Photo By Lance Cpl. Joseph Kreis | U.S. Marine Corps Sgt. Dawson Dauzat, a high mobility artillery rocket system operator...... read more read more
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COMBINED ARMS TRAINING CENTER CAMP FUJI, Shizuoka, Japan – In an effort to improve readiness in the Indo-Pacific U.S. Marines with 1st Battalion, 11th Marines, forward deployed under 3rd Battalion, 12th Marine Regiment, 3rd Marine Division, conducted the first successful unilateral live-fire of the High Mobility Artillery System (HIMARS) at the Combined Arms Training Center (CATC), Camp Fuji, Japan, Oct. 29, 2025.
This is the first time that the HIMARS was able to deploy and conduct a live-fire on CATC Camp Fuji. 3rd Marine Division trained and rehearsed to secure and defend key maritime terrain as well as ensuring the constant readiness and proficiency of the Marines operating and deploying the HIMARS.
During this training Marines conducted a multiple day operation involving setting up a defensive position ensuring proper security, conducting rehearsals of the placement and movements of the HIMARS and firing the HIMARS safely and effectively. 3rd Marine Division used this live-fire training to maintain operational readiness and ensure deterrence and allowing us to continue our overall mission of maintaining peace and stability in the Indo-Pacific.
“We went with the goal of conducting a unilateral artillery live-fire with the High Mobility Rocket System to successfully and safely fire 12 reduced range practice rockets in the [East Fuji Maneuver Area].” said 1st Lt. Samuel Weis, a fire directions officer for 3/12.
The HIMARS is a highly mobile artillery system that provides long range precision firing capabilities that allow the HIMARS to get a target point and fire with ease and accuracy. It also can be transported and inserted by air, land and sea allowing for rapid deployment providing critical capabilities for rapid deployment and improved interoperability with allies and partners.
The purpose of artillery units is to employ and deploy indirect fire support to any unit that needs long range fire capabilities in a timely manner. Artillery’s mission is to destroy, neutralize and suppress the enemy by, cannon, rocket, or missile fire and to support and integrate all combat support assets into combined arms operations. Artillery units allow commanders and units to have access to quick and precise firing capabilities when needed.
“You can put it a dense jungle and it can perform very well and reach out and touch the enemy from a very long distance, depending on what weapon system you’ve got loaded in,” said 1st Lt. Thomas Corley a platoon commander for 3/12. "That gives a lot of options to the task force commanders or the [Marine Air Ground Task Force] when used appropriately.”
3rd Marine Division employed the HIMARS on CATC Fuji to enhance capabilities, unit cohesion and continue improvement of combat readiness so we can continue to ensure peace and stability allowing for a continuance of a free and open Indo-Pacific. This training has allowed the U.S. Marine Corps to improve leadership, combat proficiency, readiness as well as strengthening our relationship with our allies to allow for further operations and training in Japan. This HIMARS live-fire training allows opportunities for the U.S. military and its allies to continue training for years to come with the HIMARS.
“If you are a unit or battery coming out here in the future, it is very important that you do your job for other units to come,” launcher chief, Sgt. Dawson Dauzat stated, “you are a warfighter and artillery is the name, ‘King of Battle’.”
| Date Taken: | 11.11.2025 |
| Date Posted: | 11.14.2025 03:43 |
| Story ID: | 550919 |
| Location: | JP |
| Web Views: | 16 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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