HARAMURA MANEUVER AREA, Japan -- U.S. Marines with Marine Wing Support Squadron 171, stationed out of Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, Japan conducted training during exercise Kamoshika Wrath at Haramura Maneuver Area, Japan, Oct. 3, 2017.
Marines shot at an indoor range, conducted convoy operations, took part in chemical biological radiological nuclear defense drills and constructed survivability training to prepare for real-world scenarios and test mission performance.
“The purpose of Kamoshika Wrath is to increase the company training in the squadron in regards to training and readiness,” said U.S. Marine Corps Major Tyler Robinson, the air operations company commander with MWSS-171. “We’re out here working and preparing for anything and for people who might need our support.”
During their time in Haramura, MWSS-171 builds unit cohesion by bringing their skills and jobs together while working as one squadron.
“It’s a great learning experience because you get thrown in with a bunch of people you’ve never work with before,” said U.S. Marine Corps Lance Cpl. Ryan Miston, a combat engineer with MWSS-171. “You get to figure out what they’re good at, what they’re not good at, their likes and dislikes. It’s big morale booster especially when you’re sitting at the table during the end of the day debriefing each other, having a few laughs and telling them about the day.”
Miston also said everyone gets to see what each Marine brings to the table. Each job is important to the mission, and if someone doesn’t know their job it shows and that affects camaraderie.
Kamoshika Wrath is a five-day consisiting of three full days of training.
“When we got here we set up the tent town and the squadron command,” said Robinson. “We started kicking off classes to teach the Marines how to use their gear to properly respond to any incidents, like a spill or a fire. As far as I can see things are running very smoothly, and I’m looking forward to finishing the exercise off strong.”