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    Sports Day brings Tomahawks Battalion and JGSDF in for friendly competition

    Sports Day brings Tomahawks Battalion and JGSDF in for friendly competition

    Photo By Staff Sgt. Mark Miranda | Japan Ground Self Defense Force troops demonstrate Taiko festival drumming for...... read more read more

    YAKIMA TRAINING CENTER, WA, UNITED STATES

    09.07.2014

    Story by Staff Sgt. Mark Miranda 

    7th Infantry Division

    YAKIMA TRAINING CENTER, Wash. – Volleyball and softball games between soldiers of Japan Ground Self-Defense Force and soldiers of 2nd Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 2nd Infantry Division kicked off a day celebrating the partnership for this year’s Rising Thunder combined exercises at Yakima Training Center, Sept. 7.

 

    “We’ve enjoyed our time here,” said JGSDF 1st Lt. Satoshi Hashiba, an OH-58 Kiowa helicopter pilot from Takasaki, Japan. “It has been interesting to learn from working with U.S. Soldiers."

    The exercises have traditionally offered soldiers of I Corps, and now 7th Infantry Division units, the opportunity to increase language skills, regional expertise and cultural understanding by working with the JGSDF. A break in training that included field artillery, tank, aviation and small-arms ranges in the days prior allowed service members from both countries the chance to relax and bond over their enjoyment of sports. 


    The games drew large crowds cheering for each of the teams. Japanese spectators kept the mood light, and cheered for both Americans and their own teams.

    

“They are good sportsmen, and we had a lot of fun. It has been a unique experience coming here,” said JGSDF 1st Lt. Kunihiro Masu, a field artillery officer from Japan’s Tochigi prefecture.

    During the week, Masu demonstrated the capabilities of his unit’s FH-70 howitzers, and had a good look at the U.S. Army M777 howitzers.

    “The guns are different, but the spirits of the crews behind them are very similar,” said Masu. 



    At the end of all the final competitions, both JGSDF teams and teams fielded by 4th Battalion, 23rd Infantry Regiment lined up to thank one another for memorable games. Japanese troops held closing ceremonies for the day with a demonstration of Taiko-style festival drumming and a crowd-participation game of rock-paper-scissors.
 Enjoying friendly competition was another step forward in continuing the relationship the JGSDF has had with Soldiers from Joint Base Lewis-McChord through 16 years of annual Rising Thunder exercises.

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    NEWS INFO

    Date Taken: 09.07.2014
    Date Posted: 09.11.2014 17:34
    Story ID: 141862
    Location: YAKIMA TRAINING CENTER, WA, US

    Web Views: 81
    Downloads: 1

    PUBLIC DOMAIN