Photo By Staff Sgt. Teresa Cantero | Military personnel from U.S. Army Pacific, the Japan Ground Self-Defense Force, and...... read more read more
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CHITOSE, Japan — Military personnel from U.S. Army Pacific, the Japan Ground Self-Defense Force, and the Australian Army gathered during the opening ceremony for Orient Shield 26 at Camp Higashi-Chitose, Sept. 17, 2026. The exercise integrates field training, live-fire events, and sustainment operations, strengthens our multinational relationship, and demonstrates U.S. resolve to support the security interests of allies and partners in the Pacific region.
Just two weeks after the conclusion of Exercise Yama Sakura, Orient Shield 26 continues the momentum between U.S. and Japanese forces. Leading the JGSDF component is the JGSDF Northern Army, headquartered at Camp Sapporo in Hokkaido. The Northern Army brings significant operational capabilities and regional expertise to the exercise.
For the second consecutive year, the Australian Army is taking part in Orient Shield 26, training alongside the U.S. Army and the JGSDF. The Australian contingent comprises officers and Soldiers from the headquarters of the 1st (Australian) Division, the division’s combat brigades, the 17th Sustainment Brigade and the 10th Fires Brigade.
Orient Shield provides another opportunity to strengthen relationships, refine shared procedures and improve the integration of personnel, systems and capabilities across allied and partner formations. “Yama Sakura focused on the operational level,” said Colonel Matthew Adamczyk, 11th Airborne Division, Deputy Commander of Operations. “This exercise will execute at the tactical level and the field training environment.”
Col. Adamczyk spoke at the opening ceremony, alongside the Commanding General of the Northern Army's 11th Brigade, Major General Yoshiro Tanaka, and the 10th Brigade, Australian Army Brigadier Corey Shilabeer. “Each of us is eagerly awaiting the opportunities that lie ahead,” said Brig. Shilabeer during his opening remarks.
Orient Shield 26 combines field training exercises, multinational maneuver operations, and HIMARS/GMLRS live-fire events to develop combat-ready formations capable of integrating fires, movement, sustainment, and command and control across a complex and contested operational environment.
“Orient Shield 26 provides a tough, realistic, and demanding training environment that will challenge our ability to achieve shared understanding and a common operational picture,” said Col. Adamczyk. “It is clear that when we have shared understanding, we are collectively unstoppable.”
This trilateral field training exercise began in 1982 as a small-scale, platoon-level drill and has since grown into a major trilateral and multinational event. This year’s Orient Shield marks the 41st iteration of the annual, Japan-based exercise and is the largest to date, bringing together approximately 3,700 personnel from three countries.
Before the official opening ceremony, Soldiers from the 11th Airborne Division and Japan Ground Self-Defense Force’s 1st Airborne Brigade took to the skies together on Sept. 15, 2026, marking the first joint airborne operation in Orient Shield history at Kikyougahara Drop Zone in Hokkaido, Japan.
“Honestly, I think this is a once-in-a-lifetime experience,” said Spc. Ned Gilleland, assigned to the 3rd Battalion, 509th Parachute Infantry Regiment, who was one of the first Soldiers to jump during the joint airborne operation. “This is my first time ever being in Asia; I’m sure it’s the first time for a lot of my friends as well. To be able to jump in on day one was pretty neat; I can’t wait to see how they [JGSDF] conduct their field operations.”
| Date Taken: | 09.16.2026 |
| Date Posted: | 09.17.2026 03:27 |
| Story ID: | 574953 |
| Location: | JP |
| Web Views: | 51 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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