YAKIMA TRAINING CENTER, Wash. – A little rain could not stop Rising Thunder’s 23rd annual opening ceremony, Sep. 6 at Yakima Training Center, Wash.

Soldiers with the 2-2 Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 7th Infantry Division, and the 12th Regiment, Japan Ground Self-Defense Force came together as they marked the beginning of the bilateral training.

“The Soldiers assembled here are examples of the finest our nations have to offer, and as a leader, it’s a truly humbling experience to be apart of an outstanding organization,” said Lt. Col. Troy Meissel, commander of the 2nd Battalion, 1st Infantry Regiment, 2nd SBCT.

During the training, they will conduct individual, platoon, battalion and combined live-fire exercises.

As part of the training, the partners will prepare for potential future operations with one another’s armed forces to ensure stability and security in the Pacific region. As part of Pacific Pathways, combined exercises such as Rising Thunder are designed to continually strengthen the bonds between partnered countries so they can work together more effectively.

“This training is the best opportunity for us to improve the bilateral operation combination of maneuver, firing, intelligence and interoperability by using the marvelous training facility in YTC,” said Col. Masayuki Nemoto, commander of the 12th Regiment.

Both partners are able to grow from working hand-in-hand and learning one another’s tactics, techniques and procedures.

“Thanks for coming to support the partnership between our two great nations and for the valuable training objectives we will achieve over the next few weeks,” said Meissel.