Hokkaido, Japan-- Marines with 3rd Battalion, 12th Marine Regiment, 3rd Marine Division, currently on Camp YMA, Yausubetsu Maneuver Area, Hokkaido, Japan, participating in Artillery Relocation Training Program 18-2 volunteered at Betsukai Town, Hokkaido, Japan, fair-grounds August 11, 2018.
ARTP 18-2 is a Japan-funded, routine training exercise that allows Marines with 3rd Battalion, 12th Marine Regiment, 3rd Marine Division based out of Camp Hansen, Okinawa, Japan, to conduct live-fire training in Japan.
According to U.S. Navy Lt. Robert C. Price, a chaplain with 3/12, the COMREL is a way of saying thank you to the local nationals for allowing 3/12 to train in Yausubetsu.
“This COMREL is important because it helps build and strengthen relationships between the United States Marine Corps, and the local citizens of Betsukai Town,” said Price, a native of Downers Grove, Illinois. “We thank the citizens of Betsukai Town for their hospitality and their graciousness in allowing us to come up here and train.”
The Marines had the opportunity to help Japanese locals clean the fair grounds.
“My favorite part about the COMREL has been getting to interact with the locals,” said Cpl. Matthew Patterson, a field artillery cannoneer with 3/12 who is a native of Milwaukee, Wisconsin.
The locals of Betsukai Town were excited to work alongside the Marines.
“The main purpose for USMC being here is for training, but other things like a COMREL are an important part,” said Masanori Sasaki, the executive director of Betsukai Town. “You are all young, and work very hard, I appreciate it very much.”
Marines helped clean the Betsukai Town fair-grounds as a part of community relations project for ARTP 18-2.