1st Amphibious Rapid Deployment Regiment

1st Amphibious Rapid Deployment Regiment File:WAIR Camp Ainoura Patch.jpg 300 WAIR Camp Ainoura patch March 27, 2002 March 27, 2018 Japan Japan Marines ~ 680 Amphibious Rapid Deployment Brigade Sasebo, Nagasaki Colonel Yoshiyuki Gotō Colonel Akira Kurosawahttp://www.dvidshub.net/news/65533/coronado-hosts-japanese-amphibious-training#.UvYyVH3LfK4 https://archive.today/20140208133421/http://www.dvidshub.net/news/65533/coronado-hosts-japanese-amphibious-training%23.UvYyVH3LfK4 Coronado hosts Japanese amphibious training Corporal Elyssa Quesada 2014-02-08 2014-02-08 Defense Video & Imagery Distribution System WAIR Iraqi occupation The 1st Amphibious Rapid Deployment Regiment (ja 第1水陸機動連隊 Dai-ichi Suiriku Kidō Rentai), formerly known as the Western Army Infantry Regiment (ja 西部方面普通科連隊 Seibu Hōmen Futsū-ka Rentai), is a Japanese light infantry regiment that specializes in amphibious operations. Its main purpose is to defend remote islands in Japanese territorial waters,https://archive.today/20140208121758/http://ajw.asahi.com/article/behind_news/politics/AJ201210280056 http://ajw.asahi.com/article/behind_news/politics/AJ201210280056 GSDF wants amphibious capabilities of U.S. Marines 2012-02-08 2014-02-08 The Asahi Shimbun 2012-10-28 Fumiaki Sonoyama specifically in the Kyushu region and south, including the islands of Okinawa prefecture.https://web.archive.org/web/20051201110156/http://www5f.biglobe.ne.jp/~sbu/DATABASE-JAPAN.htm http://www5f.biglobe.ne.jp/~sbu/DATABASE-JAPAN.htm WAiR （ワイアー）：陸上自衛隊西部方面普通科連隊 2005-12-01 2005-12-01 Japanese Although it is designated a regiment, it is comparable to a typical infantry battalion in size. In April 2018, a new brigade modeled along the lines of the US Marine Corps was activated within the JGSDF, designated the Amphibious Rapid Deployment Brigade. When the new brigade was fully formed, and all troops and equipment assigned, the WAIR was reorganized into the 1st Amphibious Rapid Deployment Regiment under the brigade's command. The regiment is based at Sasebo in Nagasaki prefecture, in proximity to the large naval base there.http://www.asahi.com/english/TKY201008310245.html https://archive.today/20140208140529/http://www.asahi.com/english/TKY201008310245.html GSDF 'Marines' planned to defend isles The Asahi Shimbun 2014-02-08 2014-02-08 2010-09-01 Takateru Doi History thumb|left|A WAIR soldier holds his binoculars while kneeling on the ground during a training mission with US Marines in Camp Pendleton. The WAIR was created on March 27, 2002, in order to defend remote islands in the western part of Japan in case of an invasion or enemy attacks, although they are also mandated to assist in search and rescue efforts in case their assistance is needed.http://www.clearing.mod.go.jp/hakusho_data/2002/column/frame/ak143005.htm https://archive.today/20140208134405/http://www.clearing.mod.go.jp/hakusho_data/2002/column/frame/ak143005.htm ja:西部方面普通科連隊の新編 Japanese Ministry of Defense 2014-02-08 2014-02-08 Japanese It consists of Ranger-trained JGSDF soldiers and at the initial formation, it consisted of 600 soldiers. In August 2010, a proposal was being considered by the Japanese government to convert a conventional [battalion strength] regiment from either the 8th Division or the 15th Brigade into a "US-style" amphibious unit,https://archive.today/20140208133135/http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/world/japan/15b.htm%23 http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/world/japan/15b.htm# 15th Brigade 2014-02-08 2014-02-08 Global Securityhttps://archive.today/20140208120742/http://jsw.newpacificinstitute.org/?p=2577 http://jsw.newpacificinstitute.org/?p=2577 It's official: Japan is getting Marines Kyle Mizokami 2014-02-08 2014-02-08 New Pacific Institute effectively giving the Western Army a battalion of marines for dealing with contingencies. In 2011, WAIR soldiers were trained alongside the 11th Marine Expeditionary Unit.https://www.11thmeu.marines.mil/News/News-Article-Display/Article/533595/coronado-hosts-japanese-amphibious-training/ Coronado hosts Japanese amphibious training In 2013, troops from the Western Army Infantry Regiment deployed from the JS Hyuga and JS Shimokita for an amphibious warfare exercise in California.https://archive.today/20140208120241/http://nation.time.com/2013/04/25/japanese-invasion-fleet-heads-for-california-then-where/ https://nation.time.com/2013/04/25/japanese-invasion-fleet-heads-for-california-then-where/ Japanese Invasion Fleet Heads For California — Then Where? Spitzer Kirk 25 April 2013 2014-02-08 Battlefield Time live 25 April 2013 Possible sister unit thumb|right|WAIR soldiers lift inflatable rafts during a training exercise alongside a US Marine, who is serving as their Japanese interpreter. As of June 2013, as part of an ongoing expansion of defense capabilities in the Western Army's area of responsibility, the MOD were considering creating a special "isle assault unit", whose role would be the recapture of remote Japanese islands that had been invaded by a foreign power.https://archive.today/20140208120448/http://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2013/06/13/national/special-sdf-isle-assault-unit-in-works/%23.UvYdTn3LfK4 http://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2013/06/13/national/special-sdf-isle-assault-unit-in-works/ Special SDF isle assault unit in works The Japan Times 2014-02-08 2014-02-08 2013-06-13 It would share this mission with the pre-existing Western Army Infantry Regiment, itself currently undergoing an expansion in manpower and equipment (e.g. increase in authorised strength to 680 effectives, & adding (initially 4) AAVP-7A1's to its TOE). Equipment for the new unit on the other hand, may ultimately include the Type 16 maneuver combat vehicle and the light-weight combat vehicle (LCV) system alongside MV-22 Ospreys.https://archive.today/20140208135743/http://thediplomat.com/2013/06/japan-might-create-island-assault-unit/ https://thediplomat.com/2013/06/japan-might-create-island-assault-unit/ Japan Might Create Island Assault Unit 2014-02-08 2014-02-08 The Diplomat Zachary Keck 2013-06-15 Its growth is part of the National Defense Programme Guidelines that were adopted by the Japanese Government in order to ascertain the JGSDF's capabilities in amphibious warfare in defending its islands in case of a future war involving Japan, which can bolster the Japanese–American military alliance.http://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2013/08/01/national/nations-troops-long-way-from-hitting-the-beaches-experts-2/ https://archive.today/20140208141156/http://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2013/08/01/national/nations-troops-long-way-from-hitting-the-beaches-experts-2/%23.UvY63X3LfK4 Nation's troops long way from hitting the beaches: experts The Japan Times 2014-02-08 2014-02-08 Ayako Mie & Mizuho Aoki August 2013 When mustered, the new unit together with the WAIR would form a major part of the Western Army's first response to a hostile incursion in the more remote parts of its AOR. New parent unit Amphibious Rapid Deployment Brigade In early September 2015, plans for the creation of the new unit, now referred to as the Amphibious Rapid Deployment Brigade Record defense budget request shifts focus to islands closest to China http://ajw.asahi.com/article/behind_news/politics/AJ201509010032 1 September 2015 The Asahi Shimbun 2 September 2015 were confirmed. The new unit was planned to be stood up by the end of FY2017, with a training corps to be set up in the interim (by the end of FY2016).Asia Times As part of this plan, around 300 WAIR soldiers were sent to Camp Pendleton for direct training with US Marines in 2016.Fuentes, Gidget U.S. Marines Teach Japanese Forces How to Fight From the Sea in Expanded Iron Fist Exercise January 25, 2016 USNI News Retrieved December 11, 2016 The new marine brigade (ARDB) was established on March 27, 2018, and is commanded by Major General Shinichi Aoki.https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2018/04/08/national/ground-self-defense-force-marines-debut-much-preparatory-work-remains-done/#.XOJlIqRS-Uk Japan's new marines make their debut, but much preparatory work remains to be done 8 April 2018 https://web.archive.org/web/20180408153417/https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2018/04/08/national/ground-self-defense-force-marines-debut-much-preparatory-work-remains-done/#.Wso2i1mnyUk 2018-04-08 Training Potential recruits for WAIR must be Ranger-qualified before they are accepted. Once in the unit, WAIR soldiers are trained in reconnaissance, survival skills and techniques. Equipment WAIR forces were equipped with light infantry weapons, including mortars and Japanese-made military trucks such as the Mitsubishi Type 73.http://news.usni.org/2013/10/09/japans-amphibious-buildup https://archive.today/20140208140418/http://news.usni.org/2013/10/09/japans-amphibious-buildup Japan's Amphibious Buildup 2014-02-08 2014-02-08 2013-10-19 Kyle Mizokami USNI News For current equipment see under: Amphibious Rapid Deployment Brigade. References Category:Japan Ground Self-Defense Force Regiments Category:Military units and formations established in 2002 Category:Military units and formations disestablished in 2018 Category:Japan in the Iraq War