DA requests budget for creating new SDF unit to exclusively engage in overseas operations

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DA requests budget for creating new SDF unit to exclusively engage in overseas operations

The Defense Agency proposed the creation of a 700-member Ground Self-Defense unit provisionally called "Central Readiness Regiment" in its FY 2007 budget request submitted on August 31. The unit will be placed at GSDF Utsunomiya Garrison in Tochigi Prefecture.

The regiment is the first SDF unit designed to be exclusively engaged in overseas operations, and will become the core unit of the GSDF Central Readiness Group that will be established by next March.

The Central Readiness Group Command that will command all GSDF activities abroad will be placed at the GSDF Asaka Garrison in Tokyo and Saitama Prefecture, but will be relocated to U.S. Army Camp Zama in Kanagawa Prefecture by the end of FY 2012 in accordance with the Japan-U.S. agreement on realignment of U.S. forces in Japan.
- Akahata, September 2, 2006