Sailors from Navy Munitions Command East Asia Division (NMC EAD) Unit Misawa are conducting annual training with 27 Navy Reserve Sailors at Naval Air Facility Misawa March 10-30.

The 27 Sailors, who hail from 11 different states, are assigned to Navy Reserve Mobile Mine Assembly Unit (NR MOMAU) 5, Navy Operational Support Center (NOSC) Pittsburgh, and NR MOMAU-8, NOSC Austin, and they traveled to northern Japan to maintain their skills in safely and efficiently handling and assembling ordnance.

"MOMAU-5 and 8 integrate with our active duty Sailors to perform mine building operations efficiently and effectively each year. Once the mine building begins it is impossible to tell the difference between active duty and the reservist. Both have the same training and qualification requirements which increase the production rate and quality. The reserve component is a welcome addition to our team and they maximize our capabilities for mine warfare operations," said Lt. Todd Grahek, commanding officer of NMC EAD Unit Misawa.

NMC EAD maintains a pre-positioned war reserve stock to provide for the sentencing, storage, assembly and issue of mines, missiles, ammunition, and ordnance in direct support of Combatant Commander OPLANs.

"This training has been very refreshing. It's the first time I've had hands-on training since I left 'A' school. Being able to see and touch these components teaches me so much more than just reading about them in publications," said Mineman Seaman Apprentice Michael Greene, assigned to NR MOMAU-5.

NMC unit's have a unique relationship with the supporting Navy Reserve MOMAU units in that supporting reservists become certified to assemble mines and are fully integrated into NMC EAD's underwater mine assembly program.

NMC EAD active duty and reserve components are participating in a mine readiness assist visit (MRAV) in which all aspects of ammunition receipt, storage, sentencing, assembly and maintenance are audited by the Commander, Mobile Mine Assembly Group (COMOMAG) Inspection Team.

"I'm always impressed with the professionalism and knowledge the reservists come out here with and the way they flawlessly integrate with our team," said Chief Mineman Johnathan Desena, assigned to NMC EAD Unit Misawa.

This training prepares the Sailors for next year's Mine Readiness Certification Inspection (MRCI) and ultimately for unit/individual mobilization readiness in support of mine warfare operations worldwide.

During the MRAV, Rear Adm. Matthew Carter, commander, Naval Forces/Navy Region Japan, visited NMC EAD a visit to observe the combined mine assembly upgrade.