OI, Japan—On October 15 United States Navy Medicine Readiness and Training Command (USNMRTC) Yokosuka, Government of Japan, Japanese Self Defense Force (JSDF) Ground and Maritime branches, United States Army and United States Air Force tested interoperability while cementing partnership by participating in Big Rescue Kanagawa. 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

“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.