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    Smooth sailing for maritime forces at Yama Sakura

    Smooth sailing for maritime forces at Yama Sakura

    Photo By Spc. Chalon Hutson | During Operation Yama Sakura 65, a bilateral exercise consisting of U.S. and Japan...... read more read more

    CAMP HIGASHI-CHITOSE, HOKKAIDO, JAPAN

    12.07.2013

    Story by Spc. Chalon Hutson 

    301st Public Affairs Detachment

    CAMP HIGASHI-CHITOSE, Japan – While the average person’s sole experience with simulated naval battles is a board game with the phrase, "you sank my battleship," during Yama Sakura 65, U.S. and Japanese sailors are playing out simulations with more significant real-world implications.

    Lt. Cmdr. James Lucas, a department head with Strike Fighter Squadron 41, is a joint force maritime component commander liaison working as a commander of simulated U.S. Navy forces.
    During YS65, Lucas works as part of a team of four naval officers - two from the U.S. and two from Japan. Part of his job is to work with his Japanese counterparts to ensure smooth sailing between the partner nations.

    Lucas said that learning how the two counterstrike groups operate is mutually beneficial, allowing each side to know what could be brought to the table in future exercises or real-world missions in the Pacific - an important consideration with the recent U.S. Pacific Rebalance.

    “We can get a better understanding of each other’s capabilities,” Lucas said. “Anytime we work together, we build a personal relationship and begin to understand how the other person sees how the forces should be utilized.”

    One of Lucas’ Japanese counterparts is Lt. Saito Naoki, from Sasebo-Nagasaki Naval Base.

    Saito agreed it's vital to the mission for both the Americans and Japanese to communicate effectively. Situations arise where both forces have to adjust according to the results of a simulation.
    Conveying information throughout the naval section makes bilateral professional relationships important to the success of the operation.

    “I feel more comfortable, because if we had a situation we are more prepared,” Saito said. “We already have a strong relationship, but thanks to this exercise it will be stronger.”

    The bilateral team meets at the beginning of each shift to discuss what happened and what is planned to happen over the next 48 hours, as well as the potential implications of the event in reality.
    “It’s crucial for us to have these exercises; if a situation arises where we have to work together, we have built these relationships ahead of time,” Lucas said. “So, when we come together for the real thing, it’s much more fluid and will occur with much greater success.”

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    NEWS INFO

    Date Taken: 12.07.2013
    Date Posted: 12.08.2013 03:12
    Story ID: 117889
    Location: CAMP HIGASHI-CHITOSE, HOKKAIDO, JP

    Web Views: 183
    Downloads: 0

    PUBLIC DOMAIN