Japanese Army conducts boat training at Coronado

NAVAL AMPHIBIOUS BASE CORONADO, Calif. - (01.23.2012)
Story by Cpl. John Robbart

Gunnery Sgt. Sione Kefu, the director of the coxswain’s course at Expeditionary Warfare Training Group Pacific, explains the importance of properly attaching gear to the combat rubber raid craft to a Japanese soldier with the Western Army Infantry Regiment, Japanese Ground Self Defense Force, while conducting amphibious training at Naval Amphibious Base Coronado, Jan. 22. The JGSDF are here to participate in Exercise Iron Fist with the 15th Marine Expeditionary Unit, a unique training opportunity for both services. Boats are one of many amphibious means the Marine Corps uses to move troops ashore in an expeditionary manner. Marine Expeditionary Units are responsible to our nation as a 911 force in readiness.

Japanese soldiers with the Western Army Infantry Regiment, Japanese Ground Self Defense Force, donned full wetsuits for boat training hosted at Naval Amphibious Base Coronado, yesterday.

The boat training was the first part of Exercise Iron Fist 2012, and featured the surf passages portion of the Coxswain Skills Course taught by Marines of the Expeditionary Warfare Training Group Pacific.

Japanese soldiers with the Western Army Infantry Regiment, Japanese Ground Self Defense Force, conduct amphibious training at Naval Amphibious Base Coronado, Jan. 22. The JGSDF are here to participate in Exercise Iron Fist with the 15th Marine Expeditionary Unit, a unique training opportunity for both services. Boats are one of many amphibious means the Marine Corps uses to move troops ashore in an expeditionary manner. Marine Expeditionary Units are responsible to our nation as a 911 force in readiness.

The CSC is part of a special operations qualification for boat companies in infantry battalions, however, this time it was the Japanese soldiers who conducted the training, which demonstrated the 15th Marine Expeditionary Unit's amphibious capability.

"California is a different part of the world, with different scenery than what they are used to. It is always good to teach them some knowledge, and it enhances the relationship between the two militaries," said Staff Sgt. Nathan M. Carlson, amphibious raid instructor, EWTGPAC.

Exercise Iron Fist is an opportunity for both militaries to learn from each other and is a unique training opportunity.

Japanese soldiers with the Western Army Infantry Regiment, Japanese Ground Self Defense Force, conduct amphibious training at Naval Amphibious Base Coronado, Jan. 22. The JGSDF are here to participate in Exercise Iron Fist with the 15th Marine Expeditionary Unit, a unique training opportunity for both services. Boats are one of many amphibious means the Marine Corps uses to move troops ashore in an expeditionary manner. Marine Expeditionary Units are responsible to our nation as a 911 force in readiness.

"It is a learning experience on both ends," said the 30-year-old San Diego native. "We learn from them just as much as they learn from us even if we are here to teach them something as specific as boat training."

Amphibious raid instructors laid the ground work for training which the JGSDF will use later on in the exercise.

"The JGSDF take the instruction we've given them over the years and have used it to fit their missions," Capt. Timothy J. Storey, amphibious raid officer-in-charge, EWTGPAC. "Overall, I hope they grow in their comfort level in conducting small boat amphibious operations."

Japanese soldiers with the Western Army Infantry Regiment, Japanese Ground Self Defense Force, conduct amphibious training at Naval Amphibious Base Coronado, Jan. 22. The JGSDF are here to participate in Exercise Iron Fist with the 15th Marine Expeditionary Unit, a unique training opportunity for both services. Boats are one of the many amphibious means the Marine Corps uses to move troops ashore in an expeditionary manner. Marine Expeditionary Units are responsible to our nation as a 911 force in readiness.

Boats are one of many amphibious means the Marine Corps uses to move troops ashore in an expeditionary manner.

The 15th MEU is currently training for a routine seven-month deployment later this fall.