YAKIMA TRAINING CENTER, Wash.--- In the early morning light, United States Army Stryker vehicles began to line up side by side. Across from them, a line of Japanese tanks mirrored their formation. Both were ready for movement -- ready to engage the enemy.

For three weeks, the two units had been training side by side for this moment, this mission. Now, that mission was only minutes away.
The culminating event for Rising Thunder took place at Yakima Training Center, Washington, Sept. 20-21.

Rising Thunder is an annual month-long bilateral training exercise between the U.S. Army and the Japan Ground Self-Defense Force. For the Japanese, Yakima Training Center provides a large-scale training site not available in Japan.

The final event of Rising Thunder, a combined arms live-fire exercise, tied all of the exercise’s training into one large assault mission.

Prior to the event, the units spent three weeks training and integrating new methods in various technical skills to include artillery strikes, mortars, aerial attacks and other war fighting skills.

“We are integrating combined arms and maneuver in a way that we are not able to do anywhere else,” said Capt. Larry Harris, commander of Company C, 4th Battalion, 23rd Infantry Regiment, 2nd Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 2nd Infantry Division. “We bring it all together, all the assets are available at once, and we conduct an exercise with those assets.”

The first day of the live-fire exercise saw the JGSDF tank troops tactically engage targets. Proceeding to the trainings center’s urban assault course, the U.S. Soldiers provided maneuver support by fire while the Japanese team provided aviation and fire support, allowing a squad from the JGSDF to clear the course. Finally, the two units maneuvered through a simulated site allowing them to combine the training of the last three weeks.

The event allowed Harris and his Soldiers to gain new skills in some of their everyday training.

“It is a great opportunity to train with them and to learn some tactics, techniques, and procedures,” said Harris. “We learn from each other and grow and understand each other a little better.”

Maj. Koki Inoue, commander of 2nd Company, 33rd Infantry Regiment, JGSDF, credited the relationship built through the training for the smooth execution of the final event.

“The coordination between the 2nd Company and Charlie Company has been very good,” said Inoue.

For Inoue, conducting training alongside the U.S. was a unique opportunity and something he really wanted his soldiers to learn from.

“Japan does not have a big training exercise like YTC,” he said. “Conducting contact and maneuver movements is something that I would like to focus on.”

With Rising Thunder coming to an end, the counterparts agreed partnership and communication made the exercise a success.

“The U.S. and Japan relationship is better,” said Inoue. “We have built a very good relationship through this training.”