Japan, US begin command post exercise during Forest Light 13-3

Photo By Lance Cpl. Kasey Peacock | Japan Ground Self-Defense Force Col. Naoki Yamane discusses future operations of Exercise Forest Light 13-3 with Lt. Col. James A. Ryans Feb. 26 at the Hokkaido-Dai Maneuver Area in Hokkaido prefecture, Japan. Forest Light is a routine, semi-annual training evolution that enhances the readiness of the U.S. Marine Corps and the JGSDF and is in accordance with the U.S.-Japan Treaty of Mutual Cooperation and Security. Ryans is the commanding officer of 3rd Battalion, 6th Marine Regiment, which is assigned to 4th Marine Regiment, 3rd Marine Division, III Marine Expeditionary Force, under the unit deployment program. Yamane is the commander of the 11th Infantry Regiment, 7th Armored Division, Northern Army, JGSDF. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Pfc. Ronald K. Peacock/ Released)  

HOKKAIDO-DAI MANEUVER AREA, HOKKAIDO, JAPAN

02.26.2013

Story by Pfc. Kasey Peacock 

III Marine Expeditionary Force   

Japan Ground Self-Defense Force members teamed with U.S. Marines to discuss a simulated attack plan Feb. 26-28 during the command post exercise portion of Exercise Forest Light 13-3 at the Hokkaido-Dai Maneuver Area in Hokkaido prefecture, Japan.

During the CPX, members of the 11th Infantry Regiment, 7th Armored Division, Northern Army, JGSDF, worked with Company I (Reinforced), 3rd Battalion, 6th Marine Regiment, which is assigned to 4th Marine Regiment, 3rd Marine Division, III Marine Expeditionary Force, under the unit deployment program.

Forest Light is a routine, semiannual training exercise that enhances the readiness of the U.S. Marine Corps and JGSDF and is in accordance with the U.S.-Japan Treaty of Mutual Cooperation and Security.

The CPX provided an opportunity for the JGSDF members and Marines to hone their communication skills and learn from each others’ unique experiences and expertise, better preparing them for a unified approach to future contingencies.

“Coordination has been extremely thorough for this event,” said JGSDF Sgt. 1st Class Ryo Komine, an interpreter with the regiment. “This portion of the exercise focuses on the continued commitment of our forces to work together. While the training will help with our readiness, we are also focused on gaining a mutual understanding of our allies, which we will do through cultural exchanges and training throughout the exercise.”

Those participating worked through language barriers and procedures to strengthen bonds between each other and become more operationally ready for a real-world scenario.

“Since we have two different styles of doing things, we wanted to learn as much as we could from each other to increase our readiness,” said JGSDF Capt. Tomoyuki Adachi, a liaison officer with the regiment. “While we have an extensive amount of cold-weather training to teach our allies, we have much to learn from their combat experiences.”

While many of the Marines have deployed to a combat zone, for almost all of them this was their first time to train in Japan, according to Lt. Col. James A. Ryans, the commanding officer of 3rd Bn., 6th Marine Regiment.

“This kind of an opportunity and experience is irreplaceable for us,” said Ryans. “Every opportunity that we get while deployed to Japan is one we are going to take full advantage of. Not only do we get to take advantage of the cold-weather training, but we also get to gain the experience of working with another military, both of which are very rare opportunities aboard our home camp, Camp Lejeune in North Carolina.”

• Date Taken: 02.26.2013
• Date Posted: 03.01.2013 02:05
• Story ID: 102742
• Location: HOKKAIDO-DAI MANEUVER AREA, HOKKAIDO, JP