Forest Light
Forest Light is a joint cold weather environment exercise between United States Marines and the Japanese Ground Self Defense Force. Forest Light consists of two annual bilateral field training exercises conducted between the U.S. Marine Corps and the Japanese Ground Self Defense Force in mainland Japan to improve warfighting capabilities. Forest Light is a bilateral exercise that takes place every year between 3rd Marine Division and the Japanese Ground Self Defense Force (JGSDF). It is used to build relations between the two military units, and it's also an opportunity for Marines to improve cold weather skills.
The "light" of international cooperation shone a bit brighter when leathernecks from the 3d Marine Division and soldiers of the 38th Infantry Regiment, Japanese Self Defense Force teamed up for Forest Light '96. The nine-day annual exercise, designed to improve combined force operations through tactical maneuvers, was conducted at Camp Iwate, Japan. The 3d Battalion, 3d Marines, supported by Combat Service Support Detachment 35 and Combat Engineer Company from Camp Schwab, Okinawa, found the exercise provided them with an ingredient missing from their usual operations -- the opportunity to train against tanks.
During the exercise, Marines found themselves pitted against Japanese T-74 tanks during deliberate assault drills. The Marines also learned different techniques used by Japanese troops in minefield construction and demolition, and in the employment of mortars. In addition, they performed helicopter insertion operations from two types of aircraft used by the JSDF -- CH-47 Chinooks and UH-1H Hueys.
During Forest Light 98-1, Third Battalion, Fourth Marines, participated with Japanese Ground Self-Defense Force (JGSDF) forces in Sekiyama, Japan.
During Exercise Forest Light '99, U.S. Marines again trained with JGSDF infantrymen in Japan. About 500 troops from each country took part in 10 days of bilateral training. Less than a generation ago, U.S. Marines and Japanese soldiers throughout the Pacific were pitted against one another in some of the most ruthless combat ever recorded. Cradled by the green hillsides of a small infantry training camp Nov. 5, 1998, Japanese and Marine infantrymen faced each other wearing combat uniforms. But this time the men were smiling, shaking hands and exchanging warm greetings at the opening ceremony for 10 days of bilateral training during Exercise Forest Light '99.
The exercise, which teamed more than 1,000 Japan Ground Self Defense Force soldiers and U.S. Marines, marked the first time the Leathernecks had trained side by side with Japanese infantrymen at Kirishima. The more than 500 Marines participating in Forest Light were from the Hawaii-based 3rd Battalion, 3rd Marine Regiment. The 3/3 Marines arrived from Camp Hansen, Okinawa where they were assigned temporarily as part of a seven-month-long deployment program. The JGSDF soldiers hosting and training with the 3/3 Marines were assigned to the 24th Infantry Regiment, based at nearby Camp Ebino. Learning about the Marines' tactics and weapons was an extremely important and valuable part of the exercise for many of the Japanese soldiers who participated.
After the Marines and JGSDF soldiers each had a chance to explain their NBC gear and methods, they trekked into the hillsides to conduct some actual battlefield scenarios. As Marines observed, JGSDF soldiers on patrol were attacked with simulated chemical agents and demonstrated their procedures as if the attack was real. A platoon of Marines then provided a similar NBC drill for the JGSDF soldiers to observe and critique. The bilateral training continued through the week and culminated with a force on force, battle scenario between Marines and JGSDF soldiers. Throughout the ten days spent together, Marines and JGSDF soldiers conducted dozens of training sessions. Themes focused on command, combat, and support operations associated with battalion-sized infantry units and included heavy weapons live-fire and maneuver, combat engineer demolitions, combat-service support capabilities and a mass-casualty medical scenario.
Aside from the combat engineer training, which include live detonations, no live-fire was conducted here at Kirishima Training Area (KTA). But a few hundred miles north at Oyanohara Training Area (OTA) live-fire ranges, Marines fired M16A2 rifles, M249 SAW and M240G machine guns, 9mm pistols, AT4 and SMAW rockets. Throughout Forest Light, 3/3 Marines rotated companies between KTA and OTA for the live-fire training with JGSDF soldiers. The Marines and the JGSDF did not go through the live fire maneuver range together, but the Japanese soldiers got a chance to observe a totally different way of how the Marines do things.
Bitter cold temperatures welcomed Marines and Sailors from 1st Battalion, 3rd Marine Regiment, 3rd Marine Division as they stepped off the Australian Catamaran and onto northern mainland Japan Nov. 13, 2000, to participate in Forest Light 2001. The Japanese counterparts to the American servicemen came from the 10th Infantry Regiment, 11th Division, JGSDF.
The two units wasted no time in getting their gear ready and heading to the field to begin their training together as soon as the Marines arrived on the Japanese base. The battalion originally scheduled a day of preparation and an opening ceremony. However, bad weather kept the Marines at Camp Fuji, Japan, for two extra days, and all preparation and ceremonies had to be held within six hours. No training time was lost due to the units' readiness. The units began the training exercise with several live fires. The Marines of 1st Bn., 3rd Marines fired all weapons the unit maintains in its arsenal, and some of the weapons fired included the M-203 grenade launcher, the .50 caliber rifle and heavy machine gun, and both the 60mm and 81mm mortars.
Deep within a winter wonderland at the Sekiyama Training area, Marines from Company K, 3rd Battalion, 2nd Marine Regiment, 2nd Marine Division, deployed as part of the Unit Deployment Program and attached to 3rd MarDiv, picked up a few new skills and techniques from 1st Co., 30th Infantry Regiment, Japanese Ground Self Defense Force. The Marines were deployed to support and conduct operations within a cold weather environment during Forest Light 02-02.
Company K was selected for their prior cold weather training experience at Fort McCoy, Wis., last year. After a few days of acclimatization, the Marines put on their skis, and began their initial cold weather training. The initial training included basic ski movements as well as stopping on flat ground. Following the flat ground skills, the training moved downhill. Although some of the Marines spent a good portion of the first few days face down in the snow, they all skied away with the ability to move forward.
The Marines of 2nd Battalion, 3rd Marine Regiment disembarked the "Westpack Express," High Speed Vessel early morning, 11 November 2002, and traveled to Camp Beppu to take part in Exercise Forest Light 03-1, a semi-annual bilateral training exercise between the Marine Corps and Japanese Ground Self-Defense Force. For two weeks, the Hawaii-based battalion participated in the exercise along with the Japanese Ground Self-Defense Force's 41st Infantry Regiment, 4th Division. Both forces trained in the Hijudai and Jumanjibaru training areas, which are located near Beppu City, Japan.
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