News>'Guard and Protect' exercise unites bilateral forces
Photos
Soldiers from Japan Ground Self-Defense Force, 9th Division, 5th Infantry Regiment, Aomori, apprehend Tech. Sgt. George Shepherd during a bilateral exercise Dec. 5, 2010, at Misawa Air Base, Japan. The JGSDF troops were part of a two-day Guard and Protect Exercise that partnered them with the Japan Air Self-Defense Force 3rd Air Wing and the 35th Security Forces Squadron. Sergeant Shepherd is a 35th Security Forces Squadron member and opposing forces volunteer. (U.S. Air Force photo/Senior Airman Jessica Lockoski)
Senior Airman Kevin Gonzales searches Senior Airman William Holliday during a bilateral guard and protect exercise Dec. 4, 2010, at Misawa Air Base, Japan. Opposing forces simulated hostile enemy actions against Japan Ground Self-Defense Force, Air Self-Defense Force and the 35th Security Forces members during the exercise to test the combined force's ability to protect Misawa AB's war-fighting assets. Airman Gonzales is a 35th SFS patrolman 3and Airman Holliday is from the 5th Civil Engineer Squadron Explosive Ordnance Disposal flight and opposing forces volunteer. (U.S. Air Force photo/Senior Airman Jessica Lockoski)
A soldier from Japan Ground Self-Defense Force, 9th Division, 5th Infantry Regiment, Aomori, verifies a simulated kill on Tech. Sgt. Paul Barentine during a bilateral exercise Dec. 5, 2010, at Misawa Air Base, Japan. The JGSDF troops were part of a two-day Guard and Protect Exercise that partnered them with the Japan Air Self-Defense Force 3rd Air Wing and the 35th Security Forces Squadron. Sergeant Barrantine is a 35th Security Forces Squadron member and opposing forces volunteer. (U.S. Air Force photo/Senior Airman Jessica Lockoski)
by Senior Airman Jessica Lockoski
35th Fighter Wing Public Affairs
12/9/2010 - MISAWA AIR BASE, Japan (AFNS) -- A key component of the 35th Fighter Wing's mission is to assist in the defense of Japan.
To that end, members of the 35th Security Force Squadron practiced base defense with their Japanese counterparts during a Guard and Protect exercise Dec. 4 - 5.
Airmen from the 35th SFS and Japan Air-Self Defense Force and soldiers from Japan Ground Self-Defense Force, 9th Division, 5th Infantry Regiment, Aomori, participated in the exercise that tested the combined force's ability to protect Misawa Air Base's war-fighting assets.
Guard and Protect is a bilateral agreement, signed in 2003, between the United States and Japanese governments, which states during heightened threats to installations throughout the country, JGSDF and JASDF will augment security at U.S. installations, said Lt. Col. Dustin Sutton, the 35th SFS commander.
"We keep an open relationship with (JGSDF and JASDF) year round with frequent meetings and training events, but it all culminates in one big exercise; this year, we had two," the colonel said.
In a bilateral environment, communication is key. The inherent language barrier proved to be the biggest difficulty, Colonel Sutton said. Breaking down who was responsible for each portion of the operation, and what was expected of them, greatly improved the overall efficiency and effectiveness of the bilateral forces when it came time to respond to base threats.
Various scenarios, staged by Airmen postured as opposing forces members, allowed around-the-clock events that breached base security and delivered realistic threats to the bilateral defenders.
The opposing forces members tested security forces members by infiltrating target areas and simulating attacks with ground burst simulators and smoke grenades.
"We did everything from being suspicious people and having suspicious indicator items in our vehicles to full-blow assaults on gates or different buildings, and that allows (responding forces) to go through the full spectrum of detecting inappropriate acts or repelling assaults," said Tech. Sgt. Jeremy Potts, a 35th SFS opposing forces volunteer.
Sergeant Potts was satisfied by the bilateral groups' collaborative efforts.
"It was outstanding -- JGSDF did very well, JASDF cooperation also went very well," said Sergeant Potts. "All their responses were timely. They stopped and assessed the situations where they needed to be aggressive and thought through the scenarios before they moved in the right direction."
"We met 90 percent of the stated objectives with the scenarios," Colonel Sutton said. "That still leaves a lot of ground work for enhancing our partnership and increasing our efficiency."
Colonel Sutton said based off experience working alongside other international organizations, the relationship with Japanese forces and their ability to communicate and work effectively is particularly strong in comparison.
"We have a great relationship with JGSDF and JASDF, and that's key to a successful defense of Misawa Air Base, the colonel said. "We probably have the best relationship in Japan -- that's key to our ability to grow an even stronger partnership in the future as threats may emerge in Eastern Asia.
"The base needs to be able to react on a moment's notice, and we can here," he said. "If under a specific threat, we can integrate a team together to operate efficiently and defeat our adversaries."
