U.S. and Japan Conduct Joint Military Training
- 14 years ago
With air cover overhead and under a cloud of thick smoke below, Japanese and U.S. forces stormed "Red Beach."
Thursday's beachhead landing is actually part of "Exercise Iron Fist," a three-week bilateral training event taking place at Camp Pendleton Marine base in Southern California.
The training between the U.S. Marine Corps and Japanese Ground Self Defense Forces is an opportunity for the two to sharpen their skills as a coalition unit.
[Col. Maeda, Japanese Ground Self Defense Force]:
"Yes, every soldier is honored to train with the U.S. Marines, we like to learn how to fight in real combat and also in an amphibious capability."
U.S. officers say they’re happy to be able to repay the Japanese for the tremendous hospitality they have long-offered American forces in their country.
[Col. David W. Coffman, CO, 13th Marine Expeditionary Unit]:
"There is mutual respect for what Japan does, for their part and what the U.S. does for our part of the partnership. For most of our marines, if they haven't been there, they are going to be there because of our cycles of deploying in the Western Pacific and Japan. As I said, they have been [a] gracious host over there for a long, long time.”
The three-week training session focuses on amphibious staff planning, execution of amphibious operations, limited offensive and extensive defensive tactics, techniques and procedures… skills that both U.S. and Japanese forces say they need to have, but hope to never have to use.
Thursday's beachhead landing is actually part of "Exercise Iron Fist," a three-week bilateral training event taking place at Camp Pendleton Marine base in Southern California.
The training between the U.S. Marine Corps and Japanese Ground Self Defense Forces is an opportunity for the two to sharpen their skills as a coalition unit.
[Col. Maeda, Japanese Ground Self Defense Force]:
"Yes, every soldier is honored to train with the U.S. Marines, we like to learn how to fight in real combat and also in an amphibious capability."
U.S. officers say they’re happy to be able to repay the Japanese for the tremendous hospitality they have long-offered American forces in their country.
[Col. David W. Coffman, CO, 13th Marine Expeditionary Unit]:
"There is mutual respect for what Japan does, for their part and what the U.S. does for our part of the partnership. For most of our marines, if they haven't been there, they are going to be there because of our cycles of deploying in the Western Pacific and Japan. As I said, they have been [a] gracious host over there for a long, long time.”
The three-week training session focuses on amphibious staff planning, execution of amphibious operations, limited offensive and extensive defensive tactics, techniques and procedures… skills that both U.S. and Japanese forces say they need to have, but hope to never have to use.