Japan Press Weekly

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2013 December 18 - 24 [US FORCES]

Yokota base holds practical parachute drills

At the U.S. Air Force Yokota Base which sprawls over six municipalities in western Tokyo, the U.S. military is conducting parachute landing training exercises under simulated conflict conditions.

The U.S. Forces Japan public relations department at the Yokota base said to Akahata, “These training exercises are very important to maintain the capability to immediately respond to an emergency in the Asia-Pacific region.”

In November, the Third Reconnaissance Battalion of the Third Marine Division stationed in Okinawa conducted parachute landing exercises at the Yokota base.

The prime mission of the battalion is to rush to the front line in the event of an emergency and gather information from behind enemy lines.

On the last day of the November training session, they conducted a parachute training exercise after sunset on the assumption of a landing operation conducted under the cover of darkness.

The Yokota base is playing a role as a major training site for troops before being sent on assault mission, Akahata pointed out.