Photo By Spc. Chalon Hutson | Members of the Japan Ground Self-Defense Force participate in a simulated combat...... read more read more
CAMP HIGASHI-CHITOSE, Japan – A platoon of Japanese infantrymen ran through the forest just before dawn and took cover following a nearby explosion. Recovering from a 28-mile march over the last two days, with only a three-hour break, the Japan Ground Self-Defense Force members were forced to push on through an enemy attack.
As enemy tanks crossed open fields nearby, one squad laid down covering fire so another could cross, getting a vantage point over the enemy armor. When in position, the squad deployed four separate Carl Gustav recoilless rifles, anti-tank weapons that fire 84 mm rounds. After they engaged and destroyed the enemy tanks, the squad stopped firing, ensuring they did not waste any rounds.
Meanwhile, on the other side of the open field, one squad held their position as a single infantryman carried a backpack full of equipment used to win the battle.
The victorious platoon was then greeted by their command sergeant major, congratulating them for the completion of the final outdoor exercise of their non-commissioned officer training.
This event was part of the Japanese equivalent to the U.S. Army’s Warrior Leader Course. Upon completion of the course, the JGSDF members will be eligible for promotion to the rank of sergeant.
At the end of this particular training, which took place at a training range near Camp Kita-Chitose, Japan, Dec. 6, U.S. Army Command Sgt. Maj. James Norman, I Corps senior enlisted leader, visited the platoon. He encouraged them to heed the knowledge they gained, and reminded them of the responsibility that comes with being an NCO.
“Several years ago, when I did my first Yama Sakura exercise, and I went to the NCO academy, all the instructors were officers,” said Norman whose previous post was U.S. Army-Japan senior enlisted leader. “You can see now there are master sergeants, sergeants major, and most of the officers are former NCOs who have risen through the ranks to earn their position.”
Norman’s partnership with Japanese leadership has influenced their training, and their training has affected his view as well. A couple years ago, he hosted several sergeants major visits to Fort Jackson, S.C., to view drill sergeant school and basic training.
“NCOs hold a lot of responsibility,” he said. “The goal is to always have your eyes open, and not think that your rank makes you better than anybody else.”
Norman said that he did not want the JGSDF’s training to replicate the Army’s, but to learn from and take aspects from.
“I am learning from the American soldiers,” said JGSDF Northern Army Command Sgt. Maj., Koyamada Hidehiro. “I would like to know how to use the good aspects from the U.S. in our training.”
As Norman spoke to the platoon at the end of the exercise, he asked the members who found the training difficult to raise their hands. Several hesitated, but eventually raised their hands.
“That’s good,” he said, “Training is supposed to be hard. The more you sweat in training, the less your Soldiers will bleed in combat.”
Norman was very impressed as he followed the platoon through
the woods, watching their tactics and movements, many times commenting about the toughness and dexterity of the JGSDF members, especially upon completion of the 28-mile march. The development of these NCO’s through training was noticeable.
“It’s been exciting to see the Japanese Army NCO corps grow and develop,” said Command Sgt. Maj. Steven Payton, current U.S. Army-Japan senior enlisted leader, who joined Norman in observing the training. “Soldiers are pretty much the same everywhere. They are committed to their nations, motivated and look forward to getting dirty.”
The total length of the course is ten weeks, and with the improvements, the JGSDF NCO’s have an advantage over their predecessors.
“I heard the contents of the training became more complex and deeper, according to the stories of my instructors and other NCO’s have told us about before,” said Leading Pvt. Tsukasa Kobonoki, a native of the Aomori, Prefecture, and four-year veteran of the Cold Weather Combat Training Unit. “It was very difficult for us to learn, but all of the knowledge was good for me.”
The course also provides the future JGSDF NCO’s experience to draw from, should they ever need to use their skills in a real-world situation.
“In this training I could imagine the real combat, express my opinion, and make an appropriate decision,” said Leading Pvt. Keita Murayama, a Sopporo City, Hokkaido, native, and five-year veteran of the 11th Infantry Unit. “I became a better NCO than the NCO’s who did not participate in this kind of training.”
Norman applauded the training members for their service, and awarded the member who ran across the field with equipment with a coin. He believed they are partially the result of bilateral interoperability. Norman plans to take the training witnessed back to the U.S. and implement it in leader training there.
“It’s a great opportunity to learn from each other, exchange ideas, tactics, techniques and procedures, especially at the non-commissioned officer level,” Norman said. “From that point of view, we have learned a lot from each other.”
| Date Taken: | 12.06.2013 |
| Date Posted: | 12.10.2013 08:33 |
| Story ID: | 117976 |
| Location: | CAMP HIGASHI-CHITOSE, HOKKAIDO, JP |
| Web Views: | 174 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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