ASAN, Guam (Oct. 24, 2016) – Units from the U.S. military and Japan Self-Defense Forces (JSDF) will conduct Exercise Keen Sword (KS) 17 beginning Oct. 30. Keen Sword is the largest joint, bilateral field training exercise between the U.S. military and the JSDF.
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The commander of U.S. Forces Japan and the chief of staff of the Japan Joint Staff will direct the exercise, which runs until Nov. 11. KS17 involves U.S. forces and the JSDF from all components of both militaries. The exercise is designed to increase combat readiness and interoperability within the framework of the U.S.-Japan alliance.
U.S. military personnel will participate in KS17, including those assigned to U.S. Forces Japan Headquarters, 5th Air Force, U.S. Naval Forces Japan, U.S. Army Japan, III Marine Expeditionary Force and 7th Fleet. The forces will conduct training with their JSDF counterparts at military installations throughout mainland Japan, Okinawa and in the air and waters surrounding Japan, Guam and Tinian.
Significant training activities during KS17 will include air and sea operations, integrated air and missile defense and ballistic missile defense in order to keep pace with the growing ballistic missile threat in the Indo-Asia-Pacific region.
The U.S. and Japan have conducted Keen Sword since 1986. [/restrict]