MARINE CORPS AIR STATION IWAKUNI, YAMAGATA, Japan -- Soldiers with Bravo Battery, 1st Battalion, 1st Air Defense Artillery Regiment, conducted the first U.S.-Japanese Air Defense Exercise at Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni Nov. 5-10.
Bravo Battery, exercising 1-1 ADA’s new ‘deployability’ capability, deployed with a minimum engagement package to participate in Keen Sword 17 along with the 339th Battery, 8th Anti-Aircraft Artillery Group.
Keen Sword is an annual event featuring combined training between U.S. and Japanese forces to exercise the methods created from Keen Edge. Bravo Battery worked with the 8AAG to create and integrate a layered air defense design reflecting the first time U.S. patriot systems worked hand-in-hand with the Japanese Chu-SAM.
Bravo Battery’s opportunity to work with the Japanese Ground Self Defense Force was a rare opportunity. In the past decade, 1-1 ADA has focused on integration with the Japanese air defense in Okinawa through bilateral exchanges and discussions at the Bilateral Defense of Okinawa Working Group.
“Our mission was to accomplish two objectives,” said Army Capt. Thaddeus Morris, Btry. B commander, 1-1 ADA. “First, we wanted to create and exercise a bilateral command post in order to coordinate how the U.S. and Japanese can fight together. Secondly, we worked on defense designs to protect MCAS Iwakuni." These aspects reinforced our commitment to defending Japan, while spearheading the way for future U.S.-Japan air defense engagements to fight more effectively.”
Marines were able to tour the training area throughout the exercise, giving them a chance to enhance joint operations. “For most of the Marines at MCAS Iwakuni, this was their first time working with both Army personnel and an US air defense system,” said Army Sgt. William Buckley, Bravo Battery trainer. “We introduced the necessity of air defense and some of the planning factors that must be taken into consideration when a US patriot battery is present.”
From working with the 8AAG, Bravo Battery was able to effectively fight alongside the Japanese by the end of Keen Sword 17.
“We worked side-by-side with the Japanese through sharing our common air picture,” said Army Sgt. Michael Huguley, Bravo Battery trainer. “We were successful through creating common brevity codes, identification criteria, and engagement criteria.”
For many of the Bravo Battery Soldiers, it was their first time in mainland Japan. “We’d love to come back to MCAS Iwakuni and continue our air defense training. The weather is great, the marines are friendly, and it’s a completely different culture,” said Army 1st. Lt. Joseph Brown, Bravo Battery trainer. “With the rate that MCAS Iwakuni is expanding, we hope to come here again for air defense exercises in the coming years.”