Ceremony kicks off Orient Shield 2011 in Japan

By Sgt. Charlie Helmholt, 139th Mobile Public Affairs DetachmentOctober 20, 2011

Welcome Ceremony
1 / 5 Show Caption + Hide Caption – Soldiers of the 3rd Battalion, 141st Infantry Regiment, headquartered out of Weslaco, Texas, marched onto Kita-Fuji Training Area, Japan, as Japan Ground Self-Defense Force soldiers applauded their entrance to the bi-lateral Orient Shield exercise be... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
Welcome Ceremony
2 / 5 Show Caption + Hide Caption – Soldiers of the 3rd Battalion, 141st Infantry Regiment headquartered out of Weslaco, Texas, marched with their flags during a parade, which the Japan Ground Self Defense Force applauded their entrance on to Kita-Fuji Training Area, Japan, on Oct. 11,... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
Welcome Ceremony
3 / 5 Show Caption + Hide Caption – Soldiers of the 3rd Battalion, 141st Infantry Regiment, headquartered out of Weslaco, Texas, and the Japan Ground Self Defense Force salute the colors during the Orient Shield 11 opening ceremony at Kita-Fuji Training Area, Japan, Oct. 11, 2011. Orie... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
Welcome Ceremony
4 / 5 Show Caption + Hide Caption – Col. Kazumasa Ishii speaks to the 3rd Battalion, 141st Infantry Regiment, headquartered out of Weslaco, Texas, and the Japan Ground Self Defense Forces during the Orient Shield 11 opening ceremony at Kita-Fuji Training Area, Japan, Oct. 11, 2011. Sin... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
Welcome Ceremony
5 / 5 Show Caption + Hide Caption – 1st Lt. Harold H. Fullmer, with G Company, 3rd Battalion, 141st Infantry Regiment, headquartered out of Weslaco, Texas, was introduced to his Japan Ground Self-Defense Force counterpart for the Orient Shield exercise at Kita-Fuji Training Area, Japan... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL

KITA-FUJI TRAINING AREA, Japan, Oct. 20, 2011 -- Soldiers from the Texas National Guard, 3rd Battalion, 141st Infantry Regiment out of Weslaco, Texas, joined with Japan Ground Self Defense Force soldiers from the Eastern Army 1st Division, 1st Infantry Regiment, in a ceremony that initiated the annual bi-lateral combined arms training dubbed Orient Shield 2011.

The ceremony began as the Texas National Guard Soldiers marched to the parade field while members of the Japan Ground Self Defense Force, or JGSDF, lined the streets and applauded.

Lt. Col. Clarence J. Henderson, commander of the 3rd Bn. 141st Inf. Reg., spoke of the similarities between the two forces.

Both units share a civil support role to our perspective nations in addition to our dedication to combat readiness, said Henderson.

Col. Kazumasa Ishii commander of the JGSDF members expressed his gratitude for the support of the nearby communities, and focused on the mutual benefits of this training.

Henderson concluded the ceremony in saying, "The men of the 3rd Battalion, 141st Infantry Regiment, stand before you today to promote our enduring relationships, goodwill, and mutual understanding in order to improve and sustain our bi-lateral operations. Thank you for this opportunity. Now let's go train!"

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