Army Awareness Day strengthens friendship with community

Photos and story by Tetsuo Nakahara, Torii Staff

(From left), Spcs. Charlies Agustin and James Hill, both assigned to the 35th Combat Sustainment Support Battalion, demonstrate air mobile rigging in front of Japanese guests.

Army Awareness Day was held here Saturday, during which more than 4,500 Japanese guests visited the installation to get a closer look at the day-to-day operations of U.S. and Japanese soldiers.

Strong rain in the morning initially kept visitors from venturing on post, but as the sun rose over the clouds in the afternoon, more and more people arrived to experience the day with both the U.S. Army and the Japanese Ground Self Defense Force.

"The main purpose [of Army Awareness Day] is to allow Japanese citizens to be able to come on post and see what U.S. Army Japan [Soldiers] and Japanese Self Defense Forces do on a daily basis," said Col. Perry Helton, the commander of U.S. Army Garrison-Japan. "The intent is that Japanese citizens understand what we do and what our mission is so that it cuts down on any kind of confusion, misreporting or rumors about Camp Zama.

"So this is a great opportunity and a great day to come out, see and experience what we do on daily basis and see the equipment we utilize," added Helton. "And of course, the soldiers love it. They show what they do and utilize their skills. It’s great."

The event drew widespread media attention, including reporters from five local newspapers, four TV productions and four magazine companies. City assembly members from Sagamihara City, Zama City and the Tokyo metropolitan government were invited as distinguished guests.

Various demonstrations, attractions and displays from USARJ and the 4th Engineer Group of JGSDF were shown to the local community around Yano Fitness Center. Displays included a "try-on" station where people were able to put on and carry military equipment such as helmets, backpacks and uniforms, and also view – and sit inside – military vehicles and aircraft belonging to the U.S. Army and JGSDF.

Inside Yano Fitness Center, a combatives demonstration was performed by U.S. Soldiers, while children were able to play inside a small inflatable castle.

"I think this is a good opportunity for Soldiers to interact with the local community and show them exactly why we are here," said Staff Sgt. Joy Kinzer, assigned to the 78th Aviation Battalion. "In the country of Japan, we are here mostly to help out with disaster relief and to aid any way we can, and also to keep our friendship between our two nations strong."

The attraction that garnered the largest crowds were the UH-60 Black Hawk helicopters displayed by 78th Avn. Bn. Three UH-60s were displayed on Rambler Field and on the field in front of the Camp Zama Library. Children were not the only ones who showed excitement as they sat down in the cockpit and experienced being a pilot; several adults also gleefully climbed into the helicopter’s pilots’ and passengers’ seats.

"It was totally cool to be in the Black Hawk because I’ve seen it only in the movies," said Junichi Yamazaki, a Japanese guest. "It is fun to see the equipment the U.S. Army uses in Camp Zama. The soldiers were very friendly, too."

The 4th Engineer Group also performed rappelling demonstration and steel cutting in front of their headquarters. Soldiers from the 88th Military Police Detachment who train and serve with military working dogs showed how they train the canines. Soldiers from 35th Combat Sustainment Support Battalion performed an air-mobile rigging demonstration. A deployable rapid-assembly shelter was also set up behind Yano for visitors to experience.

"It was a very meaningful event," said Col. Koichi Hirakuri, commander of the 4th Engineer Group, JGSDF, "and we are very proud that we held this event in cooperation with U.S. Army Japan."