Japan Ground Self Defense Force begins shared use of Central Training Area on Okinawa

Photo By Cpl. Eric Arndt | Japan Ground Self Defense Force soldiers patrol through the Central Training Area's combat town, March 17. The JGSDF recently started using the CTA for training in accordance with the U.S. – Japan Alliance: Transformation and Realignment for the Future agreement of Oct. 2005.  

03.21.2008

Story by Lance Cpl. Bradley Rogers 

III Marine Expeditionary Force   

By Lance Cpl. David Rogers
3rd Marine Expeditionary Force Public Affairs

CENTRAL TRAINING AREA, OKINAWA, Japan — Soldiers of the Japan Ground Self Defense Force used facilities in the Marine Corps' Central Training Area for the first time March 17-18, marking the beginning of a shared use agreement between the U.S. and Japanese governments.

The shared use agreement is a key part of the U.S. – Japan Alliance: Transformation and Realignment for the Future agreement of Oct. 2005, according to 3rd Marine Expeditionary Force spokesman 1st Lt. Judd Wilson. The 2005 agreement states that the Central Training Area can be used for Japan Ground Self Defense Force training.

The JGSDF soldiers used the CTA's combat town to practice patrolling through urban terrain and also used the Camp Hansen rappel tower. Camp Hansen ranges and the rappel tower are part of the CTA.

JGSDF soldiers will continue to use the CTA to conduct similar training and will eventually conduct live-fire, small-unit fire and maneuver training.

Prior to the shared use agreement, the on-island ranges available to the Okinawa-based soldiers were insufficient for the type of training they needed, according to JGSDF Maj. Eisaku Tanaka, chief of the Public Relations Section of the 1st Combined Brigade.

"We used to have to move our whole unit all the way to the mainland and conduct our training there," Tanaka said. "But by utilizing the Marine Corps camps right here, we have easier access, and we can enhance our readiness training, which contributes to disaster relief and other deployments."

Tanaka added that improving the capabilities of the individual soldier and the entire unit enhances the security of Japan.

"We appreciate the opportunity we have, and I expect to have good future coordination with the parties involved," he said.

• Date Taken: 03.21.2008
• Date Posted: 03.25.2008 21:44
• Story ID: 17743