Bilateral Exercise with 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit of the U.S. Marine Corps

From January 28 to February 4, the JGSDF participated in the bilateral exercise conducted by the U.S. Marine Corps in Okinawa Prefecture and its surrounding waters.

In this exercise, the JGSDF Amphibious Rapid Deployment Brigade, the 1st Helicopter Brigade, as well as the JGSDF Western Army Aviation Group participated alongside the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit of the U.S. Marine Corps and the Amphibious Squadron 11 of the U.S. Navy to conduct the landing training and deck landing/takeoff training with CH-47 Helicopter.

It is considerably meaningful for the JSDF to maintain and enhance the capability of remote island defense by participating in the exercise with U.S. Marine Corps who owns excellent mobility and readiness in Okinawa, which lies in a strategically important area in terms of the national security. The participation in this exercise also contributes to improving the bilateral response capability and strengthening the deterrence of Japan-U.S. alliance.

Since it is necessary to improve the tactical skills and maintain the readiness even under the current circumstance of pandemic, the JGSDF participated in this exercise by taking appropriate measures to prevent COVID-19 infections.

Mine Warfare Exercise and Special Minesweeping Exercise (Japan-U.S. bilateral exercise)

From February 1 to 10, the JMSDF conducted the mine warfare exercise, and also the bilateral Special Minesweeping Exercise with the U.S. Navy in Ise Bay. The JMSDF sent its two minesweeper tenders, one minesweeper, 13 minesweeper oceans, three MCH-101s to these exercises. During the mine warfare exercise, mine laying, minesweeping, and diving training were practiced. In the Special Minesweeping Exercise with the U.S. Navy, 10 underwater explosive ordnance disposal personnel from the U.S. Navy participated and bilaterally conducted diving training with divers of the JMSDF.

The JMSDF has been conducting exercises related to mine warfare to maintain and improve the skills in minesweeping. With all possible measures taken to prevent the spread of COVID-19 infections during these exercises, the JMSDF aimed at maintaining and improving mine warfare capacities, as well as strengthening the cooperation with the U.S. Navy.

Japan-U.S. Joint Tomodachi Rescue Exercise (TREX21)

From February 12 to 13, the MOD/JSDF and the U.S. Armed Forces conducted the FY2020 Japan-U.S. Tomodachi Rescue Exercise (TREX).

The exercise was mainly conducted in Kochi Prefecture and Tokushima Prefecture. Through various exercises for deployment of response forces, evacuation and rescue, and transport of relief supplies, the JSDF, U.S. Forces Japan, and disaster prevention organizations maintained and enhanced disaster relief capabilities for the Nankai Trench earthquake.

For preventing the spread of COVID-19, they thoroughly took general measures including avoiding “the 3Cs” and disinfection.

Exercise overview

Main exercises

Participating forces

Scale of exercise