Photo By Lance Cpl. Kasey Peacock | Marines and Japan Ground Self-Defense Force soldiers listen to instruction on...... read more read more
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HOKKAIDO-DAI MANEUVER AREA, Hokkaido Prefecture, Japan – Japan Ground Self-Defense Force members and U.S. Marines gathered for the opening ceremony of Exercise Forest Light 13-3 Feb. 26 at the Hokkaido-Dai Maneuver Area in Hokkaido prefecture, Japan.
Members of the 11th Infantry Regiment, 7th Armored Division, Northern Army, JGSDF, and 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, will conduct the exercise, scheduled to conclude March 7.
During the ceremony, commanders of both regiments presented words of encouragement and excitement to the service members and stressed the importance of taking full advantage of their time training together.
“We offer a welcome to the Marines to our maneuver area to train alongside our forces in order to enhance the effectiveness of the U.S.-Japan alliance that is vital to the Asia-Pacific region,” said JGSDF Col. Naoki Yamane, the commander of the 11th Infantry Regiment. “I challenge those participating in the exercise to take advantage of what you can learn from your counterparts.”
Forest Light 13-3 will consist of a command post exercise and field training events to include ski-marching, live-fire ranges and helicopter-borne operations in a cold-weather environment.
“Although this exercise happens every year and may be considered routine, it is far from routine for us. For us, it is very special,” said Lt. Col. James A. Ryans, the commanding officer of 3rd Battalion, 6th Marine Regiment. “Over 90 percent of the Marines and sailors in the battalion have served in combat, but only about 10 percent of us have been to Japan. This is an awesome opportunity to learn from our allies while passing on some of our lessons learned from combat operations.”
Forest Light is a semiannual training evolution, which enhances the readiness of U.S. Marine Corps and Japan Ground Self-Defense Force units in accordance with the U.S.-Japan Treaty of Mutual Cooperation and Security.
“During the exercise, we will enhance our partnership with the JGSDF and improve our individual and unit-level skills in a bilateral environment,” said Ryans. “More specifically, we have brought our anti-armor assault men, snipers, machine gunners and medical specialists to exchange techniques and procedures.”
Communication will be a key part of the success during the exercise, according to Sgt. Travis D. Caron, the communications chief with the company.
“Even though there will be a language barrier, working side-by-side with each other on a battlefield would present the same barrier,” said Caron. “Us working together will not only build camaraderie, but prepare us for potential operations in the future.”
Following the opening ceremony, the JGSDF members and Marines gathered for a period of instruction by the JGSDF on cold-weather injury prevention prior to beginning the exercise.
“In closing, I would like to thank the11th Infantry Regiment for its hospitality and gracious reception of my Marines. They have been true professionals,” said Ryans. “Additionally, we have the utmost respect for the people of Japan and hope to have the opportunity to learn about the people of Hokkaido. Now, we look forward to great training, shoulder-to-shoulder with our fellow warriors.”
| Date Taken: | 02.26.2013 |
| Date Posted: | 03.01.2013 03:20 |
| Story ID: | 102745 |
| Location: | HOKKAIDO-DAI MANEUVER AREA, HOKKAIDO, JP |
| Web Views: | 350 |
| Downloads: | 1 |
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