Photo By Adam Holguin | Soldiers of the Japanese Ground Self Defense Force prepare radar equipment in advance...... read more read more
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FORT BLISS, Texas – Gen. Vincent Brooks, Commanding General, US ARMY Pacific Command, visited Fort Bliss, Texas on Nov. 21 and watched a live fire of the Japanese Ground Self Defense Force (JGSDF) Chu-SAM missile at the Hawk Tower at McGregor Range, New Mexico. Maj. Gen. Stephen M. Twitty, 1st Armored Division and Fort Bliss Commanding General and Mr. Michael D. Radford, Chief, Unit Training and Certification Division, Department of Plans, Training, Mobilization, and Security accompanied Brooks.
The mission of the live fire was for the JGSDF to track, identify and engage the Japanese Chu-SAM Advanced Aerial Tow Target, a missile like target that was being towed two kilometers behind a MQM-107 Streaker Drone.
“The visit gave General Brooks and our CG a better understanding of what our allies such as the Japanese are doing on Fort Bliss and how they support our installation, both in training and co-existing with our U.S. Soldiers,” said Radford.
Before the firing, Brooks and Twitty talked with and discussed the missile systems with Japan Ground Self Defense Force leadership and range operations staff at the Hawk Tower operations center.
“I learned quite a bit about how the Chu –SAM system works; it’s a great air defense system that the Japanese created,” said Brooks. “I got to talk to some of the technicians about it, as well as the unit that fires it, so for me it was very helpful to understand what our colleagues in the Pacific, the Japanese Self Defense Forces, are doing.”
The live fire was part of the annual service practice that both the JGDSF and Japan Air Self Defense Force complete at McGregor Range and Fort Bliss as part of an ongoing joint operations that has spanned a half century.
“Seventeen different Japanese units will have fired by the end of the year. (The JGSDF) rotates fire units out every single week…every Monday we get a new firing unit” said Anthony Garcia, Hawk Chu-SAM Branch Chief for the UTC, Range Operator, Hawk Tower.
The ASP is integral training for the JGSDF due to limited aerial access in Japan, this year’s ASP began in July.
“I’m really excited to see the cooperative training that is happening here at Ft Bliss,” continued Brooks.
Sgt. Takuto Nakamra, Interpreter for the JGSDF echoed that sentiment.
“I’m really impressed by the Generals. They got an understanding of the Japanese missile system, the Chu-SAM missile system. It is important to conduct joint operations now and in the future.”
The live fire was a success, hitting the target with a direct hit.
“The firing went excellent, we got a, they call it a negative-19 ratio of how close that the missile was to the target and it was one meter, so that’s a direct kill,“ said Eddie D Keys, Site Chief, Site 6, Equipment Specialist.
Gen. Brooks surmised the relationship between JGSDF and the U.S. saying: “I just appreciate the way that Fort Bliss hosts the Japanese Soldiers that come through here. They are comfortable here and they are also getting good training done and that is always a good thing. That strengthens our relationships in more ways than you can imagine.”
| Date Taken: | 12.11.2014 |
| Date Posted: | 12.15.2014 12:15 |
| Story ID: | 150313 |
| Location: | FORT BLISS, TX, US |
| Hometown: | MCGREGOR RANGE, NM, US |
| Web Views: | 1,033 |
| Downloads: | 1 |
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