Back to 1st Battalion In the News Tropic Lightning -- 1 December 2000 Operation Keen Sword rehones Wolfhound task force techniquesBy Staff Sgt. Michael Westerfield More than 500 Wolfhounds from 1st Battalion, 27th Infantry, returned from three weeks of training and cultural learning in Japan during Operation Keen Sword 2001. The Soldiers were home just in time for the Thanksgiving holiday. The Soldiers trained with about 600 Japanese members from 15th Regiment, 2nd Combined Brigade, Middle Army, Japan Ground Self Defense Forces at Camp Iabano Training Area, in everything from platoon attack techniques to check point operations. The biannual exercise in Japan, alternates between Keen Sword, a field-training exercise and Keen Edge, a command post exercise. It is held in several locations around Japan and involves thousands of Soldiers, sailors, airmen and Marines from both nations. Keen Sword and Keen Edge exercises are designed to increase the defensive readiness of Japanese and American forces in the Pacific through combined training. They focus on refining and improving bilateral operations between the U.S. Army and the JGSDF at the regimental, battalion, company and platoon levels. The training included squad maneuver live-fire training, anti-tank firing, military operations-other-than-war training, medical-evacuation training, field-training exercises, convoy operations, containerized delivery system airdrops, demolition and combat search and rescue missions. "We have a number of key objectives - One is demonstrating small unit’s actions and battle drills," said Lt. Col. Billy J. Buckner, 1st Bn., 27th Inf. commander. "This allows us to understand each other’s doctrine, equipment and operability of that equipment." The exercise also provides an opportunity for American and Japanese counterparts to serve as goodwill ambassadors not only working in the field together and in various sports events but also in a variety of social settings. The exercise started and ended with a formal ceremony followed by a social gathering featuring Japanese and American style entertainment. Soldiers had an opportunity to go on a sightseeing and shopping trip to the ancient city of Kyoto. There they saw ancient temples and palaces and were face to face with Japanese citizens. About 150 Soldiers were selected to have an even more personal experience by participating in the home visit program. Japanese families opened their homes to individual Soldiers for dinner. It’s the type of experience most visitors will never experience. Some families had very traditional Japanese food prepared while others served American food to make their guests feel more at home. All 150 Soldiers had a chance to experience the day-to-day culture of Japanese families. "We all sat around and had a great time talking, laughing and eating," said Spc. Richard P. Dugard, 25th MP Company. "It was like a family get-together except one guy was sort of an interpreter." "We started this exercise with two major objectives, learning mutual tactics and building good friendships and good memories," said Col. Megumu Ueno, 15th Inf. Regt., JGSDF, commander. "I think we have accomplished these." "Together, you have formed many friendships and learned many lessons," said Maj. Gen. Hisashi Ioka, 2nd Combined Bde., JGSDF commander, as he addressed nearly 1,100 Japanese and American participents during the closing ceremony. "The footprints you left behind will last forever." |
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