FORT GORDON, Ga. – Key leaders and Soldiers from the U.S. Army Signal School welcomed delegates from the Japanese Ground Self-Defense Force (JGSD) Feb. 20, beginning with a traditional Signal Basic Officer Leader Course pinning ceremony.
Following the ceremony, Col. Julia Donley, 43rd Chief of Signal and U.S. Army Signal School Commandant, and Japanese Maj. Gen. Hiroyuki Kawaguchi, Director General of C4 Systems and Intelligence Department, traveled to Brant Hall, where they discussed a variety of topics to include training and modernization initiatives.
It was also an opportunity for the two nations’ leaders to talk about challenges common to the military – specifically those associated with data and artificial intelligence. Wrapping up their visit (and prior to meeting with Cyber School leadership), Maj. Gen. Kawaguchi and his team toured a portion of Brant Hall, giving Soldier-trainees an opportunity to showcase some of the Signal School’s equipment.
Highlighting the importance of the visit, Col. Donley stressed that the U.S. stands “shoulder to shoulder” with its allies and reiterated that “we do not fight alone.”
“We share the same questions about the future of data, the same understanding that it is commanders who set priorities – and it is the duty of the Signaleers to enable those priorities,” Col. Donley said. “Working with the ‘distant end’ is so much easier when you already have a relationship, and today’s engagements are just one way that we work on maintaining great partnerships.”