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Marines and Japanese share techniques

US Marine Corps News

11/9/2011
By Lance Cpl. Daniel E. Valle, Marine Corps Bases Japan

CAMP HANSEN, OKINAWA, Japan -- Marines with Special Operations Training Group, III Marine Expeditionary Force, and members of the Japan Ground Self-Defense Force participated in both helicopter and tactical rope suspension training here Nov. 2, as part of the Japan Observer Exchange Program.

The program allows members of both the U.S. Marine Corps and JGSDF to share techniques and tactics, strengthening camaraderie and interoperability with each other.

“It is a program that the United States Marine Corps runs with the JGSDF where they will come and learn different things that they can take back to their units,” said Sgt. John W. Hooser III, an instructor with SOTG. “It gives us a chance to work with them and build a relationship with them.”

“They can learn some techniques and we can learn things from them as well – it goes both ways,” he added.

The U.S. Marine Corps and JGSDF train differently, making the program a good information-sharing initiative, according to Capt. Masashi Higashiyama, executive officer, Engineering Company, JGSDF.

“I think this opportunity is wonderful for us because these kinds of exchange events are rare for us,” said Higashiyama. “We get to learn from each other and it builds our relationship.”

All the members of the JGSDF participating in the JOEP are instructors for their respective regiments, said Higashiyama.

“We as instructors can apply this training to our own (units) in order to better train the future members of the JGSDF,” he said.

“This training program is done annually between us and not only do they learn from us, but we also get a chance to learn from them,” said Keller. “We also do an exchange program where we have a chance to send our Marines to mainland to train, which helps us build camaraderie.”

“The most important thing about this program is that we learn from each other,” he added.