For the first time, the Japan Ground Self-Defense Force’s 102nd Central Nuclear Biological Chemical Weapon Defense Unit, Marine Aircraft Group 12 and the Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni Fire Station collaborated to conduct interoperability training while executing Chemical Biological Radiological Nuclear (CBRN) and Hazardous Material Emergency Response Operations.
The exercise took place Nov. 6 – 9, 2014, aboard MCAS Iwakuni, Japan.
This exercise helped to establish a strong working foundation for new training procedures and foster valuable friendships to enhance the humanitarian assistance and disaster relief response of MAG-12, MCAS Iwakuni and JGSDF.
Throughout the four-day training event, multiple emergency drills were conducted. One drill simulated a response emergency involving living personnel; a situation the MCAS Iwakuni Fire Station is trained to handle, but the 102nd Central NBC Weapon Defense Unit is not qualified to approach. With countless hours of training, the unit was able to efficiently detect the simulated chemicals, contain the hazardous materials and rescue the victims.
“This training exercise is great for the U.S.–Japan Alliance because working together to accomplish the mission under stressful conditions brought us closer in the end,” said 1st Lt. Katsumuata Shinya, company commander for the 102nd Central NBC Weapon Defense Unit. “We learned better ways to help one another.”
Read more on the exercise at DVIDS.