Photo By Amabilia Payen | Japanese Ground Self Defense Force soldiers assist Japanese host families and guests...... read more read more
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FORT BLISS, Texas -- Since 1964, the Japanese Ground Self Defense Force has been practicing their missile firing skills at McGregor Range, New Mexico and on Nov. 7 of this year, they celebrated their 50th Anniversary of Annual Service Practice.
As the Japanese Air Self Defense Force, the equivalence of the U.S. Air Force, practice on the Patriot missile system, the JGSDF practice with the Homing All the Way Killer (HAWK) system and the Chu-SAM missiles. The JGSDF is the Army branch of the Japanese military.
The celebration started in the morning with visitors from Mitsubishi, Raytheon, and Japanese host-families joining the JGSDF at McGregor Range, New Mexico to witness a HAWK and Chu-SAM launch at a live target.
JGSDF Col. Yasuhika Koza, commander of the Japanese 2nd Air Defense Artillery Group, observed his soldiers as they prepared radars and telemetry systems.
“We have been training in Japan for six months to come here to Fort Bliss and fire,” said Koza. “My soldiers are the best. Today, our missile fire to special target is very small. We look forward to a successful missile practice firing today.”
The spectators awed as the missile systems hit their targets at a 100 percent kill rate. They congratulated the JGSDF for the successful launch and hit.
Later, as the sun was setting behind the Franklin Mountains, the JGSDF then held a 50th Anniversary Ceremony at the Japanese Garden near the Brigade Modernization Command on West Fort Bliss.
The former deputy commanding general and chief of staff of Fort Bliss and now the Commanding General of Fort Sill, Oklahoma, Maj. Gen. John G. Rossi, was honored to be present at the ceremony, representing the U.S. Army.
“I am privileged and honored that they invited me,” said Rossi. “I was stationed here many times. When I was the chief of staff here about five years ago, this event has always been important, but this is the 50th Anniversary so this is a lot more important. This is a huge event and this is a great example of the importance we place on this relationship. As our nation looks to rebalance our efforts in the pacific, a lot of that happens here at home and this ceremony is a good example.”
Gifts were presented to Brig. Gen. Christopher L. Spillman, commandant of the Air Defense Artillery School and chief of the ADA branch; Brig. Gen. Terrence J. McKenrick, 1st Armored Division and Fort Bliss deputy commanding general (operations); and Michael Radford, unit training and certification division chief, by Japanese Maj. Gen. Susumu Isakai, commandant of the Japanese Air Defense Artillery School for their organizations’ continued support to the JGSDF ASP.
After the gifts were presented, Rossi along with Lt. Gen. Junji Suzuki, the vice chief of staff of the JGSDF, stepped forward to unveil the new plaque that will forever sit at the Japanese Garden. The plaque is inscribed with “This is to express our sincere appreciation for the corporation and friendship of the United States Army at Fort Bliss and other distinguished people who has supported the ASP for half century.”
Following the ceremony, a dinner reception was held at the Centennial Banquet and Conference Center. Traditional Japanese food was served to all the guests.
McKenrick delivered a speech at the dinner which not only congratulated the JGSDF on their 50th Anniversary of ASP, he also said “happy birthday” in Japanese, commemorating the 60th year of JGSDF existence in the air defense community and Japanese military services.
“Through our military partnership we have ensured a presence of a consistent force dedicated to peace and stability in a region of this dynamic with various and competing national interests,” said McKenrick. “We are proud to improve security for Japan and we are looking forward to further improve air defense for the citizens of both nations.”
Suzuki then proceeded to honor McKenrick and Japanse host-families with Japanese awards for excellence in support of the JGSDF ASP conducted at Fort Bliss and McGregor Range.
Suzuki and Isaki then invited Rossi and McKenrick to partake in the traditional breaking of the Japanese bucket of saki, which was followed by a martial-arts demonstration of the usage of the katana sword, conducted by Japanese Sgt. Maj. Munemichi Yuasa, who is a student at the U.S. Army Sergeants Major Academy.
The dinner ended with many other recognitions and gifts, to include a Japanese arts and crafts table for the guests’ children in attendance
“I think it’s important that we take time to recognize the great relationship between the United States and Japan,” said Brig. Gen. John W. Charlton, commanding general of the Brigade Modernization Command and guest at the ceremony and dinner. “This ceremony kind of represents that. This is a big deal, 50 years of a strong relationship and we hope it is another 50 years or longer.”
| Date Taken: | 11.07.2014 |
| Date Posted: | 11.24.2014 13:17 |
| Story ID: | 148669 |
| Location: | FORT BLISS, TX, US |
| Hometown: | OKINAWA, OKINAWA, JP |
| Hometown: | FORT BLISS, TX, US |
| Hometown: | FORT SILL, OK, US |
| Web Views: | 706 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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