Japan Ground Self-Defense Force soldiers practiced English with Sailors at Naval Air Facility Misawa Feb. 26.

The soldiers participated in physical training and other activities while being verbally directed in English in an effort to strengthen their verbal communication skills.

Naval Air Facility Misawa’s Public Works Department planned the training that consisted of morning PT, construction site surveying, weapons and chemical protective suit familiarization, and pizza making.

"What began as a two-hour training block with the JGSDF students has quickly expanded to a full day’s worth of activities. We were recently invited to their camp where they plan to let their students practice more English by training us,” said Chief Builder Billy Harger, the senior enlisted leader of NAF Misawa’s PWD, from Pearl City, Hawaii.

The students energetically used English to communicate with NAF Misawa Sailors at every opportunity during the training.

The day ended with Builder 1st Class Thomas Thornton, from Montgomery, Massachusetts, allowing every student to sample his homemade pizza as he taught them how to make it.

“This is a great movement toward building a relationship between the JGSDF and Naval Air Facility Misawa Sailors," said Harger.

This is the sixth time JGSDF’s English class has attended NAF Misawa’s English training.