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3-156 IN BN Medics Conduct Training for 2nd IN Regt Soldiers

1 February 2008

SEKIYAMA, Japan. – Today the soldiers of 2nd Infantry Regiment Japan Ground Self Defense Force (JGSDF) received medical training from the medics of 3rd Battalion 156th Infantry Regiment (IN BN). The Japanese soldiers were astonished by the wealth of knowledge that the medics of 3rd IN BN possessed. As SGT Shuff and SGT Leonards, from HHC 3-156 IN BN, demonstrated various medical tasks, they were rewarded with ooohs and ahhhs. The soldiers of 2nd IN Regt JGSDF were amazed with the supplies the SGTs Shuff and Leonards carried in their medical bags. The culmination of the training was when they started Intravenous Therapy (IV). The Japanese medics do not administer IVs, so this was a very new thing for them. The soldiers of 2nd IN Regt. JGSDF came away from this training with a wealth of new knowledge.

2ND IN REGT. Soldiers Conduct Air Rifle Training.

1 February 2008

SEKIYAMA, Japan. – Today the soldiers of 2nd Infantry Regiment Japan Ground Self Defense Force conducted air rifle training with the soldiers of 3rd Battalion 156th Infantry Regiment. The 2nd IN Regt soldiers begin with “mindset” training. This training consist of three phases: green, yellow, and red. The green phase was the friendly phase, yellow was the guard phase, and the red phase was the attack phase. After the mindset training came the different weapons stances. They went through the ready position, the standing firing and the prone firing. Then they taught the low firing position. This is firing position prove a bit difficult at first because it involved dropping down to the right knee, kicking your left leg in front of you, and leaning over touching your right elbow and head to the ground. After a few times trying the American soldiers were able to accomplish this firing position. The 2nd IN Regt also taught air rifle classes. They started with just basic firing and firing and moving. Then they went on to clearing rooms with the rifles. The end of the training consisted of “Force on Force” training. This training was when the soldiers split up into squads and engaged each other in an urban combat scenario. When talking to SGT Joseph Malbrough, a Mortarman from HHC 3-156 IN BN, about the training, his reply was “I loved it all. It was good the way they taught it to us the mindset training was cool. I especially liked the Force on Force training.” The soldiers of 2nd Infantry Regiment and 3-156 IN BN will conduct a bilateral mission next week that will involve all of the training that they have been receiving. You can find more pictures of soldiers and training on WWW.BANDITPRIDE.COM.

Raising of Flags Special Event for All

30 January 2008

SEKIYAMA, Japan. – Every morning at 0800hrs, a sacred ritual takes place. Soldiers of 3-156 Infantry Battalion (IN BN) and 2nd Infantry Regiment Japanese Ground Self Defense Force (JGSDF) raise their respective national flags. As the soldiers raise the flags; every soldier, Japanese or American, on the camp snaps to attention and salutes the two flags as Kimi ga Yo is played for Japan and The Star Spangled Banner is played for America. The soldiers raise the flags one at a time. The flags alternate days going up first. SSG Robert Guillory, SPC James Colvin and SPC Jeremy Johnson, from 3-156 IN BN, have the honor of raising the American Flag, and SGT Hayashi, PFC IIDA and PFC Saito, from 2nd IN Regt, have the honor of raising the Japanese Flag.

Japanese Officer takes Part in U.S. Promotion Ceremony

29 January 2008

SEKIYAMA, Japan. – A promotion is a very special event for a soldier. It signifies that you have proven yourself worthy of more responsibilities. Being promoted into the Non Commissioned Officer ranks is an even greater experience. For a soldier to be promoted in Japan, by the 2nd Infantry Regiment JGSDF Executive Officer, is priceless, and its just what SGT Anthony Lanasa had the honor to experience this week. SGT Anthony Lanasa, an Intelligence Analyst from St. Bernard, La, was promoted by his Commander LTC Michael Pryor but had his rank pinned on by LTC Tukasa Naka. “It was different,” said SGT Lanasa. “Before, my promotions were just show me the pay stub and stick it on. But this was actually my first promotion ceremony, and it was by the Japanese XO.”

Welcome Ceremony Brings Units Closer
SEKIYAMA, Japan. – Monday night the soldiers of 2nd Infantry Regiment held a Welcoming Ceremony for 3-156 IN BN. The “Bandits” were bused from the Sekiyama training grounds to Camp Tekada, the main base for the 2nd IN Regt. There, the soldiers were greeted by applause as they entered the gymnasium. After all the soldiers were at their tables, the ceremony started with the different dignitaries of the city welcoming 3-156 IN BN to the area. After that, the dignitaries, along with LTC Pryor and CSM St. Julien of 3-156 and COL Akanubo of the 2nd IN Regt. got on stage and performed a ritual together as they broke the ceremonial Saki barrel, signifying the start of the festivities. The soldiers of the 2nd IN Regt then put on an exhibition of drum cadences which excited the crowd. The evening also included they put on martial arts exhibitions, which included kata exhibitions, board breaking and culminated with one of the soldiers breaking two bats with his foot.
After this the soldiers of both units begin to socialize with food and drink, by the end of the ceremony the units were a lot closer. Soldiers exchanged gifts, giving away name badges and unit patches off their uniforms. When everything was done Japanese and American soldiers got together to take group pictures and shared laughs as they boarded the buses to get ready for the next day’s training. The camaraderie between the two units is very high and this will only improve the quality of the training exercises between the units.

Opening Ceremonies Great Success
SEKIYAMA, Japan. – The Opening Ceremony for Operation Orient Shield ’08 was a great success for the soldiers of 3-156 Infantry Battalion and 2nd Infantry Regiment. The event was attended by numerous Japanese Media outlets. This ceremony was to mark the official start of the bilateral training between 3-156 and 2nd Infantry. Both Units flew their unit and country flags in harmony as Major General Hasebe, Commander of the 12th BDE and Colonel Agena Representative for the Commander of U.S. Army Japan both gave their blessings. This is only the second Operation Orient Shield for the 12th BDE since 2001 and the first that has bilateral planning between the staffs of both Japanese Self Defense and United States Army Forces. At the end of the Opening Ceremony, Lieutenant Colonel Pryor and Colonel Akanubo faced their units towards each other and saluted. The two commanders then shook hands in the middle of the parade field as the soldiers formed together and took a group picture with Mount Myoko in the backdrop.

While you were sleeping, your “Bandits” were skiing

27 January 2008

SEKIYAMA, Japan . – Today the “Bandits” had their first lessons in skiing. The task was not an easy one to learn. They started out with just snow shoes so they could get used to walking on the soft snow. They realized quickly that walking uphill in snow is not an easy task. They often stepped down into the snow until it was waist high and then in an effort to get out of the hole, fell flat on their faces. After about 20 minutes of walking the “Bandits” soon got used to the tennis racket looking snow shoes. One soldier raced a Japanese SDF soldier up the hill and back, and he won! Once the soldiers got the hang of the snow shoes, they took them off and put on the skis. The “Bandits” were excited to put on the skis and try to show what they could do. When asked if the ski training was harder than expected, SPC Jared Bennett's reply was a winded, “Oh yea,” “It's hard to stand up and get yourself moving.” They wobbled and bobbled but in the end most of them actually did ski. Tomorrow will be a new day with new adventures and new challenges to conquer.

“Bandits” Experience Sensory Overload on First Day

27 January 2008

SEKIYAMA, Japan. – The “Bandits” haven’t been in Japan for 24 hours yet and already most soldiers are overwhelmed by their new surroundings. The “Bandits” will be in Japan for 15 days. “I’m loving the sites, sounds, and smells of even the truck stops here,” said Captain Theron Watson the Chaplain for 3-156. “I love Japan, it’s a beautiful place,” said SSG Hullett of Bravo Company. For most soldiers, this was the first time seeing snow. Walking down the hill from the bus to the barracks was an ordeal in itself as numerous soldiers slipped, slid and fell trying to navigate down the icy road. When the sun rose, soldiers were more than happy to go out into the below freezing whether to take pictures of the beautiful scenery. The barracks sit beneath the historical Mt. Myoko, which was the flagship of the Imperial Japanese Navy and currently has a Japanese Maritime SDF Aegis destroyer named after it, which makes for a great backdrop for pictures. After the soldiers finished their photo shoots for the day, they attempted to make snow men and snow angels. Then a snowball fight broke out which ended with numerous soldiers being buried in the three feet of snow. One thing that’s for sure is that this will be an experience of a lifetime.

3-156 IN BN Arrive In Japan

27 January 2008

SEKIYAMA, Japan. – Two bus rides, Two plane flights almost 7,000 miles and about 30 hours later the “Bandits” of 3-156 IN BN have arrived in Japan. This is the first time here for most of the soldiers and all are excited to be here and even more excited to begin training and interacting with the Japanese Ground Self Defense Force. “It’s cold, lot’s of snow, but I think It’s gonna be fun,” said PFC Corey McManus, the ammo handler for Company A 3-156. I’m looking forward to the training,” said CPT Theron Watson, the Chaplain for the “Bandits,” “I’m looking forward to whatever they throw at us.” It looks as if the “Bandits” are primed and ready to take on this new challenge.

3-156 IN BN to deploy to Japan for training

22 January 2008

LAKE CHARLES, La. – Soldiers of the 3-156th Infantry Battalion, headquartered in Lake Charles, LA, will be traveling to Japan to train with the Japanese Military. This mission will be a real good challenge for us as a unit said LTC Michael Pryor, Commander of 3-156 IN BN we will be doing cold weather training which is something we rarely do. We will also get do a lot of cross training with the Japanese military which will help us understand each other better. “This is a great opportunity for us to work with another army” said SFC Green, Readiness NCO for Co B 3-156 IN BN in Camp Beauregard; it will be good to compare our TTPs to theirs.” This is a great chance for training and a great life experience said SFC Wider Readiness NCO for CO A 3-156 IN BN in Fort Polk, It will be a great cultural experience for every one going. The training mission is meant to promote enduring professional bilateral engagements between the United States and Japanese Military. The mission will also help the two military units promote good will and mutual understanding so to improve bilateral operations and procedures. The unit will be shipping out Thursday January 24 at approximately 9 P.M.