Japan and U.S. troops take part in joint exercises at Iwakuni Air Station for first time following enactment of new security bills
Oct. 28, 2015
by Sakiko Masuda, Staff Writer
On October 20th, the 13th brigade of the JGSDF (Japan Ground Self-Defense Force) in the town of Kaita and U.S. forces began conducting the Japan-U.S. guard and protect exercises at four installations for U.S. troops in Yamaguchi and Hiroshima Prefectures, including the Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni. These exercises will continue until October 23 and SDF troops will check their ties with U.S. troops to deal with various dangers, including potential terrorist attacks on U.S. military facilities. Joint exercises are being held for the first time since the new security bills were enacted by the Japanese government.
About 200 troops from the JGSDF 46th Infantry Regiment and 80 U.S. soldiers from Iwakuni Air Station are taking part in the exercises. At the opening ceremony, held at the Iwakuni Air Station, Robert Boucher, the commanding officer of the base, said, “A strong bilateral alliance between Japan and the United States is key to maintaining peace and stability in the Pacific region.” Daisuke Ichimiya, the chief of the 46th Infantry Regiment, said, “These exercises are very important for strengthening the bond between Japan and the United States and building a relationship of trust.”
The exercises are not open to the public. In addition to the Iwakuni military base, exercises will be held at three U.S. Army facilities, which include the No. 6 jetty in Kure, Kawakami Ammunition Depot in Higashihiroshima, and Akizuki Ammunition Depot in Etajima. With Komatsu Light Armored Vehicles and High Mobility Vehicles of the 46th Infantry Regiment, the troops will conduct guard and monitoring activities around the clock.
Guard and protect operations for U.S. forces were added to the SDF’s mission after the Self-Defense Forces Law was revised following the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001 in the United States. The exercises, taking place for the 14th time this year, have been carried out since 2003.
(Originally published on October 21, 2015)
On October 20th, the 13th brigade of the JGSDF (Japan Ground Self-Defense Force) in the town of Kaita and U.S. forces began conducting the Japan-U.S. guard and protect exercises at four installations for U.S. troops in Yamaguchi and Hiroshima Prefectures, including the Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni. These exercises will continue until October 23 and SDF troops will check their ties with U.S. troops to deal with various dangers, including potential terrorist attacks on U.S. military facilities. Joint exercises are being held for the first time since the new security bills were enacted by the Japanese government.
About 200 troops from the JGSDF 46th Infantry Regiment and 80 U.S. soldiers from Iwakuni Air Station are taking part in the exercises. At the opening ceremony, held at the Iwakuni Air Station, Robert Boucher, the commanding officer of the base, said, “A strong bilateral alliance between Japan and the United States is key to maintaining peace and stability in the Pacific region.” Daisuke Ichimiya, the chief of the 46th Infantry Regiment, said, “These exercises are very important for strengthening the bond between Japan and the United States and building a relationship of trust.”
The exercises are not open to the public. In addition to the Iwakuni military base, exercises will be held at three U.S. Army facilities, which include the No. 6 jetty in Kure, Kawakami Ammunition Depot in Higashihiroshima, and Akizuki Ammunition Depot in Etajima. With Komatsu Light Armored Vehicles and High Mobility Vehicles of the 46th Infantry Regiment, the troops will conduct guard and monitoring activities around the clock.
Guard and protect operations for U.S. forces were added to the SDF’s mission after the Self-Defense Forces Law was revised following the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001 in the United States. The exercises, taking place for the 14th time this year, have been carried out since 2003.
(Originally published on October 21, 2015)
