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USNMRTC Yokosuka, Government of Japan, Japanese Self Defense Force, US Army, and US Air Force hone interoperability at Big Rescue Kanagawa

24 October 2023

From Gabriel Archer

U.S. Navy Medicine Readiness and Training Command (USNMRTC) Yokosuka, Government of Japan, Japanese Self Defense Force (JSDF) Ground and Maritime branches, U.S. Army and U.S. Air Force tested interoperability Oct. 15 while cementing partnership by participating in Big Rescue Kanagawa.
USNMRTC Yokosuka Executive Officer CAPT Gilliard meets with Prefectural Governor Honorable Mr. Yuji Kuroiwa during Big Rescue Kanagawa
USNMRTC Yokosuka Executive Officer CAPT Gilliard meets with Prefectural Governor Honorable Mr. Yuji Kuroiwa during Big Rescue Kanagawa
USNMRTC Yokosuka Executive Officer CAPT Gilliard meets with Prefectural Governor Honorable Mr. Yuji Kuroiwa during Big Rescue Kanagawa
231015-O-TE110-9794
USNMRTC Yokosuka Executive Officer CAPT Gilliard meets with Prefectural Governor Honorable Mr. Yuji Kuroiwa during Big Rescue Kanagawa
Photo By: Gabriel Archer
VIRIN: 231015-O-TE110-9794


In coordination with the Kanagawa Prefecture and Oi Town Government Offices, the annual event showcased the capabilities of Allied partners in the occurrence of a simulated natural disaster. Over 15 military, civil, prefectural, and local organizations participated. The event served as a stage for Allied forces, civilian governments, and commercial industries to reinforce their collective commitment to public safety, effective communication, and successful operations in the case of natural disaster. USNMRTC Yokosuka sent doctors, nurses, corpsman and a moulage team to heighten realism and to prepare simulated causalities. All Allied partners worked together to triage, treat, and process exercise participants within the disaster scenario.

"The Medical Service Unit of Yokosuka and JSDF Hospital Yokosuka sent doctors and Corpsmen to join the exercise. They worked together with U.S. Army, Navy, Air Force and Japanese civilian medical teams to provide care within this simulated disaster scenario. During this type of event, it is imperative to construct and maintain face-to-face relationships to facilitate the essential care needed. In this exercise, the partnership between the U.S. military and JSDF was demonstrated and strengthened. JSDF would like to continue to reinforce our joint-partnership and prepare for the challenges ahead together,” Rear Adm. Tsukazaki, Director of JSDF Hospital Yokosuka, Japan

USNMRTC Yokosuka Executive Officer CAPT Gilliard meets with Colonel Jeremy D. Johnson, Commanding Officer MEDDAC-Japan during Big Rescue Kanagawa
USNMRTC Yokosuka Executive Officer CAPT Gilliard meets with Colonel Jeremy D. Johnson, Commanding Officer MEDDAC-Japan during Big Rescue Kanagawa
JMSDF Sailors treat USNMRTC Yokosuka Sailor during Big Rescue Kanagawa mass causality exercise
JMSDF Sailors treat USNMRTC Yokosuka Sailor during Big Rescue Kanagawa mass causality exercise
JGSDF Solider and Medical Service Unit of Yokosuka physician escort a simulated causality from USNMRTC Yokosuka to an emergency tent during Big Rescue Kanagawa exercise
JGSDF Solider and Medical Service Unit of Yokosuka physician escort a simulated causality from USNMRTC Yokosuka to an emergency tent during Big Rescue Kanagawa exercise
JMSDF Sailors treat simulated causalities during the Big Rescue Kanagawa exercise
JMSDF Sailors treat simulated causalities during the Big Rescue Kanagawa exercise
USNMRTC Yokosuka Sailor surveys the actions of joint partners during the Big Rescue Kanagawa mass causality exercise
USNMRTC Yokosuka Sailor surveys the actions of joint partners during the Big Rescue Kanagawa mass causality exercise
USNMRTC Yokosuka works with US Army, US Air Force and Japanese civilian medical to treat simulated causality in Big Rescue Kanagawa exercise
USNMRTC Yokosuka works with US Army, US Air Force and Japanese civilian medical to treat simulated causality in Big Rescue Kanagawa exercise
Rear Adm. Tsukazaki, Director of JSDF Hospital Yokosuka, Japan exchanges pleasantries with USNMRTC Yokosuka Executive Officer CAPT Gilliard during Big Rescue Kanagawa
Rear Adm. Tsukazaki, Director of JSDF Hospital Yokosuka, Japan exchanges pleasantries with USNMRTC Yokosuka Executive Officer CAPT Gilliard during Big Rescue Kanagawa


“It was exciting to see the medical teams from the Army, Navy, and Air Force working in combined teams alongside our Japan Self Defense Force and civilian host nation medical partners to provide healthcare to the many simulated casualties at Big Rescue Kanagawa. This disaster drill significantly improved our interoperability with all participants and helped our Army medical team practice the skills that we will need for any future contingency operation.” Colonel Jeremy D. Johnson, Commanding Officer MEDDAC-Japan

“We are extremely pleased to be asked to one of Japan’s at largest rescue demonstrations this year,” said USNMRTC Yokosuka Commanding Officer CAPT T. Blair Hines. “From coordination to execution, this event serves to strengthen our interoperability and reinforce vital partnerships with our Allies in the local community and increase our joint readiness.”

USNMRTC Yokosuka provides healthcare services and ensures medical readiness to the INDO-PACIFIC area of responsibility covering nearly 9 million square kilometers (8,920,530.52 km²). Our organization serves over 337,000 operational forces, including the U.S. Seventh Fleet, III Marine Expeditionary Force, U.S. Forces Japan, Marine Corps Installations Pacific, U.S. Forces Korea in the Republic of Korea, and Military Sealift Command in Diego Garcia in the British Indian Ocean Territory. USNMRTC Yokosuka provides a vast array of healthcare to our service-members, families, and Allied Forces from primary and specialty medical care to dental services. USNMRTC Yokosuka leads the AOR with breakthrough performances in healthcare delivery Key Performance Indicators and consistently implements innovative programs to deliver specialty healthcare services efficiently across vast distances.
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