Lance Cpl. James Troupe, right, from Los Lunas, N.M., a marksmanship coach with 3rd Marine Logistics Group, demonstrates a firing position for Japan Ground Self-Defense Force troops at the Camp Kinser Indoor Simulator Marksmanship Trainer facility Wednesday. (Cindy Fisher / S&S)
Lance Cpl. James Troupe, right, from Los Lunas, N.M., a marksmanship coach with 3rd Marine Logistics Group, demonstrates a firing position for Japan Ground Self-Defense Force troops at the Camp Kinser Indoor Simulator Marksmanship Trainer facility Wednesday. (Cindy Fisher / S&S)
Staff Sgt. Jeffery Wagner, center, from Ashley, Mich., a tactics instructor with 3rd Marine Logistics Group, makes sure that a Japan Ground Self-Defense Force servicemember has engaged the safety features on an M-16A4 at the Indoor Simulator Marksmanship Trainer facility at Camp Kinser on Wednesday. (Cindy Fisher / S&S)
Lance Cpl. James Troupe, from Los Lunas, N.M., a marksmanship coach with 3rd Marine Logistics Group, demonstrates how to fire on the rifle qualification course at Camp Kinser's Indoor Simulator Marksmanship Trainer facility Wednesday. (Cindy Fisher / S&S)
Staff Sgt. Jeffery Wagner, from Ashley, Mich., a tactics instructor with 3rd Marine Logistics Group, explains the capabilities of the M-16A4 to Japan Ground Self-Defense troops. (Cindy Fisher / S&S)
CAMP KINSER, Okinawa — Marines gave visiting Japanese troops a taste of marksmanship training Wednesday on Camp Kinser.
The 24 members of the Japan Ground Self-Defense Force visited the 3rd Marine Logistics Group’s Indoor Simulator Marksmanship Trainer facility as part of the Japanese Observer Exchange Program.
Marines explained the capabilities and safety features of the M-16A4 and the M-249, then demonstrated the courses of fire for Marine Corps rifle qualification.
The ISMT is a tool that “re-familiarizes Marines to the standards before the issue of live ammo,” said Staff Sgt. Jeffery Wagner, 38, from Ashley, Mich., a tactics instructor for the group.
Japanese servicemembers also had the chance to fire the M-16A2 and M-16A4 rifle simulators.
The visitors will take what they learn here and apply it to their own training, said Japanese Maj. Hideyuki Kawasaki.
He said that in the Japanese marksmanship simulator facility where he trains, soldiers mostly focus on marksmanship, so it was interesting to see how much focus the Marine instructors put on safety controls.
Wagner said he also found the experience interesting.
The Japanese servicemembers were “attentive. They’re alert. … You can see it,” he said.
