Photo By Capt. Eric-James Estrada | Sgt. Emmett Browne (left), a team leader with U.S. Army Alaska’s 1st Battalion...... read more read more
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YAUSUBETSU TRAINING AREA, Hokkaido, Japan - Soldiers with U.S. Army Alaska and the Japan Ground Self-Defense Force completed the first week of training in Exercise North Wind 2015 here, Feb. 15.
The two forces met with an eagerness to learn and develop. Paratroopers from USARAK’s 1st Battalion (Airborne), 501st Infantry Regiment, 4th Infantry Brigade Combat Team (Airborne), 25th Infantry Division and soldiers from the JGSDF’s 27th Infantry Regiment, 5th Brigade, Northern Army, overcame language barriers to learn and grow in their chosen profession during the first week of cold-weather joint warfare training.
The two-week bilateral field training and command-post exercise between the U.S. Army and the JGSDF focuses training on combat readiness and interoperability amongst the two nations’ ground forces. This growth in skill aids their abilities to respond to a wide-range of crisis contingencies in the Asian-Pacific region.
The first week focused on a wide range of events, to include a live-fire training exercise; sniper training; ski and snowshoe orientation; military operations on urban terrain (MOUT); battle drills; and Japanese culture, customs and traditions presented each evening at the conclusion of the day’s training.
Wednesday’s training covered U.S. sniper tactics in cover and concealment.
“It was a great opportunity to teach and train with the [JGSDF] sniper section,” said Sgt. Dillon Willett, an infantryman with Headquarters Company, 1-501 (ABN). “They’re a very skilled military.”
During the training the roles switched with Willett and his team building on their Arctic knowledge by learning about new cold-weather survivor skills, such as building a snow cave.
“We were able to understand everything they were explaining to us in large part to the relationship we built with our translator,” said Willett. “They also showed us a one-man bivouac technique.”
Later that night, Japanese and American Soldiers gathered in the Friendship Hall for a traditional Japanese tea ceremony.
During Thursday’s live-fire exercise, a bilateral assault was performed with each nation’s force moving toward adjacent objectives.
Sgt. Joshua Caywood, a team leader for Blackfoot Company, 1-501 (ABN) challenged himself to adapt to the frontal-assault training employed by the JGSDF.
“Overall the exercise went well,” said the 1-Geronimo team leader. “It’s not something we’re used to doing [the frontal assault]. Normally we would try to perform some type of flank.”
Caywood noted one major difference was that JGSDF tactics of moving forward and holding position quickly is different from the U.S. military method of conducting movements that benefit from suppressing fire.
“I’m enjoying the really hard training,” said Cpl. Yashiki Takayoshi, a machine gunner with JGSDF 1st Company, 27th Infantry Regiment, 5th Brigade, Northern Army. “It’s a good opportunity for me to learn.”
On Friday, Gen. Kiyofumi Iwata, chief of staff for the JGSDF, was in attendance for a demonstration of each side conducting MOUT.
At the conclusion of the demonstration, Iwata expressed his gratitude to both sides for their hard training and the bilateral message they are conveying during North Wind 2015.
“We want to show our strategic message to the world,” said the JGSDF Chief of Staff. “We have a strong pride and will to defend our Hokkaido.”
“Please enjoy our Japanese culture during this training,” said Iwata.
Saturday was a day for USARAK Soldiers to learn about the history and traditions of Hokkaido on a trip to the Kushiro City Museum, the Tottori Memorial Shrine and the Kayanuma Hot Springs.
“It was a good cultural experience,” said Capt. Craig Tork, battalion surgeon for 1-501 (ABN). “We got to learn about the Shinto religion and the history of the Samaurai in Hokkaido.”
A platoon attack exercise and the first-ever, American-led airborne training operation in Japan is still to come. Weather dependent, the airborne operation will proceed early in the week and conclude with a field-training exercise.
North Wind 2015 runs from Feb. 9-22, offering an opportunity for both U.S. and Japanese soldiers to enhance and build upon their combat skills, develop security relations and foster cultural awareness.
| Date Taken: | 02.15.2015 |
| Date Posted: | 02.18.2015 15:43 |
| Story ID: | 154747 |
| Location: | YAUSUBETSU TRAINING AREA, HOKKAIDO, JP |
| Web Views: | 486 |
| Downloads: | 3 |
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