Stryker Soldiers deploy to Japan

AIBANO TRAINING AREA, Japan — Sgt. 1st Class Jonathan Wall (second from right) and Staff Sgt. Walter Nickel (right), both with 1st Bn., 14th Inf. Regt., “Golden Dragons,” 2nd SBCT, 25th ID, explain the capabilities and tools of a sniper team to Japanese soldiers during Orient Shield 2012, here, Oct. 24. (1st. Alex Wurzel | 1st Battalion, 14th Infantry Regiment, 2nd Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 25th Inf. Division)

News Release

SCHOFIELD BARRACKS — Soldiers of 1st Battalion, 14th Infantry Regiment, 2nd Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 25th Inf. Division deployed to Japan from here, Oct. 21, in support of exercise Orient Shield 2012.

This is the 13th iteration of this exercise, marking the first time that Strykers were deployed to, and operated in, Japan.

OS-2012 was an annual bilateral brigade/regimental tactical field training exercise for the Japan Ground Self Defense Force and the U.S. Army.

AIBANO TRAINING AREA, Japan — Col. Kojo Furuya (right), commander, 33rd Inf. Regt., 10th Division, Middle Army, Japan Ground Self Defense Force, welcomes Lt. Col. John Larsen (left), commander, 1st Bn., 14th Inf. Regt., 2nd SBCT, 25th ID, here, Oct. 23. The two commanders are leading their units in exercise Orient Shield, an annual, tactical level, field-training exercise co-hosted by U.S. Army Japan and the Ground Self-Defense Force. This year’s exercise includes Soldiers from the 1st Bn., 14th Inf. Regt., and Ground Self-Defense Force members from the 33rd Inf. Regt., 10th Division, Middle Army. (Maj. Randall Baucom | U.S. Army Japan)

Since its inception in 2000, Orient Shield has focused on the development and refinement of joint efforts in the areas of tactical planning, coordination and interoperability through bilateral training. Other objectives include training Soldiers for deployment to Japan in the event of contingencies and joint capabilities in defense of Japan, and preparing U.S. forces for combined multinational and joint full-spectrum tactical operations.

The exercise also strengthened Japanese-American relations, demonstrating American resolve to support the security interests of friends and allies in the region.

The allies exchanged ideas, tactics, techniques and military experiences during OS-2012.

Tags: 1st Bn. 14th Inf. Regt., 25th Infantry Division (ID), 2nd Stryker Brigade Combat Team, deployment, featured, field training exercise (FTX), full-image, joint training, Orient Shield, safety, security

Category: Deployed Forces, Exercises, News, Training