The Great East Japan Earthquake

Press Conference

Disaster Call-Up of Reserve/Ready Reserve Personnel

March 16, 2011
Ministry of Defense
(Provisional Translation)
The original text is in Japanese.

The 2011 Tohoku Pacific Ocean Earthquake wreaked unprecedented havoc unlike any ever experienced in Japan.

Following a decision by the Cabinet on the matter today, the Prime Minister approved the disaster call-up of reserve/ready reserve personnel. In line with the SDF Law, the Minister of Defense issued the order for a disaster call-up of the reserve and ready reserve personnel for the first time to fully involve them in the disaster relief mission.

The Ministry of Defense will follow a successive procedure for the call-up. Some reserve and ready reserve personnel will engage in life support activities for suffered people and others will take on an interpretation mission to help the disaster relief activities by the USFJ go more smoothly.