Marines depart for artillery training

CAMP FOSTER, Okinawa, Japan -- More than 180 Marines and sailors departed Okinawa to conduct Artillery Relocation Training Program 12-4 Feb. 11 to March 3 at the Ojojihara Maneuver Area in mainland Japan.

During ARTP 12-4, Alpha and Headquarters Batteries, both currently assigned to 3rd Battalion, 12th Marine Regiment, 3rd Marine Division, III Marine Expeditionary Force, will conduct artillery live-fire, small-arms, crew-served weapons and various types of sustainment training.

The purpose of ARTP 12-4 is to enhance unit proficiency and combat readiness while maintaining a commitment to the U.S.-Japan Treaty of Mutual Cooperation and Security. The Ojojihara Maneuver Area provides units with live-fire artillery and other training opportunities not available on Okinawa.

“While this ARTP will not involve bilateral training between U.S. and Japan forces, there is a lot of coordination and relationship building between the two during the planning and training,” said Capt. Ricardo R. Bitanga, the executive officer of Alpha Battery.

Alpha Battery will conduct its first live-fire training since arriving to Okinawa from Camp Lejeune, N.C., in November as part of the unit deployment program, Bitanga added.

While training at the Ojojihara Maneuver Area, the battalion’s Marines and sailors will operate in colder temperatures and environments than they are used to, providing an opportunity for training in situations and scenarios not commonly found at other firing sites.

“There are always different terrains and weather conditions to practice our skills in,” said Cpl. Denton C. Raabe, a fire support coordination center chief for Alpha Battery. “Most of the Marines have never performed live-fire training at Ojojihara.”

Prior to their departure, Marines and sailors convoyed and staged more than 30 tactical vehicles and six M777 A2 155 mm howitzers at Naha port in Okinawa for transportation to the maneuver area.

“Marines inspected the vehicles five days in advance, so the convoy could arrive at the port safely,” said Sgt. Rodney V. Richards, the assistant motor transport chief for Alpha Battery. “If our part of this operation, which is the operability of the vehicles, was not functioning properly, the battery would not be able to conduct the training.”

The schedule for ARTP 12-4 includes six days of live-fire artillery training, as well as small-arms and crew-served weapons live-fire ranges. The live-fire portion of training is scheduled to start Feb. 15.

Artillery live-fire training has been conducted on mainland Japan since 1997, when the training was relocated from Okinawa in accordance with the Special Action Committee on Okinawa’s final report.