02.19.2019
Video by Daisuke Sato
Narration:
Emergency services personnel from the Kanagawa Prefecture Police, South Kanto Defense Bureau, Kanagawa Prefectural Government, Zama City, and U.S. Army Garrison Japan recently conducted the first-ever U.S.-Japan Joint field drill, based on U.S.-Japan guidelines regarding off-base U.S. military aircraft accidents in Japan, at the bed of the Sagami River near Camp Zama.
Interview: Keiichi Kamoshita, Superintendent, Crisis Management Division, Kanagawa Prefectural Police Headquarters
When an incident like today's occurs and you have an accident scene, the mission to save lives always comes first. In order for us to do that, we need to ensure cooperation between the relevant organizations on both the U.S. and Japan side, and that includes sharing information promptly and working together on rescue operations. One of our goals with today's exercise is to make sure each relevant organization from the U.S. and Japan understands their role and is able to share that necessary information and take the appropriate measures.
Narration:
The exercise included numerous drills in which both the U.S. and Japan personnel demonstrated their proficiency at fire extinguishment, rescue operations, setting up a command post, and other on-scene coordination. The drill also helped assess the participants’ ability to handle a variety of emergency scenarios jointly.
Interview: Mayor Mikio Endo, Zama City
Last year and the year before, we had a few fire incidents both on and off Camp Zama, and both Camp Zama and Zama City firefighters worked together to extinguish the fires at both scenes. I think that was a result of both departments’ constant effort to maintain a good working relationship on a daily basis. Even in today’s drill, I was able to see their great cooperation in action. I strongly believe that Zama City and the U.S. Army have a great relationship.
Narration:
The U.S.-Japan guidelines regarding off-base U.S. military aircraft accidents in Japan was implemented in 2005 to ensure all affected agencies understand the relevant rules and roles in the event of a downed aircraft, or if there are injuries involved.
Reporting for U.S. Army Garrison Japan Public Affairs,
