JASDF celebrate 50 years of partnership with US Army

Photo By Amabilia Payen | Two Japan Air Self-Defense Force service members demonstrate Japanese martial arts in traditional clothing during the JASDF Annual Service Practice 50th Anniversary Dinner held Oct. 4 at the Fort Bliss Centennial Banquet and Conference Center.  

FORT BLISS, TX, UNITED STATES

10.04.2014

Story by Amabilia Payen 

Mobilization and Deployment, DPTMS Fort Bliss

FORT BLISS, Texas -- The Japanese Air Self-Defense Force celebrated 50 years of Annual Service Practice with the U.S. Army by inviting local military leaders to observe a live-fire Patriot launch at McGregor Range, New Mexico, followed by a dinner hosted by the Vice Commander, Air Defense Command JASDF, Lt. Gen. Kosuke Yoshida, at the Fort Bliss Centennial Banquet and Conference Center, during the weekend of Oct. 3-4.

The commemorative live-fire Patriot launch was conducted on Oct. 3. The Commanding General, White Sands Missile Range, Brig. Gen. Timothy R. Coffin, attended the launch along with leaders of the 32nd Army Air and Missile Defense Command.

“We are honored and privileged that the partnership continues and it has been an excess of 50 years,” said Col. Clem Coward, Deputy Commander, 32d AAMDC. “The relationships that we have been able to form over a long time, continue to improve our tactics, techniques and procedures collectively together. I think it’s great that there was U.S. cooperation that was out here, able to observe them in this culminating event that all of their training led up to this point, which is a great opportunity to fire a live missile at a live target.”

In 1964, the ASP launches for the JASDF began with the Nike AJAX missile. Today, JASDF can expertly fire the Patriot missile. Both Japan and the U.S. share similar threats and adversaries when it comes to ballistic missiles. According to Coward, it is important that both countries continue to train, observe, and understand political challenges together so that they can be effective on one common weapon system.

JASDF 2nd Lt. Mitzu Onazato lead his team in the preparation for the launch. Many JASDF teams have also been training and firing since Sept.

“We are very excited to have this opportunity to fire here in America,” said Onazato. “Because we have many restrictions for live firing in Japan, this is a good experience. This is very important training for us.”

The live-fire launch also included visitors from Raytheon and the Mitsubishi Heavy Industry. Raytheon is the prime contractor for both domestic and international Patriot Air and Missile Defense Systems. MHI is the prime contractor for the Patriot in Japan and manufactures the Guidance Enhanced Missile and related ground equipment for Japan under a license agreement with Raytheon. Brandon Penn, who is a software engineer and works with Patriot telemetry for Raytheon, managed and controlled the telemetry antennas during the launch. The antennas assisted Penn in analyzing the missile in flight

“For the most part, we are able to tell exactly what happens inside the missile,” said Penn.

After a JASDF Patriot launch hit a live target at a 100% kill-rate, the attendees then thanked all JASDF airmen and women involved.

The JASDF 50th Anniversary Dinner was held Oct. 4th, with sake, sushi, miso soup and a traditional Japanese tea ceremony. Raytheon, Boeing, MHI, Fort Bliss, and the El Paso community were among the guests to celebrate the occasion.

“It is a great honor for me to host the 50th Anniversary Reception of Japan Air Self-Defense Force, Annual Service Practice,” said Yoshida. “We as air defenders shall aim high. We shall do our very best to include effectiveness for Japan and U.S bilateral cooperations.”

Maj. Gen. Stephen M. Twitty, Commanding General, 1st Armored Division and Fort Bliss, also attended the dinner with his wife, Karen, and gave some remarks.

“To our military partnership, we have ensured that a consistent force, dedicated to the peace and stability in a region that is dynamic with various and competing national interests. These competing interests can sometimes manifest themselves into credible and global threats, and the Japanese Self Defense Forces has remained the guardian of freedom for its people and our common allies,” said Twitty.

Coffin also made remarks about the JASDF 50th Anniversary celebration. “We partner together to ensure the safety of our nations and to protect the freedom of the world. So we thank you so much for being here. You are stronger allies because of your partnership here, together, with us, and it is a tremendous joy to celebrate 50 years together with you,” said Coffin.

A traditional hammering of the bucket full of sake followed the speeches, and the rice wine was served to everyone. A few martial arts demonstrations were also enjoyed by the guests, followed by a traditional green tea ceremony led by Mrs. Chiemi Nakai. The dinner closed with awards and plaques of appreciation handed out to local host families.

The JASDF ASP is conducted every year at McGregor Range, New Mexico, and Fort Bliss, Texas. The ASP is designed to maintain and improve the skills of the Japanese service members in using the Patriot missile system. The Unit Training and Certification Division, Fort Bliss, Texas, hosts and assists the JASDF with this yearly event.

• Date Taken: 10.04.2014
• Date Posted: 10.16.2014 15:16
• Story ID: 145258
• Location: FORT BLISS, TX, US
• Hometown: CHITOSE, HIROSHIMA, HIROSHIMA, JP
• Hometown: GIFU, GIFU, JP
• Hometown: HAMAMATSU, SHIZUOKA, JP
• Hometown: KASUGAI, AICHI, JP
• Hometown: MISAWA AIR BASE, AOMORI, JP
• Hometown: NAHA, OKINAWA, OKINAWA, JP
• Hometown: YOKOTA AIR BASE, TOKYO, JP
• Hometown: EL PASO, TX, US
• Hometown: FORT BLISS, TX, US
• Hometown: MCGREGOR RANGE, NM, US
• Hometown: WHITE SANDS MISSILE RANGE, NM, US