US and Japan Combine Firepower at Rising Thunder

Photo By Sgt. Ryan Hallock | Soldiers from 2nd Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 2nd Infantry Division enter a building to clear and secure it during a combined arms live-fire exercise at Operation Rising Thunder at Yakima Training Center. The U.S. and Japan joined forces at the beginning of September to conduct the annual, bilateral exercise and to continue strengthening their enduring partnership that has existed since 1952. (U.S. Army Photo by Sgt. Ryan Hallock)  

YAKIMA TRAINING CENTER, WA, UNITED STATES

09.15.2014

Story by Sgt. Ryan Hallock 

19th Public Affairs Detachment

YAKIMA TRAINING CENTER, Wash. - Soldiers from the 2nd Stryker Brigade Combat Team and members of the Japan Ground Self-Defense Force teamed up at Operation Rising Thunder for a combined arms live-fire exercise at Yakima Training Center Sept. 15.

The two nations joined forces at the beginning of September to conduct the annual, bilateral exercise and to continue strengthening the enduring partnership that began in 1952.

“At every echelon in my company, our elements have partnered with theirs,” said Capt. Corey Ritter, company commander, B Co, 4th Battalion, 23rd Infantry Regiment. “I think that strengthens our ability to work together.”

Ritter said that in the joint environment, the mission objective was simple and easily able to transcend the language barrier: destroy the enemy. The mission began when a convoy of Japanese Type 10 Tanks rolled into their firing positions, each with a red flag raised signaling, “ready to fire.”

The tanks waited – calm before the storm. The first tank fired, a fireball erupting out its barrel, followed shortly by the boom. The rest of the tanks followed suit.

Over the radio came the word that the JBLM infantry soldiers needed to hear: the JGSDF have destroyed five tanks and suppressed the infantry battalion. The U.S. Soldiers moved into a hillside position and began suppressive fires, while the flanking Stryker elements pushed forward.

Pfc. Dylan Caudill, an infantryman and radioman for 3rd Platoon, B Co, gave support by fire from a trench outside of the objective and covered the soldiers of 2nd Platoon as they cleared and secured the area.

Caudill said working with his Japanese counterparts has been a positive experience. After spending time training and eating together, he said, a bond was formed.

“We’ve slowly gotten into each other’s personal lives,” said Caudill. “Where are you from? What kind of music do you listen to? It’s two different cultures bonding together.”

Ritter said training with the JGSDF has been an experience that has helped highlight the U.S. Army’s continued investment in the Pacific. “At the Soldier level, we’ve talked to them about how we’re regionally aligned with the Pacific and that we need to be ready to respond if anything happens,” he said.

He said a part of the exercise’s success stems from the working relationship the two nations have formed. He’s seen friendships develop by trading unit patches, exchanging coins, checking out their counterpart’s weapons, and exchanging email addresses to stay in contact. Some of his soldiers have even discussed visiting Japan after the exercise.

• Date Taken: 09.15.2014
• Date Posted: 09.22.2014 17:53
• Story ID: 142926
• Location: YAKIMA TRAINING CENTER, WA, US