Representatives from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Japan Engineer District visited the Japan Ground Self Defense Force (JGSDF) Engineer School at Camp Katsuta, July 9, as part of a bilateral exchange program between JED and the Engineer School. The visit provides an occasion for the two unit commanders to meet and exchange ideas and mission-related information.
“This exchange program is important because it allows us to strengthen the alliance that the U.S. Forces has with the JGSDF and broadens our understanding of their mission,” said JED Commander Col. John Hurley. The visit provides us an opportunity to see first hand how they operate and to learn from some of their practices and experiences.”
Hurley attended the one-day visit, accompanied by Capt. Jean Claude Eyada, Kanagawa Resident Office project engineer; SSGT Jason Whitehouse, Kanagawa Resident Office construction representative; Andrew Constantaras, chief of Engineering and Construction Division; Bryan Naquin, assistant district counsel; Karl Hee, civil engineer and Yoshifumi Shindo, Bilateral Engagement Program coordinator, U.S. Army Japan and I Corps (Forward).
The event kicked off with welcome remarks by Engineer School Vice-Commandant Col. Hirotomo Arai, who provided a tour of the new school facility which was completed last year. The visit also included an office call with school leaders, a briefing about the Engineer School, group luncheon, question and answer session, heavy machinery tour, and a cultural introduction where JED members practiced writing Japanese calligraphy.
The next phase of the program will take place August 5 at Camp Zama when the Engineer School students visit JED and learn more about its mission.