Photo By Sgt. 1st Class Chanelcherie DeMello | Pacific Reserve, guard Soldiers wrap up Imua Dawn 2016 with a group photo, Sagamihara...... read more read more
U.S. Army Reserve and Active Guard Reserve Soldiers of the U.S. Pacific Command (USPACOM) wrapped up operations and training of Exercise Imua Dawn 2016, Sagamihara Depot, Kanagawa, Japan, June 25, 2016.
Pioneered by the 303rd Maneuver Enhancement Brigade (MEB), 9th Mission Support Command, Imua Dawn is a Command Post Exercise (CPX) that was designed for MEB’s. Focused on USPACOM, and U.S. Army Pacific Command (USARPAC) forces, brigade and battalion level elements are challenged to perform a variety of critical collective tasks during different phases of the exercise.
Rapidly moving into only its second iteration, Imua Dawn has transpired into a valuable exercise.
“We expanded our mission command, control and communication to Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief (HADR) and Noncombatant Evacuation Operations (NEO),” said Col. Joseph A. Ricciardi, Commander, 303rd MEB.
Imua Dawn 2016 was divided into two phases providing opportunities for U.S. and Japan Ground Self-Defense Force (JGSDF) service members to train for potential real world events, better preparing them in supporting regional populations.
“We interacted with the JGSDF service members throughout the beginning phases of our operation,” said Ricciardi. “Their force was especially engaged and exercised right alongside of their U.S. Army Reserve counterparts,” he added.
“The expectation was to instill confidence in leaders and Soldiers at all levels,” stated Lt. Col. Frank E, Hopkins, deputy commander, 303rd MEB.
Sgt. Jeankey M. Ichiyama, culinary specialist, 303rd MEB, shared that the exercise provided a chance for her to be more engaged as a leader as well as interactive with local contractors; working together to prepare breakfast, lunch and dinner for over 345 personnel.
“This exercise has shown me the applications of my MOS (military specialty occupation) and how it plays into being in a BSB (Brigade Support Battalion),” explained Sgt. Ryan D. Sandberg, intelligence analyst, 63rd BSB.
Participating units were provided the opportunity to operate and maneuver in a multi-functional, multi-echelon environment across Live, Virtual, Constructive and Gaming (LVC-G) domains to achieve their Commanders Training Objectives, while receiving practical scenarios, support and external evaluation by Observer-Controller-Trainers (OCT).
“The exercise Expanded my technical proficiency and enhanced my experience compared to last year as I was provided more hands on training,” says 1st Lt. Cezar O. Papa, brigade strength manager, 303rd MEB.
Spc. Asena N. Scott, signal support specialist, 829th Signal Company, expressed her gratification for having an opportunity to bring and operate her companies fielding equipment.
“Having our equipment allowed us to troubleshoot any failures and maintain mission readiness,” she said.
“This exercise is a 360-degree assessment of our strengths, weaknesses, capabilities and force packages we bring to the maneuver battle space,” stated Ricciardi.
Training together, the U.S. military and JGSDF can further develop tactics, techniques, and procedures that are mutually beneficial and specific to force training requirements and regional needs.
Ricciardi and Hopkins said they look forward to the opportunities ahead and hope to continue working with JGSDF in future exercises to further strengthen their organizations that make them more effective when operating in the PACOM area of operations.
| Date Taken: | 06.25.2016 |
| Date Posted: | 06.25.2016 01:05 |
| Story ID: | 202462 |
| Location: | SAGAMIHARA, KANAGAWA, JP |
| Hometown: | GREENVILLE, SC, US |
| Hometown: | HONOLULU, HI, US |
| Hometown: | LAS VEGAS, NV, US |
| Web Views: | 276 |
| Downloads: | 1 |
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