll-call / NLT time on the 72-hour. Have passports, orders, pet paperwork, and all bags. After PE NLT, late duty passengers are sent back to their booking agency or to the Passenger Service Counter as the page instructs — they are not automatically boarded.

When is roll call?

Live AMC page: roll calls for duty-standby / Space-A are between 2 hours 20 minutes and 3 hours prior to departure, depending on seat availability.

PE pre-booked: report-no-later-than and roll-call times are on the 72-Hour Schedule. PE doors open NET 6 hours prior; duty passengers must be in line NLT 3 hours prior.

The 72-hour is updated each day by 6 a.m. / 1 p.m. / 9 p.m. JST. Fully quit the browser to refresh. All flights are subject to change. A live banner on the indexed page referenced delayed Seattle PE for an inbound typhoon — that is a reminder PE exists and moves, not this FAQ quoting today’s board.

When should duty / PE passengers check in?

PE pre-booked / Space-R: Early-bird check-in is the day prior to ETD (see 72-hour remarks for annotated times). Only pre-booked passengers assigned by their booking agency may use early bird. Bring:

  • Military ID / dependent ID (passport if applicable)
  • 1 copy of orders (agents keep it) — Advice PDF still says 2× copies; follow the live page (1 copy) and bring a spare
  • Marines EAS: official orders & DMO endorsement; Marines PCS: official & web orders
  • Navy: official orders & 1 copy of DD Form 884 or Page 2 (dependents)
  • All checked and carry-on bags
  • All pets in kennels plus paperwork

Pets, carriers, and carry-on items will not be held overnight.

Day-of PE: doors NET 6 hours prior; NLT 3 hours prior. Late arrivals rebook through the traveling booking agency.

Does this terminal operate Patriot Express flights? If yes, to where?

Yes. The live AMC page has standing PE check-in rules and, when indexed 27 Aug 2026, a banner about Seattle Patriot Express missions. That documents Seattle-direction PE as a current product class. It is not a promise of this weekend’s seats or a full destination catalog.

The Aug 2025 Wayback page linked Kadena AMC Gram (3 Jul 2025) as a quick link. Confirm whether that Gram is still the icon on the live page; a July 2025 Gram is a pamphlet, not this week’s 72-hour. Check the live 72-hour. Do not plan from unofficial blogs.

Where is short-term and long-term parking, max days, and pass rules?

Not published on the official AMC Kadena page. Do not invent a 30-day lot from another AMC terminal’s rules.

What lodging is nearby on-base and off-base?

On base (official AF Inns page only, checked 27 Aug 2026):

- Air Force Inns — Kadena AB, Bldg 332 Beeson Ave, KAB, Okinawa, Japan 904-0200. https://af.dodlodging.net/propertys/Kadena-AB 011-81-98-962-1100 / 1101 / 1010. DSN 315-632-1010 / 632-1100 / 632-1101. kadena.af.mil frequent numbers also list Lodging / Shogun Inn 632-1050 — that is a local-name / extension conflict with AF Inns 632-1100/1010. AF Inns page wins for this FAQ. Pet rooms: call lodging. Nightly rates are not published here. AF Inns notes Naha Airport is about 1½ hours and quotes a local-taxi range; that is lodging-page text, not a terminal shuttle promise.

Off-base: Not published on the AMC terminal page. No endorsement list here.

Is there a USO, food, Wi-Fi, showers, lockers?

AMC page (live): terminal is undergoing renovations and cannot offer certain amenities. Currently: free Wi-Fi; vending (yen, and U.S. dollars only in the inbound lounge); Family Lounge; Business Lounge; USO Lounge. No DV Lounge. Very limited food the rest of the week; Exchange Mobile Food Truck during Saturday PE departures (credit cards, USD, yen). Cash is accepted only for Space-A meal fees: $6 each, exact change.

Lockers / showers: not published on the AMC page. The Advice PDF says there are no storage options inside the terminal for immigration processing — do not count on lockers.

USO Kadena AMC Terminal (official USO Okinawa): Bldg 3409 (same building). https://okinawa.uso.org/amckadena Hours: open per outgoing flight schedules (no clock hours). Amenities listed: Wi-Fi, baby changing station, local information. Separate USO Kadena in Bldg 337 is not the AMC lounge.

What documents are required?

Duty / PE pre-booked: ID, orders as above, passports as required, pets/bags at check-in.

Space-A: DoDI 4515.13 eligibility, FCG/visa/passport rules, sign-up confirmation.

Japan (page, as of 9 July 2023 FCG quote): regular blue tourist passport required to fly to Japan on leave. U.S. military on leave returning to their Japan unit may travel on military ID and travel orders.

Keep your boarding pass when traveling to Kadena on Space-A — it is required to clear Japanese immigration.

Non-SOFA (including retirees and Japanese passport holders): process immigration at the off-base Immigration Bureau, not only at the AMC counter. See Advice to Passengers and the live page.

100% DAV (excluding retirees): if your DoD ID does not show “Retired,” travel is limited IAW DoDI 4515.13 Table 3 to CONUS–CONUS only and will be denied out of Kadena.

Footwear: no open-toed, open-heeled, or high-heeled shoes on AMC flights except Patriot Express.

Dependents: USID for dependents 14+; under 14 travel with sponsor/eligible parent plus government-issued ID.

Kadena Customs / SOFA stamp (18 SFS) — live page: Bldg 3409; DSN 315-634-2217; NCOIC Customs DSN 634-2304; email 18SFS.S3.CUSTOMS@us.af.mil; hours 8:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Monday–Friday. (Aug 2025 Wayback still said 8 a.m.–8 p.m. daily and a different 18SFS.S3OQ mailbox — live page wins.)

What are baggage limits and Space-A/PE fees if published?

Bags (AMC Kadena page): 2 bags per person, 70 lb, 62 linear inches. One carry-on plus one personal item under the seat.

PE Space-A head tax to the United States (live page): $41.63, card only. (Aug 2025 Wayback printed $40.81 — live page wins; fees change.)

Meals: Space-A meal fee $6, cash, exact change only.

Can I travel with pets from here?

Yes on missions that accept them (typically PE), with AMC/CDC kennel rules. Live page: kennels per CDC/AMC Pet Travel Guidelines (1 Aug 2024); in-cabin kennels need four vertical sides of ventilation and room to stand/turn/lie down. In-cabin and belly pets must be brought to the counter with kennels for inspection and weighing. PE pet check-in is the day of travel. Pets stay in the kennel in public/terminal areas; leash for relief. Page: indoor climate-controlled pet areas and air-conditioned ground transportation. Pets not held overnight at early-bird. HQ AMC: PE pets are PCS-booked via TMO, limited. See the AMC Pet Travel page.

Where are schedules posted?

Official AMC Kadena page (not Facebook as the schedule of record):

  • 72-Hour Flight Schedule (updated 0600 / 1300 / 2100 JST; fully quit the browser to refresh)
  • Kadena AMC Gram (Wayback 22 Aug 2025 labeled 3 Jul 2025 — confirm the live icon; dated pamphlets are not the 72-hour)
  • HQ AMC Space-A form / self-signup tool

All flights subject to change. Call the Passenger Terminal for updates as the page banner says.

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Why won’t the terminal answer my U.S. cell?

Live page: unknown / blocked caller ID is not answered. Unblock ID. Use +81-98-938-1111 then 634-3784 #, or a Japanese cell 098-962-6487.

Is 632-6487 the Space-A counter?

It appears on kadena.af.mil frequent numbers and an old Advice PDF. The terminal page is 634-3784 / 098-962-6487. Flagged. Do not silently replace the page number with 632-6487.

Do non-SOFA / retirees clear immigration in the terminal?

SOFA: at the AMC terminal. Non-SOFA (including retirees and Japanese passport holders): off-base Immigration Bureau (Okinawa Defense Bureau, ~5–10 min north of Gate 1 per Advice PDF). Keep the boarding pass. No baggage storage in the terminal during that run.

Can I pay the PE head tax in cash?

No. Live page: card only for the $41.63 PE Space-A head tax. Cash is only for the $6 Space-A meal fee, exact change.

When do PE doors actually open?

NET 6 hours prior. Showing up 8 hours prior does not open the counter. Early-bird is the day prior for pre-booked Space-R only.

I am 100% DAV. Can I Space-A out of Kadena?

Not if your ID lacks “Retired.” The page will deny outbound Kadena travel for that ID type (CONUS–CONUS only under Table 3).

Is there food on a Wednesday Space-A attempt?

Page: very limited food except the Saturday PE Exchange food truck. Bring food. Vending yen (USD only inbound lounge).

Where is Pass and ID if I do not have base access?

Gate 1 VCC Bldg 31, 0600–2200 daily; Gate 2 VCC 0600–0100. Permit office itself is weekday 0730–1600 and closed last Fridays. A Saturday 0500 roll call is a planning problem if you do not already have access.

Do I bring the pet to early-bird?

You may check in Space-R the day prior, but pets/carriers/carry-ons are not held overnight. Pet check-in for PE is day of travel.

Is the USO the same as USO Kadena by Gate 2?

No. USO Kadena AMC Terminal = Bldg 3409. USO Kadena = Bldg 337. Different phones on uso.org.

Open-toed shoes on PE?

PE is the exception on this page. Organic military air: no open-toe / open-heel / high heel.

TMO vs the passenger terminal?

TMO is Bldg 756, DSN (315) 634-7792/7794. That is booking/orders, not the Space-A counter in 3409.

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For general Space-A questions, see the Space-A FAQ.