Marines, JGSDF converse

Photo By Staff Sgt. Courtney White | Pfc. Dustin B. Odell, a supply clerk with Combat Logistics Regiment 35, 3rd Marine Logistics Group, III Marine Expeditionary Force, was grouped with three members of the Japan Ground Self-Defense Force on Camp Kinser Sept. 22 to assist them with familiarization in conversational English. The JGSDF members will be attending a special training exercise on Camp Hansen later this year where they will be required to speak English.  

CAMP KINSER, OKINAWA, JAPAN

09.29.2011

Story by Lance Cpl. Courtney White 

III Marine Expeditionary Force   

CAMP KINSER, Japan - Marines of 3rd Supply Battalion volunteered to help familiarize members of the Japan Ground Self-Defense Force with English Sept. 22.

The unit, a part of Combat Logistics Regiment 35, 3rd Marine Logistics Group, III Marine Expeditionary Force, spent the day with 20 JGSDF members in classes, touring the base, and visiting the post exchange, commissary and mess hall.

“The Marines are helping improve the English skills of the JGSDF members by teaching them basic conversational English,” said Navy Lt. Kyu Lee, the battalion chaplain.

The JGSDF members will be required to speak English for a special training exercise they will be participating in on Camp Hansen in November, said Lee.

“This experience is not just an opportunity for the Marines to teach English, but also for them to be able to exchange cultural ideas and differences,” said Lee.

The two-day community relations project consisted of both the Marines and JGSDF members experiencing the others’ day-to-day lives.

“The Marines were able to visit the JGSDF base in Naha and experience [the defense force’s] lifestyle by taking classes and touring [its] base,” said Lee. “It was flipped when those members visited Camp Kinser, and the Marines were able to show them an American base.”

The Marines who participated were given the opportunity to meet people they would normally not get to interact with, said Lance Cpl. Latisha J. Northcutt, a warehouse clerk with CLR-35.

“It was nice to be able to meet the JGSDF members and show them all of our hard work and the pride that we take in what we do,” she said.

Cross-cultural opportunities like this are important because they build a positive relationship between Americans and their Japanese counterparts, said Sgt. Thomas B. Wilkie, a combat marksmanship trainer with 3rd Supply Battalion.

Volunteering is a way for Marines to get out of their workspace and interact with their local community, according to Lee.

“During the project, it was easily noticeable the instant camaraderie and friendship between those involved,” said Lee. “We hope that it will continue to build into a better relationship, and hopefully we can schedule some joint community clean-up projects in the future.”

• Date Taken: 09.29.2011
• Date Posted: 09.28.2011 23:15
• Story ID: 77730
• Location: CAMP KINSER, OKINAWA, JP