Breaking Down Language Barriers During Orient Shield

Photo By Sgt. Maj. Corine Lombardo | Spc. Nathaniel Henrickson, Company A, 341st Military Intelligence Battalion, Washington Army National Guard assists Lt. Col. John Andonie, 1st Battalion, 69th Infantry Regiment commander from New York City as he discusses bi-lateral training with Japanese Ground Self-Defense Forces, during exercise Orient Shield, Oct. 11, 2009.  

OTOMO BARRACKS, UNITED STATES

10.15.2009

Courtesy Story

New York National Guard

By Jimmy Bedgood
42nd Infantry Division

OTOMO BARRACKS, Japan -- Helping to bring U.S. and Japanese military forces together is what Washington Army National Guard Spc. Samuel J. Greer with the 341st Bravo Company and Spc. Nathaniel Henrickson from Company A, 341st Military Intelligence Battalion in Tacoma do for a living.

They have a way with words, literally, providing interpreter services and translation to facilitate joint training between the 1st Battalion, 69th Infantry Regiment, from the New York Army National Guard and Japanese Ground Self-Defense Forces, during Orient Shield, a bilateral field training exercise, Oct. 9-17, 2009.

"The ability for exercise participants to communicate with each other is imperative to the success of the exercise, said Sgt. 1st Class George Pasion, Orient Shield Operations noncommissioned officer in charge for U.S. Army Japan. "We could not do this without the skills and talent of our translators."

Orient Shield is designed to integrate Soldier skills, while working toward a common training goal. The training will enhance staff coordination and promote regimental and battalion level command and staff training opportunities.

This is accomplished through joint military decision making processes and mutual operations rehearsals.

"Having a translator has been a tremendous benefit and has allowed us to streamline the process," Lt. Col. John Andonie, 1-69th Infantry Battalion commander, said. "Our Soldiers have devised numerous ways to communicate with each other, everything from hand gestures to drawing pictures," said Andonie. "This training opportunity would have been significantly more challenging without the assistance of our U.S. translators."

The week-long training is geared toward improving both U.S. and Japanese combat readiness and working together to enhance relations to support the security interests of friends and allies in the region.

"We need to be here, without our alliance with Japan we have no way of taking care of our interest in this part of the world," said Greer said. "I've always loved Japanese, it's a skill set I can use, even after the military."

First Lt. Takashi Haga, a platoon leader with the 37th Infantry Regiment, Japan Ground Self-Defense Force was selected to act as an interpreter throughout Orient Shield because of his bi-lingual skills.

"Working with the 1st Bn., 69th Regiment has given me a very good opportunity to practice my English," said Haga. "I am happy to support the bilateral training."

• Date Taken: 10.15.2009
• Date Posted: 10.15.2009 15:50
• Story ID: 40175
• Location: OTOMO BARRACKS, US