U.S. Marines and JGSDF soldiers strengthen relations at the National Training Center, California.

Photo By Cpl. Andrew Bray | U.S. Marine Lance Cpl. Jacob Spooner watches a Japanese soldier operate a motorbike at Fort Irwin, California, on Jan. 29, 2019. Soldiers with the Japanese Ground Self Defense Force 72nd Tank Regiment informed Marines with 1st Brigade, 5th Air Naval Gunfire Liaison Company, III Marine Expeditionary Force Information Group of their vehicles’ capabilities to improve interoperability and proficiency between the two forces. Spooner is a forward observer with 5th ANGLICO, III MIG. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Andrew R. Bray)  

FORT IRWIN, CA, UNITED STATES

02.22.2019

Story by Pfc. Andrew Bray 

III MEF Information Group     

“The L in ANGLICO is liaison,” Cpl. Kevin Hackman, a fire support Marine with 1st Brigade, 5th Air Naval Gunfire Liaison Company, III Marine Expeditionary Force Information Group, said. “ANGLICO exists to form the link between the United States Marine Corps, and the United States Department of Defense, and foreign nations through the lens of fire support and close air support.”

At the National Training Center, Fort Irwin, Calif., 5th ANGLICO assisted the Japan Ground Self-Defense Force and U.S. Army throughout the rotation. For example, Firepower Control Team Two worked closely with armor from the JGSDF 72nd Tank Regiment. FCT Two operated as a reconnaissance unit, passing on valuable information onto the Japanese armor.

“FCT Two’s responsibility was the tank section almost the entire time, and our job was to not only be a liaison piece, but also a fire support piece as well,” Said Hackman. “So we would set up observation points, observe targets the tanks couldn’t normally see. We were supposed to be forward of them to spot things that could have been a danger to the tanks.”

The Marines and JGSDF would familiarize themselves with each other's militaries. They learned each other’s rank structures and became familiarized with each other’s equipment. The JGSDF displayed their vehicles, and vehicle’s capabilities to the Marines. On their down time, the Marine and Japanese would show each other their rifles to see how they compared.

Many of the Marines enjoyed interacting with the Japanese. It was not uncommon for Marines to trade souvenirs with the Japanese such as t-shirts specific to the Marine Corps and JGSDF or unit patches.

“The Japanese, I love them, they’re great, they’re really really kind people and very courteous, very respectful and they have an excellent work ethic,” Hackman said. “When it’s time to get the job done, there is no playing around, they get right to it and they are very proficient and good at what they do.”

The JGSDF at NTC with the U.S. is part of a bigger picture. There are U.S. forces in Japan and Japanese forces in the U.S. training. This gives both countries the opportunity to better themselves as well as strengthen the bond between the two nations.

• Date Taken: 02.22.2019
• Date Posted: 03.10.2019 19:45
• Story ID: 313460
• Location: FORT IRWIN, CA, US