CAMP HANSEN, Okinawa, Japan --
Warrant
Officer Yoshiaki Suzuki, the sergeant major of the Japan Ground Self-Defense
Force, and eight other top enlisted soldiers, including command sergeants major
from units throughout the JGSDF participated in the Japan Observer Exchange
Program Jan. 21-24 at the Staff Noncommissioned Officer Academy on Camp Hansen.
“The senior enlisted
of the Japan Ground Self-Defense Force have an interest in how we develop,
shape and mold our enlisted Marines into enlisted leaders,” said Sgt. Maj.
Anthony Cruz Jr., the director of SNCOA, Okinawa. “We put together a leadership
package to instruct and train them (how the Corps teaches its enlisted
Marines).”
This is part of a
larger effort to strengthen cooperation between SNCOA Okinawa and the JGSDF in
order to enhance the combined efforts between the U.S. and Japan.
This is the first time
the SNCOA has presented a syllabus like this to the JGSDF, according to Cruz.
The training will now take place annually, and it will be briefed to the
commandant of the Marine Corps, who has expressed his interest.
“We have two academic
days planned, and we also have two administrative days,” said Staff Sgt. Andy
Hurt, the faculty development coordinator with SNCOA Okinawa. “We present a
curriculum here that’s based off contemporary leadership topics that we put together
with (the JGSDF’s) input and feedback from other evolutions like this.”
The topics ranged from
the Marine Corps’ enlisted education to value-based leadership and even combat
fitness. The instructors informed the sergeants major on how the Marine Corps
approached various leadership matters, and in turn asked how they would
approach each of those situations using slides, demonstrations, group
activities and discussions.
“We were able to see
the difference in how the Japanese and Marines handle certain issues, as well
as some of the ideologies that the Marines have,” said Suzuki. “It was great to
see how much enthusiasm and confidence our instructors had in teaching us.”
The program was not
just an opportunity for the JGSDF to develop, but for the Marine Corps to
develop as well, according to Cruz.
“I look at it as an
opportunity to continue to build and nourish our relationship with the
Japanese,” said Cruz.
Hurt and the other
instructors emphasized that while conducting this course, it was important for
them to maintain humility while sharing this leadership package with the JOEP
participants.
“We’re not here to
impose our will onto another service; it’s quite the contrary,” said Hurt,
expressing how fortunate he and the other instructors felt, working with the
JGSDF sergeants major. “That’s the best part of working with a foreign military
– coming together and sharing points of view and strengthening what makes each
service unique.”
Go to
www.youtube.com/3MEFcpao for video coverage of the event.