MARINE CORPS AIR STATION IWAKUNI, Japan -- Personnel from the Provost Marshal’s Office observed an annual security exercise conducted at the port in Iwakuni City Nov. 28.
Witnessing the exercise increased the station’s confidence in the tactical adeptness of the local law enforcement, according to Staff Sgt. Trenton J. Sweeney, military policeman.
Japanese Coast Guard (JCG), Iwakuni Police and Yamaguchi Prefecture riot specialists teamed up to search a docked vessel, apprehend armed terrorists and extract a suspicious package as part of the bilateral training. Sweeny said Marines were invited to witness the training by the JCG in an effort to coordinate tactics and observe how they operate.
“This builds a better bond between the law enforcement agencies,” said Sweeny, a native of Buffalo, N.Y. “Last year, we ran a similar exercise scenario during Exercise Active Shield where we had an illegal boat in our port. Our Japanese counterparts were invited for the same reason.”
The tactical procedures demonstrated were closely narrated from a safe distance away for Marines and local authorities observing the exercise. The narration provided an inside description of the action taking place and informed the Marines of the Japanese protocol. By examining Japanese terrorist or disaster response procedures, the Corps’ becomes better equipped to working side-by-side with its host nation in such an event, Sweeny said.
Chief Petty Officer Hiro Kobayashi, JCG chief operations coordinator from Iwakuni City, said the exercise confirms the two agencies’ interoperability and, to local officials including Marine personnel, the proficiency of the reaction team and their procedures.
“Today’s exercise was carefully practiced many times in the past,” Kobayashi said. “Our team’s performance, including the command staff, was excellent. This demonstrates our ability to respond to such scenarios.”
In the event of a terrorist attack or natural disaster, Japan-based Marines would likely assist in the defense and rehabilitation process that immediately follows, Sweeny said.
There are certain situations that both defense agencies could benefit from working together on, according to Capt. Giuseppe A. Stavale, station provost marshal and Cincinnati, native.
“Many of their practices are the same as ours; however, in situations such as locating a bomb, we have military working dogs. ... It’s something that would probably be very useful to them in that event,” Stavale said. “In other situations having to do with our harbor, where we have limited defense assets, their help would also be a necessity. We learn to combine our strengths in order to limit our weaknesses.”
The opportunity for Marines to familiarize themselves with the reaction procedures of their host nation is one Sweeny says is absolutely necessary.
“We feel confident that the (JCG) knows how to do their job in this situation,” said Sweeny. “They know how to carry out their tactics in a way that we can follow as a military organization operating in a foreign country. We will continue to learn from each other through events like this in the future.”