NIHONBARA, Japan -- Units from III Marine Expeditionary Force, 1st Battalion 23rd Marine Regiment, 4th Marine Division and the Japanese Ground Self Defense Force 8th Infantry Regiment, 13th Brigade are participating in Exercise Forest Light at both Nihonbara and Aibano until Mar. 4, 2006.
“The Marines are from southern Texas and are not used to the cold,” said 1st Sgt. Dennis Parker, inspector instructor 1st sergeant and native of Statesville N.C. “This type of exercise is an opportunity to give them real world training in a cold weather environment with allied forces.”
The exercise, which will run until March 3, is an annual bilateral cold-weather exercise. This exercise allows the JGSDF and the Marines to practice combat tactics in icy weather, snow and frozen terrain. The exercise also offers both forces a chance to build relations between the two military units, exchange tactical skills and give the Marines an opportunity to improve cold-weather skills.
Some of the events and objectives covered during the exercise include basic skiing skills, first aid, Nuclear, Biological and Chemical training, Close-quarter Marksmanship training: firing on moving target ranges with live ammunition. Marines will also hone their skills in Low Intensity Conflict Training, also known as Military Operations in Urban Terrain.
“Last time we were in Iraq, we did a lot of raids,” said Lance Cpl. Jacob Blackmon, 1/23 assistant gunner and native of San Antonio. “Training combat skills like MOUT will help keep the Marines alive. If you know what you are doing in the training environment, everything moves quicker and more efficient in a real world scenario. If we go back to Iraq this type of training will give us a different perspective on basic survival skills and will keep us on our feet,” added Blackmon.
Since 1/23 has recently completed a tour in Iraq in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom, the JGSDF soldiers are looking forward to learning the Marines experiences in MOUT and first aid.
“I’ve never trained with U.S. Marines before,” said Pfc. Tsujimoto Taro, JGSDF interpreter and a native of Nara Prefecture. “I’m looking forward to training in close quarter marksmanship.”
The JGSDF aren’t the only one craving to learn from their counterpart’s, 1/23 is from Texas and has had little experience in cold weather training and in mountainous terrain.
“Any kind of cold weather training is going to be one of the hardest types of training to do, physically and mentally,” said Sgt. Ramiro Gudino, supply chief and native of Harlingen, Texas. “Being in Japan, we will be able to see how a different culture trains and how to learn from them.”
The three week bilateral exercise will conclude March 3, with the closing ceremony at the Aibano Training Area.
“I am really looking forward to the training,” said Lance Cpl. Hiroyoshi Ohara, 1/23 interpreter. “Japan is my home country and I am really exited to train with Japanese troops,” added the Chiba, Japan native.