Marine Corps and Japan Ground Self-Defense Force (JGSDF) personnel recently conducted Resolute Dragon 21, the largest bilateral field training exercise, which was executed in Japan.
The exercise involved over 4,000 troops from 3d Marine Division, III Marine Expeditionary Force and the JGSDF’s 9th Division, North Eastern Army, with the scope including rehearsed tactics, techniques and procedures for conducting Expeditionary Advanced Base Operations.
Personnel representing the Japan Air Self-Defense Force and the U.S. Navy, Air Force, Army and Space Force provided support, per officials, executing integrated operations across more than 1,800 miles of the Japanese archipelago and incorporating 12 expeditionary advanced bases.
“We’re both learning a lot from each other, and we’re both bringing unique capabilities to this fight that reinforce our ability to prosecute targets anytime, anywhere,” Capt. Jacob Amon, a field artillery officer and the fires EAB commander for the U.S. troops in the exercise, said. “The JGSDF are professional, knowledgeable and they’re really good at what they do.”
Marines and Japanese soldiers executed aerial and foot insertions into multiple training areas to seize and secure key terrain amid freezing rain and snow conditions, officials noted, and members of both branches also established bilateral fire direction centers and long-range precision fires capabilities.
“This training is important to enhance interoperability between the U.S. and Japan — deepening mutual understanding of capabilities, equipment, and fighting methods to mutually improve tactical skills,” Col. Akira Kuroha, chief of staff of the JGSDF 9th Division, said.