Soldiers from the 441st Military Intelligence arrive at their checkpoint to start a training scenario at Camp Fuji, Japan on Tuesday. (Christopher B. Stoltz / S&S)
Soldiers from the 441st Military Intelligence arrive at their checkpoint to start a training scenario at Camp Fuji, Japan on Tuesday. (Christopher B. Stoltz / S&S)
Pfc. Emmanuel Martinez moves to the training point at Camp Fuji, Japan on Tuesday. (Christopher B. Stoltz / S&S)
Staff Sgt. Kenneth Simpson, role plays as the "mayor" of his town and waits in a building for fellow "citizens" to arrive at Camp Fuji, Japan on Tuesday. (Christopher B. Stoltz / S&S)
Staff Sgt. Kenneth Simpson, role playing as "mayor" of his town, talks through a scenario with Pfc. Daniel Coffman and Pfc. Steven Freeman in a building at Camp Fuji, Japan on Tuesday. (Christopher B. Stoltz / S&S)
From left, Knego Akiyama, 2nd Lt. Richard Maloof of the 441st Military Intelligence and Masaka Yazawa watch a video monitor during training at Camp Fuji on Tuesday. (Christopher B. Stoltz / S&S)
Army Staff Sgt. Kenneth Simpson is the mayor, and his town resembles a war zone.
His “citizens” wear ragged clothing while wandering the streets, passing buildings with windows blown out.
The 441st Military Intelligence Battalion from Camp Zama infiltrated the “town” this week during an exercise at one of Camp Fuji’s Japanese compounds.
“This setting is supposed to mimic what the current environment looks like,” said Lt. Col. John Haynicz, commander of the 441st MIB.
Simpson, an instructor for the 441st MIB, took on the mayoral role to test soldiers in tactical questioning, liaison meeting and information gathering. Finding out what intelligence a new soldier will ask for and what he should be asking for are key components to the exercise.
The training helps the newer troops understand the difficulties they may face in Iraq and other countries to which they deploy, said Capt. Robert Peters, who set up the event.
“The foundation is set for future endeavors,” he said.
The new facility is equipped with video cameras that can record almost every aspect of the training, giving soldiers instant feedback, Peters said.
