SENDAI, Japan — In a cold, windy field in Japan, Operation North Wind 2010 officially started with a formal ceremony early this morning. After taking care of the formal kick-off, the FTX continued with two American demonstrations on the use of NBC protective gear, and Combat Life Saver techniques.
Simultaneously, at a near-by training area, a group of National Guard Soldiers from South Carolina learned what it's like to be a Japanese soldier during winter in Sendai. With temperatures already in the low 30s, the wind chill dropping the thermometer below the freezing point and sporadic snow flurries, Soldiers wrapped themselves in whatever was needed to deal with the cold.
Part of the mission of North Wind 10 is to further build and strengthen relationships between the two armies. Along with learning from each other, building camaraderie is one of the main objectives of this training mission.
"We're learning how the Japanese army operates and building friendships," said S.C. National Guard Spc. Chandler Rowland. "We're also building trust and camaraderie in our own unit because, for some of us, this is the first time we're working together."
More training events will follow in the next seven days. Live fire lanes, platoon and company attacks, and other Infantry-specific events will strengthen the American-Japanese relationship, while allowing both countries' Soldiers to operate on a challenging terrain, in cold-weather environment.