WEBVTT 00:04.249 --> 00:05.796 - [Voiceover] More than 20 members of the 00:05.796 --> 00:08.585 Japan Ground Self Defense Force Reserve Component 00:08.585 --> 00:11.703 visited Sagami Depot in Kanagawa Prefecture, Japan 00:11.703 --> 00:15.553 to observe as American hosts, participating in IMUA DAWN, 00:15.553 --> 00:18.354 a Command Post exercise that tests the operational 00:18.354 --> 00:22.521 capabilities of maneuver enhancement brigades, or MEBs. 00:22.550 --> 00:25.160 - The IMUA DAWN exercise is a exercise 00:25.160 --> 00:28.077 that is created by 9 MSC 303rd MEB. 00:29.420 --> 00:33.147 The exercise itself tests maneuver operations of 00:33.147 --> 00:35.943 the Unit of the 303rd MEB, but also at the same time 00:35.943 --> 00:39.350 trains with the disaster relief operations. 00:39.350 --> 00:43.517 And these provide to the Japanese forces another set of 00:43.932 --> 00:48.099 training audience and sets that they can train with 00:48.928 --> 00:51.678 with the counterparts of the U.S. 00:52.557 --> 00:54.495 - [Voiceover] The JGSDF Reserve Components presence 00:54.495 --> 00:58.412 on June 18th, 2016, coincided with the visit by 00:58.923 --> 01:02.405 Army Brigadier Gen. Stephen Curda, Commanding General 01:02.405 --> 01:04.907 of the Army Reserve's 9th Mission Support Command, 01:04.907 --> 01:07.530 Head Quartered in Fort Shafter, Hawaii. 01:07.530 --> 01:09.894 - 9 Mission Support Command again, we're roughly 01:09.894 --> 01:13.848 about 3600 soldiers strong, we're spread out across from 01:13.848 --> 01:18.015 Alaska, three islands in Hawaii, American Samoa, Guam, 01:18.878 --> 01:20.961 Saipan, Japan, and Korea. 01:21.474 --> 01:24.166 We have operational units, we have functional units, 01:24.166 --> 01:27.298 we have training units, and we have support units. 01:27.298 --> 01:30.048 So we carry multiple capabilities 01:31.129 --> 01:33.462 that most units do not have. 01:33.580 --> 01:37.583 In between briefings and tours conducted by the 303rd MEB, 01:37.583 --> 01:40.792 a multipurpose unit that falls under the 9th MSC, 01:40.792 --> 01:43.790 Curda sat down with his JGSDF guests to discuss 01:43.790 --> 01:47.097 the significance of IMUA DAWN and it's role in enhancing 01:47.097 --> 01:50.435 interoperability among active duty and reserve component 01:50.435 --> 01:52.445 forces from two countries. 01:52.445 --> 01:54.577 - It's a fairly new relationship. 01:54.577 --> 01:58.269 We've just met with the individuals from the reserve 01:58.269 --> 02:01.647 component and we're trying to enhance that component 02:01.647 --> 02:04.897 and build their own reserve capability. 02:05.064 --> 02:07.041 - [Voiceover] The inclusion of the 303rd MEB 02:07.041 --> 02:10.345 in IMUA DAWN materialized thanks in part to 02:10.345 --> 02:13.799 the Army Reserve Engagement Team-Japan, ARET-J. 02:13.799 --> 02:16.445 This small, yet versatile team coordinated travel, 02:16.445 --> 02:19.343 lodging, and administrative support with the scores of 02:19.343 --> 02:22.101 army reserve soldiers who flew across the Pacific 02:22.101 --> 02:24.546 to participate in this exercise. 02:24.546 --> 02:27.614 - We were the key players in making sure that all 02:27.614 --> 02:31.781 coordinations between US Army Japan and 9 MSC and the 303rd 02:32.308 --> 02:36.391 were intact, and we played a supporting role that 02:37.077 --> 02:41.160 it would have happen if we not over here as well. 02:41.818 --> 02:44.122 - [Voiceover] ARET-J's efforts created better opportunities 02:44.122 --> 02:46.052 for the 9th MEB to collaborate with 02:46.052 --> 02:49.343 their JGSDF service members to better provide command, 02:49.343 --> 02:52.576 control, and communication for regional populations during 02:52.576 --> 02:55.880 natural disasters, humanitarian relief missions, 02:55.880 --> 02:57.838 and other real world contingencies. 02:57.838 --> 03:01.333 - Communicating from Hawaii to Japan it's very difficult, 03:01.333 --> 03:05.500 and having an integrated reserve engagement cell or 03:06.207 --> 03:09.848 reserve engagement team that's already embedded with 03:09.848 --> 03:13.681 the US Army Japan carries a tremendous weight. 03:13.748 --> 03:16.484 - [Voiceover] Reporting for U.S. Army Japan in Camp Zama, 03:16.484 --> 03:19.067 I'm Army Sergeant John Carkeet.