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Tropic Lightning News for 1 March 2001
 Photo(s) by Sgt. Lauren Reader Sgt. Schylar Cloudt, squad leader, Co. B, 2nd Bn., 27th Inf. Rgt. shows his counterpart the scope mounted on his M4 rifle. | Wolfhounds conduct battle drills with Japanese counterparts By Sgt. Lauren Reader HOKKAIDO, Japan - A squad of the Japanese Ground Self Defense Force sped out of the woodline, skiing down the slope while firing their weapons. The Wolfhounds stood on an adjacent slope with wide-eyes, watching their every move. The Japanese were demonstrating how they conduct battle drills during North Wind 01, a bilateral training exercise with the 2nd Battalion, 27th Infantry Regiment. The Japanese also showed how they evacuate a casualty using the akio, a transportation sled. Their final demonstration showed the Wolfhounds how they conduct a search on an enemy prisoner of war. "They are extremely gifted skiers. Their techniques for platoon attack drill and movement to contact are much different than ours, but it appears to be effective for them," said Sgt. 1st Class Allen DeForde, acting first sergeant for Company B, 2nd Bn., 27th Inf. Rgt. Once the Japanese completed their demonstrations, it was the Wolfhound’s turn. From the start, the differences were obvious. A squad crept down the slope on snowshoes and moved behind objects for cover. One squad went forward, while another flanked to the side. All the while, the first squad provided suppressive fire for the flanking squad. "Before we came to Japan we had tunnel vision, only training with each other. Now, we see how another force operates and it makes us a stronger Army with all of this sharing of knowledge," said Staff Sgt. Brent McConnell, platoon sergeant for Co. B, 2nd Bn., 27th Inf. Rgt. North Wind 01 is Pvt. Davey Webb’s, Co. B, 2nd Bn., 27th Inf. Rgt., rifleman first deployment. "I’ve learned how to ski and I’m a lot more confidant about fighting in these conditions now that I’ve trained in them," Webb said. Throughout the Japanese demonstrations, the Wolfhounds noticed that the instructors were all officers. "The Japanese Army is made up of 60 percent officers. They were amazed that our classes were NCO led and astonished that we had the flexibility to decide how to conduct training," DeForde said. After the demonstrations were complete, the two companies broke for lunch. Some of the Wolfhounds traded MRE’s with their counterparts. The Japanese MRE’s consist of rice with sauce. The Wolfhounds who traded, sat down and ate their meal with chopsticks. "If there’s one thing I’ve learned while being out here, it’s that Soldiers are Soldiers. The Japanese may have different color uniforms and speak a different language, but when it comes down to it, they are just like us," DeForde said. The Wolfhounds have spent nearly 10 consecutive days in the cold, conducting different types of training exercises with their counterparts. With each passing day, they become more acclimated to the weather. And they will need to be, since they are spending one night out in the cold during the last portion of the exercise. "When I first got here I didn’t want to even think about the night we’d have to spend outside, but now having been out here all week, it’s not going to be a problem," said Sgt. Schylar Cloudt, Co. B, 2nd Bn., 27th Inf. Rgt., squad leader. |
