Bilateral exercise Keen Edge 12 set to begin

The exercise, which will run until 27 January, is the latest in a series of joint/bilateral command post exercises involving U.S. military and Japan Self Defense Forces (JSDF) personnel designed to increase combat readiness and interoperability of U.S. forces and JSDF.

KEEN EDGE has historically been part of an annual exercise series that alternates between field training exercises (called KEEN SWORD) and command post exercises. During KEEN EDGE 12, various Japanese and U.S. headquarters staffs will employ computer simulations to practice the steps they would take in the event of a crisis or contingency.

Command post exercises are a cost-effective way of providing military participants with realistic and unobtrusive training in a simulated crisis. Exercise participants will use a computer-based system, called the Joint Theater Level Simulation (JTLS) system, to direct and respond to exercise events. This system helps provide a realistic, though simulated, environment from which commanders and staffs improve their skills by anticipating and reacting in real time to events generated by computer simulation.

Approximately 1380 Japan personnel will participate in KEEN EDGE 12, including those assigned to Internal bureau, Joint Staff ,Ground self defense force, Maritime self defense force, Air self defense force, Intelligence Headquarters, Japan Self Defense Force C4 system Command, Japan Self Defense Force Intelligence Security Command (Para) The exercise will be directed by U.S. Air Force Lieutenant General Burton Field, Commander, U.S. Forces, Japan, and Japan Ground Self Defense Force Gen. Ryoichi Oriki, Chief of Staff, Joint Staff.