U.S. Marines and Sailors conduct exercise Fuji Viper 20-2

Photo By Cpl. Ujian Gosun | U.S. Marines conduct patrolling drills during exercise Fuji Viper 20-2 on Camp Fuji, Japan, Nov. 13, 2019. Fuji Viper is a regularly scheduled training evolution that allows infantry units to maintain their lethality and proficiency in infantry and combined arms tactics. This iteration of the exercise is executed by an activated reserve unit, 1st Battalion, 25th Marine Regiment, currently attached to 4th Marine Regiment, 3rd Marine Division, as part of the unit deployment program. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Ujian Gosun)  

CAMP FUJI, GOTEMBA, JAPAN

11.17.2019

Story by Lance Cpl. Ujian Gosun 

3rd Marine Division     

CAMP FUJI, GOTEMBA, Japan – U.S. Marines and Sailors with 1st Battalion, 25th Marine Regiment, currently attached to 4th Marine Regiment, 3rd Marine Division, as part of the Unit Deployment Program, are participating in Fuji Viper 20-2 at Camp Fuji, Gotemba, Japan, from Nov. 1 - Jan. 7, 2019.

Fuji Viper is a regularly scheduled training event for 3d Marine Division, which has allowed an activated reserve battalion to conduct infantry skills training in Japan. The exercise is centered around cold weather training, night-time training, air assault proficiency, and company and battalion level force on force training.

“It’s beneficial for us as Marines to be activated and train in a foreign country,” said U.S. Marine Lance Cpl. Kasey Rogers, a team leader and native of Berwick, Maine. “Training to be in uncomfortable and unfamiliar situations is invaluable to reserve and active duty Marines who don't always get to do this type of training.”

Fuji Viper 20-2 is the first of a series of exercises the reserve infantry battalion will participate in over the next few months. Opportunities like this allow reserve units to train and maintain proficiency in core infantry skills so they are ready and able to deploy quickly in response to real-world crises. The exercise also provides an opportunity for Marines and Sailors to improve their ability to work together and support each other in a combat setting.

“As a Navy corpsman, I expected tough challenges in a cold weather environment,” said U.S. Navy Petty Officer 3rd Class Alan Zuniga, a native of Concord, Calif. “Training with infantry units is essential to our skillset as corpsmen in tactical field medicine as well as clinical. Infantry units depend on us to be able to practice life saving techniques while living and training like one of them. Camp Fuji gives us a different experience with altitude and cold weather that we have to adapt to yet still complete our mission.”

It is imperative that U.S. Marines and Sailors are able to work seamlessly together, especially in Fuji Viper which consists of close air support, force on force operations, helicopter operations, and mass casualty drills. The ability to work together ensures that 3rd Marine Division is ready to fight tonight and win.

• Date Taken: 11.17.2019
• Date Posted: 11.21.2019 19:12
• Story ID: 352044
• Location: CAMP FUJI, GOTEMBA, JP