The Japan Ground Self-Defense Force has announced that it will conduct joint training with the U.S. Marine Corps in Kyushu and Okinawa from the end of this month, assuming the defense of remote islands. Some of the training will be held for the first time on Okinoerabu Island in Kagoshima Prefecture.
The Japan Ground Self-Defense Force and the U.S. Marine Corps have been conducting a joint exercise called ``Iron Fist,'' which simulates the defense of remote islands, since 2006, and last year was the first time it was held in Japan.
The Japan Ground Self-Defense Force announced on the 2nd that this year's training will be held in Kyushu and Okinawa from the 25th of this month to the 17th of next month.
Approximately 2,100 people, including the Japan Ground Self-Defense Force's amphibious maneuver group and the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit stationed in Okinawa, participated in landing training at Okinoerabu Island in Kagoshima Prefecture and Camp Hansen, a Marine Corps base in Okinawa Prefecture. They plan to conduct live ammunition shooting training.
This is the first time the Japan Ground Self-Defense Force has conducted a training exercise on Okinoerabu Island, and the statement said, ``As we aim to improve our response capabilities in the Nansei Islands, we decided to conduct the training taking into consideration the characteristics of the terrain and weather.'' is.
Meanwhile, both Japan and the U.S. will not be using the Osprey, the transport plane that crashed last November, in this training.