Health Care

The 18th Medical Group provides world-class health services to 14,800 beneficiaries at the Air Force's largest combat wing. They operate Pacific Air Force's (PACAF) largest outpatient medical & dental clinics and provide a myriad of unique health service capabilities to the USINDOPACOM region. These unique capabilities include: the Air Force's second largest Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU), the Pacific Command Regional Dental Laboratory (RDL), and the western Pacific’s only Aeromedical Staging Flight (ASF). Every day, 90 medical and dental providers see nearly 600 patients, accomplishing over 120,000 visits annually.

The 18th Operational Medical Readiness Squadron delivers aerospace medicine services to enhance human performance and minimize loss from disease and non-battle injuries for a base population of 19,000 and a WESTPAC AOR population of 540,000. Additionally, we provide expertise in physiology training, Bioenvironmental Engineering, Public Health, Flight Medicine, health and wellness activities, medical readiness, optometric care, medical entomology, mental health and family advocacy services, and Aeromedical Evacuation/Critical Care Air Transport.  Special services include the only forward-deployed INDOPACOM Air Force Radiologic Assessment Team (AFRAT), the sole Air Force OCONUS Environment Health Analytical Laboratory, and a partnership with the Global Emerging Infection Surveillance (GEIS) laboratory.

The 18th Dental Squadron provides comprehensive dental services, including prevention and general dentistry, as well as six dental specialties. We operate PACAF’s largest dental clinic and support the Air Force's largest combat wing with 14,800 beneficiaries, and complete 48,000 patient visits annually. We operate one of three Air Force area dental laboratories, supporting 43 tri-service dental facilities.

The 18th Healthcare Operations Squadron delivers world-class outpatient, inpatient and specialty care to more than 14,800 tri-service beneficiaries at the Air Force's largest combat wing. We operate the Air Force’s second largest neonatal intensive care unit and the PACAF’s busiest mental health clinic. We provide advanced medical capabilities to include Kadena's emergency medical system and allergy/immunization services.

The 18th Medical Support Squadron supports health services in PACAF's largest outpatient clinic, for the Air Force's largest combat wing. The squadron manages the Group’s 19.7-million-dollar budget and provides diagnostics, therapeutic, logistical, technological, administrative, managed care and readiness planning for all staff and 14,800 beneficiaries. Additionally, it hosts the Pacific Air Forces’ second largest Patient Movement Item center, and it serves as the Pacific Command’s Theater Lead Agent for medical materiel, enhancing joint interoperability for a 105 million square mile Area of Responsibility.

Emergency and specialty care is provided by the United States Naval Hospital Okinawa on Camp Foster, and it serves the entire Department of Defense community on Okinawa. Camp Foster is located about 15 minutes south of Kadena. For more information, call the USNHO at DSN 315-646-9355 or commercial 011-81-98-971-9355, or go to the USNHO website.

When you move, TRICARE moves with you. No matter where you go in the world, TRICARE is there before, during and when you get to your next duty station.

There are steps you need to take to make sure changes to your TRICARE coverage go smoothly. Understand that when you move, you may have to use a different TRICARE option. Visit TRICARE Moving to learn more.

Before you move, you should take care of any routine medical needs, including immunizations, and fill your prescriptions so you have enough while traveling. If you need care during your move, visit TRICARE Getting Care When Traveling to learn what to do.

Filling prescriptions while traveling

You should refill prescriptions before traveling. But if you run out of a prescription drug while traveling, visit TRICARE Filling Prescriptions When Traveling.

Getting dental care while traveling

Getting dental care while traveling depends on your location and whether you are a service member or family member.

• If you are an active-duty service member within the United States or in U.S. territories, and near a military installation, you may be able to get emergency dental care at the dental treatment facility, or DTF, if available. If not, contact the TRICARE Active Duty Dental Care Program before you see a dentist and tell the contractor about your move. You will need to get an authorization before you see a dentist. The Active Duty Dental Care Program will work with you, so you can get care from a local network dentist.
• If you are an active-duty service member at an overseas location, call the TRICARE overseas regional call center to get authorization before you see a civilian dentist.
• If you are an active-duty family member within the United States, in U.S. territories or at an overseas location, you can find out if any nearby military dental treatment facility treats active-duty family members. If you're enrolled in the TRICARE dental program, call the TRICARE dental program contractor or visit their website to find a provider. You will need to get an authorization before you see the dentist.

With permanent change of station orders, ask for a copy of your medical and dental records from your military treatment facility and the dental treatment facility. Do this at least one month before your PCS date. The MTF should also transfer a copy of your record and any family records to your new duty station or you may be able to hand carry them to your new duty station.

If you want someone else to be able to get medical or dental information on you or your family while you are moving, you need to complete a DD Form 2870, "Authorization for Disclosure of Medical or Dental Information."

For more information on getting copies of medical records, visit TRICARE Request Copies of Medical Records.