North Wind 2010 exercise wraps up in Sendai

Story by Spc. Brad Mincey
108th Public Affairs Detachment

(Photo by 108th Public Affairs Detachment)

SENDAI, Japan - With tired feet and sore backs, Soldiers from 1st Battalion, 118th Infantry Regiment, completed the 2010 North Wind exercise Feb. 15 and left the Ojojiara Maneuver Area to return to South Carolina.

The mission of North Wind was two-fold: to train the Guardsman and the Japanese Ground Self Defense Force, and to build camaraderie and confidence between the two forces.

The South Carolina National Guard holds an overseas deployment training conference each year. This conference decides where Solders are sent to train, and how to enhance it.

"Japan is our ally; they're on our side and on our team, so this allows me to get my Soldiers out of the same routine and provides some high adventure for them," said Lt. Col. Michael Krell, commander of the 1-118th. "Most have not had a chance to leave [South Carolina] unless it's for a deployment."

As well as receiving cold-weather training from the Japanese, the U.S. Soldiers trained their counterparts in areas such as protection against nuclear, biological and chemical threats, and combat lifesaving skills.

"By building these relationships ... they and we know each other's capabilities and know that, 'I've trained with these guys before and I know what they can do,'" said Krell.

But training each other was not the only reason Soldiers from both nations worked together.

"I believe the biggest thing we are doing here is building trust," said Command Sgt. Maj. Roger Watson, command sergeant major of the 1-118th. "Politically, we have a lot of trust, and this will help build that trust with our militaries, because you never know when we are going to be on the battlefield together."

Soldiers don't make policies, they simply implement them. And even though several changes have happened in both the U.S. and Japanese governments in the recent year, the military wants to continue to build upon the relationships that have grown since 1966 - especially with the National Guard, which has had little interaction with the JGSDF.

"Our relationship has truly become more bilateral," said Col. Craig Agena, G5 for U.S. Army Japan. "Before, we would do our mission, they would do theirs and we would meet in the field. Now, we get together and plan our missions as one."

Agena said he was also very impressed with the capabilities of the South Carolina Guardsmen. "These guys have been to Afghanistan and Iraq and have the experience and the training," he said. "I would go to war any day with these guys."

Part of the training consisted of a company movement to enemy contact. The infantry Soldiers moved in a coordinated attack with the Japanese army and took out an enemy. Each element had its own type of formation, but the basic idea was the same: to move from one point to the next while keeping a secure perimeter.

"This gives us an opportunity to work through the language barrier," said Krell. "Even though techniques may be a little different, the goals are the same."

During the day, there were marksmanship competitions where Soldiers shot 10 rounds at 300-meter targets and had to fire all 10 shots within 25 seconds. In the evenings, there were also competitions in the Friendship Hall. One evening, targets were set up and origami shuriken were thrown at the targets for prizes.

Although many Soldiers are ready to get back home and see their families after being away for two weeks, there was a sense of longing to stay a while longer.

"I'm a little disappointed about leaving," said Spc. Billy Hanby, a rifleman and driver assigned to the unit. "I would really love to see more of the culture and continue relationship building. This has been a very positive experience."