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JBLM, Japanese units work together at Yakima Training center

Building international relations

JM Simpson

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Col. Katsuaki Okabe looked tired the evening of Sept. 21 as he sat in his tactical operations center.

"Despite some language differences, I think training with the cavalry unit helps both our Soldiers and our countries," said the commander of the 3rd Combat Team, Japanese Ground Self-Defense Force (JGSDF). "We are strengthening bonds."

For the past three weeks, approximately 550 Soldiers attached to the JGSDF participated in Operation Rising Thunder, an annual event at the Yakima Training Center that pairs Japanese and Joint Base Lewis-McChord units.

The Japanese have long used the annual drills at the sprawling central Washington training area to conduct combined arms training they can't do in their country.

It also gave about 700 JBLM Soldiers an opportunity to work in a bilateral fashion with an allied nation's Soldiers.

"It is great to partner with our Japanese allies," an affable Col. Paul Norwood, commander, 201st Battlefield Surveillance Brigade (BfSB), explained. 

"If you're a Soldier, this is what you dream about."

And prepare for.

Defense Secretary Leon Panetta has stated that the Pacific is of vital interest as the Pentagon reduces spending after a decade at war. JBLM leaders anticipate playing a major role in that change.

"I Corps serves as the operational force in the Pacific, so we help shape relationships with countries there; we help prevent conflict and we build friendships," Lt. Gen. Robert Brown, JBLM's senior officer, said in an earlier interview.

In preparing to meet any future challenges, the 201st BfSB has taken a page from history.

Reactivated last October at JBLM, the 3rd Squadron, 38th Cavalry Regiment deploys to conduct information collection, target acquisition and interdiction operations in support of unified land operations at the Corps level.

Reconnaissance, surveillance and intelligence are the mission of the "Lucky 38."

"We provide real time intelligence to the supported unit," said Lt. Col. Mark Aitken, squadron commander.

An Englishman possessed of a quick wit and bright blue eyes, the naturalized Aitken grasped the historical significance of the bilateral training being conducted with the JGSDF.

His squadron mirrors the mission of the British Long Range Desert Group (LRDG).

Formed by Maj. Ralph Bagnold in 1940, the unit was a reconnaissance and raiding unit of the British Army during the Second World War.

Specifically, the unit carried out deep penetration, covert reconnaissance patrols and intelligence missions behind enemy lines as the allies battled Germany's Gen. Erwin Rommel and his famed Africa Corps in Tunisia.

"We'll scout ahead, engage when we must, reach our objective and then turn the battle space over to the Japanese," 1st Lt. Kyle Lapastora, A Troop, said as our nine-vehicle convoy bounced down a dust-filled road.

"The Japanese will perform a breaching operation, (and) then their tanks and infantry will move in and take the objective."

Moments later, the Japanese engineers breached a simulated minefield.  Tanks and infantry soon followed and the objective was taken.

"The Japanese are professional, meticulous and take the training very seriously," Lapastora said as he observed.

"We're glad to have been here and trained with them."

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