JOINT BASE LEWIS-MCCHORD, Wash. - A fictitious attack on Japan formed the basis for Yama Sakura 63, an annual bi-lateral training event with the Japan Ground Self-Defense Force and the U. S. Army Pacific. This year’s exercise included the Army Reserve’s 687th Combat Sustainment Support Battalion from Wausau, Wis.
The 687th, which falls under the 646th Regional Support Group, 103rd Sustainment Command (Expeditionary), was tasked to simulate the role of an Expeditionary Sustainment Command and provide corps level logistics, support operations and mission command of numerous combat service support units.
The 687th ensured that soldiers received the ammunition, food and all other needed materials for the simulated fight.
The 687th ran the operation from Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Wash., and used a new computer simulation system, called WARSIM, to deliver supplies to units on the ground in Japan.
The computer system operates real time and interacts with the Battle Support and Sustainment System (BCS3), which adds to the reality of the exercise.
“You can’t just answer a call for ammunition and say ‘you now have ammunition’ like before,” said Capt. James Bundrick.
Supply requests are submitted through the computer system, get routed to the responsible supply unit, and then arrive at the requesting unit.
This exercise not only provides training in the soldiers’ military jobs, but also helps build the partnership between the U.S. and Japan by assisting the Japanese forces without infringing on their sovereignty.
The computer systems used in the exercise are complex, so soldiers received training in advance of the mission. The WARSIM replicates battlefield events and is based on a Windows platform, so younger soldiers’ familiarity with technology helped them adapt rapidly to the system.
The soldiers quickly learned how to successfully integrate the system into the exercise.
The 687th received compliments from the officer in charge of the exercise facility for their ability to jump right in and adapt to the addition of the new computer system.
“Most units would say, ‘Aw, we’re not trained on this,' but they jumped in and made it happen,” said Lt. Col. Tim Sheridan, commander of the 687th.
The exercise is also helping the 687th work on their staff skills because they are playing the role of a command two levels higher, by acting as an expeditionary sustainment command.
“This gives them a broader picture of the operations they normally perform and helps them do their job better,” said Staff Sgt. Aaron Caveny.
“We’re a young battalion staff and it’s the perfect starting point to where, if we were to do this again, we could really grow and develop our staff and get ready for our next deployment,” said Maj. Michael Anderson, executive officer of the 687th.
“We’re revising our battle drills and this is the perfect format for us to implement our changes and rehearse the battle drills,” said Anderson.
This type of realistic training in a joint and coalition environment was a great way for the Army Reserve to prepare for supporting Combatant Commanders across the range of military operations. The 687th was the only Army Reserve unit to participate in the exercise and it was able to work closely with the United States Pacific Command and Japanese counterparts.
The exercise also included four Army Reserve officers: Lt. Col. Chris Walls, Lt. Col. Josef Sujet, Lt. Col. Robert Hovey, and Lt. Col. Travis Smith, all from the 103rd Sustainment Command (Expeditionary), who served as Liaison Officers on the ground in Japan.
They acted as the main point of contact between the soldiers at Joint Base Lewis-McChord and Japan and helped coordinate logistics planning and operations.
The Yama Sakura exercise began in 1982 with the goal of integrating U.S. and Japanese forces in planning and training as well as facilitate interoperability between the forces.
Yama Sakura translated means “mountain cherry blossom,” but the name also has roots in Japanese military history dating back to the early 20th century when a secret society of Japanese military officers called themselves the Cherry Blossom Society. The cherry blossom has also been used by the Japanese to inspire nationalism.