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Marines

Photo Information

Japanese Ground Self-Defense Force Sgt. Akito Yagi attaches vegetation to his sniper rifle while performing stalking drills during Forest Light 16-1 at Camp Imazu, Takashima, Japan, Sept. 10, 2015. The Marines sat up on a high embankment, trying to catch the JGSDF stalking the target with binoculars. Forest Light is a semiannual, bilateral exercise consisting of a command post exercise and multiple field training events, conducted by elements of III Marine Expeditionary Force and the JGSDF. Yagi is a sniper with 50th Infantry Regiment, 14th Brigade.

Photo by Cpl. Devon Tindle

The silent over watch: JGSDF, Marines fire snipers at Forest Light 16-1

16 Sep 2015 | Cpl. Devon Tindle III Marine Expeditionary Force

Japanese Ground Self-Defense Force Members and U.S. Marines fired sniper rifles and practiced stalking techniques during Forest Light 16-1 at Camp Imazu, Takashima, Japan, Sept. 9-11, 2015.

 Forest Light is a semiannual, bilateral exercise consisting of a command post exercise and multiple field training events, conducted by elements of III Marine Expeditionary Force and the JGSDF.

In the training the JGSDF received from the Marines the JGSDF learned about concealment and stalking, according to JGSDF Sgt. Akito Yagi, a sniper with 50th Infantry Regiment, 14th Brigade.

“We learned a lot from the USMC, and we are grateful for the generosity they show towards us,” said Yagi. “They came here and showed us more in depth bout how to conceal ourselves, how to get closer to the enemy by stalking a target, and breath control for long distance shots on the range.”

Coming to other countries helps the sniper unit become familiar with how other countries perform sniper techniques, according to Lance Cpl. Kyle Frey, a sniper with 1st Battalion, 2nd Marine Regiment, currently assigned to 4th Marine Regiment, 3rd Marine Division, III Marine Expeditionary Force.

“There is always room to advance, so learning from other people and how they conduct training is a huge benefit to us and our training,” said Frey, from Elverson, Pennsylvania. 

Friendships have been made between the snipers of both countries, according to Frey.

“Coming out to the range is always fun, the JGSDF are very proficient at how they shoot, and we got to shoot beside them and have a little bit of a friendly competition,” said Frey. “It’s been really fun, and I hope I get to come back and train with such great people again.”


III Marine Expeditionary Force