3/12 representatives visit local mayors, explain training

Photo By Cpl. Jovane Holland | Lt. Col. Ricardo Miagany, commanding officer, 3rd Battalion, 12th Marine Regiment, 3rd Marine Division, III Marine Expeditionary Force, communicates with Mayor Houbun Shutoh, mayor of Yufu-city, with the help of Cpl. Johnathan Brooks, an interpreter with 3rd Bn., 12th Marines, during a scheduled visit to city officials Feb. 2.  

OKINAWA, JAPAN

02.04.2011

Story by Lance Cpl. Jovane Holland 

III Marine Expeditionary Force   

OKINAWA, Japan - Lt. Col. Ricardo Miagany, commanding officer, 3rd Battalion, 12th Marine Regiment, 3rd Marine Division, III Marine Expeditionary Force, along with several other representatives, paid a visit to Mayors Houbun Shutoh and Kohei Asakura, mayors of nearby Yufu City and Kusu-town, respectively, and mayoral aides in Kokonoe-town Feb. 2.

The purpose of the visits to each area was to express appreciation to the local towns for cooperating with the Marines’ upcoming training schedule, explain what training was being conducted and its importance, answer questions from town leadership and maintain good working relationships between Marines and their Japanese counterparts.

As a token of the Marines’ appreciation, Miagany presented a coffee mug with a 3rd Battalion, 12th Marines emblem inscription to each city official before departing and invited them to attend a press conference open to local media at the Hijudai Training Area Feb. 4.

The Marines of 3rd Battalion, 12th Marines are conducting live-fire artillery training here as part of the Artillery Relocation Training Program to maintain operational readiness of the artillery battalion in support of the U.S. – Japan security alliance.

The purpose of the regularly scheduled training is to ensure that the Marines are able to sustain their operational proficiency in order to respond effectively to any conflict in the Asia-Pacific region where artillery units would be needed.

“This training is important because repetition keeps everyone in our unit proficient in their responsibilities, from the surveyors to the shooters,” said Miagany, a Sacramento, Calif. native.

Miagany stressed the importance of interacting and communicating with the leadership of nearby towns and their citizens.

“We want to make sure the community knows we are being responsible guests while training at Hijudai,” Miagany said during one of his visits. “We are working closely with the Kyushu Defense Bureau and Japanese Ground Security Defense Force to ensure we follow proper procedures.”

Topics of discussion ranged from the ability of the Marines to operate in the cold weather to compliance with range regulations.

Both mayors respectfully addressed the issue of the Marines training safely.

“I want to inquire about the Marines training safely, because this affects our community,” said Kohei Asakura, mayor of Kusu-town.

Miagany assured each representative that his Marines would adhere to safety rules and regulations to make sure the training went as smoothly as possible.

“Our mission is to train safely and without incident,” Miagany said.

• Date Taken: 02.04.2011
• Date Posted: 02.04.2011 00:58
• Story ID: 64774
• Location: OKINAWA, JP