Exercise Yama Sakura '99
Story by Maj Herb Porter - Photos by TSgt Jim Sundahl
Members of the Washington Air and Army National Guard participated recently in Exercise Yama Sakura 35, an annual bilateral command post exercise designed to train the United States military alongside Japanese Self-Defense Forces with a simulated attack against Japan. Personnel from all branches of the U.S. armed forces were represented including nearly 80 members from the Washington Air and Army National Guard.
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The advance party for the 111th ASOC departed from their headquarters on Camp Murray, in Tacoma, WA, in mid-January with the main body of the Air Guard unit arriving three days later. The actual start of the exercise was during the last week of January. It was held at Camp Asaka, Tokyo, about 40 kilometers northeast of Yokota Air Force Base. Camp Asaka is one of the premier Japanese Self Defense Force (JSDF) bases in Japan and is the headquarters for the Japanese Eastern Army, whose primary mission is the defense of Tokyo.
At the same time, the 66th Aviation Brigade, Washington Army National Guard deployed 41 Guardsmen to Japan from it's headquarters on Fort Lewis, Tacoma, WA, and brought another 31 Guardsmen to work in the Battle Simulation Center (BSC) at Ft. Lewis. The 66th conducted Army Aviation Staff planning with I Corps, also headquartered on Fort Lewis, and the Eastern Army of the JSDF. Their training objectives included the integration, synchronization, and execution of deep, close, and rear operations. Mission planning included deep attacks, air assault and resupply operations.
The actual exercise scenario called for the defense of central Japan, as two hostile armies of a fictitious nation dubbed 'Orangeland' invaded and prepared to drive towards Tokyo. YS35 was a continuation of the YS 33 exercise scenario, in which 'Orangeland' forces landed in northern Japan and attempted to drive southwards. Having been pushed back and contained by the Japanese Northern Army, the U.S. 7th Fleet, and U.S. Air Forces, the enemy attempted a different strategy by initiating an attack into central Japan.
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The primary focus of the I Corps in YS 35 was a simultaneous deep battle in support of Japanese ground forces. But, unlike previous YS exercises where the U.S. armed forces and Japanese units fought side-by-side, this time the Japanese ground forces fought the entire front line while the U.S. Army conducted rear area support operations and deep battle operations. This new scenario called for increased coordination between American and Japanese ASOCs. Similarly, the Japanese Air Self Defense Force took a lead role in the operational scenario of YS 35, with the U.S. Air Force serving more in a supporting and coordination role. Specifically, the 111th ASOC’s mission was to manage and employ Ground Alert and Airborne Alert Interdiction. This was done through coordination with the Japanese military. To insure a smooth continuity in communication between U.S. forces and the JSDF in YS 35, the U.S. Air Force Team utilized a translator - SSgt Scott Oestringer from the 262 Combat Communications Squadron, Washington Air National Guard, headquartered in Bellingham - who played a key role in helping provide numerous briefings and training sessions to the Japanese ASOC. This was a bilateral operations breakthrough. The training sessions focused on sharing the USAF doctrine and techniques for Close Air Support (CAS), thus helping the Japanese Air Force to apply the Air Force CAS techniques in the exercise scenario.
There were several significant accomplishments that resulted from YS35. First, an integrated US Air Force Team was formed lead by the commander of the 1st Air Support Operations Group (ASOG), Ft. Lewis, WA. Participating Air Force units included: 1st ASOG, 111th ASOS, 5th Air Force, Yokota, Japan, and the 7th Air Force, Korea. In this integrated command structure, the 111th ASOC falls under the command of the 1st ASOG, and Yama Sakura is conducted in the primary wartime area of operation of the 111th ASOC. Secondly, the coordination between the Japanese Air Self Defense Force’s 3rd Wing from Misawa Air Base, Japan and the 111th ASOC from Camp Murray, WA was significantly improved. The 111th provided CAS doctrine and technique training to their Japanese counterparts, through Sgt Oestringer’s translation and interpretation of complex military doctrine. Thirdly, this year’s exercise at Camp Asaka, Tokyo, had senior level participation including visits form the Japanese Defense Minister, the Japanese Military Chief of Staff, senior Japanese general officers, and senior U.S. military officers from CONUS (primarily Ft. Lewis, WA) and locations in Japan. In addition, there was excellent coordination between the Washington Air National Guard's 111th ASOC and Army's active duty I Corps command elements. Integration of Air Force computer operations with the U.S. Army and the 5th Air Force computer systems was outstanding.
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Participating units from the 66th Aviation Brigade included members from Washington Army National Guard as well as Guardsmen from seven other states. The Washington Air National Guard was represented by the 111th ASOS. Among those involved were: Lt Col Craig Blankenstein, Capt Dan Russ, Cpt Kelly Hazelton, TSgt Steve Nolan, SSgt Scott Oestringer, SSgt Billy Cardwell, SSgt Raymond Ng.
Finally, on a special note, and as a way of bringing U.S. armed forces stationed in that part of Japan closer to home, the Washington Air National Guard, in coordination with the Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW), provided 38 free VFW phone calling cards at a total value of nearly $400. These were distributed to Yokota Air Base Airmen during the YS 35 exercise. These are some of the same cards being distributed by the President and the Secretary of Defense in their visits to our troops overseas, intended for distribution to active duty service personnel stationed abroad.
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