PHILIPPINE SEA (NNS) – Personnel from the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force (JMSDF) embarked the aircraft carrier USS Ronald Reagan (CVN 76), June 16 - 23.

While embarked aboard Reagan, JMSDF and Destroyer Squadron (DESRON) 15 participated in bilateral training increasing interoperability between their units.

“By sailing and training together we can learn procedures needed for improving operational as well as tactical interoperability in planning and executing processes,” said Captain Koji Saito, Commander, Escort Division Two.

The bilateral training included integrating JMSDF and DESRON 15 personnel in carrier strike group support training and an anti-submarine warfare exercise.

“The anti-submarine warfare exercise was valuable training which wouldn’t have happened that without our JMSDF counterparts,” said Lt. Casey Veronie, the DESRON 15 lead for theater engagement. “Our goal for the post-Malabar training was to increase JMSDF integration into the Ronald Reagan Strike Group composite warfare commander construct; specifically the sea combat commander.”

The JMSDF and U.S. Navy conduct bilateral training exercises yearly increasing the maritime forces interoperability in the Indo-Pacific region.

The JMSDF personnel embarked Ronald Reagan in the beginning of Malabar 2018 in which the two maritime forces participated with the Indian navy.

"Conducting combined operations with our JMSDF allies strengthens our partnership at sea and strengthens the alliance between our nations,” said Capt. Jon Duffy, commodore, DESRON 15. ”Our forward-deployed presence in the Indo-Pacific region alongside the JMSDF is crucial to being able to conduct maritime operations in this part of the world. Operating and training with our JMSDF counterparts increases both of our navies' readiness to conduct a range of tasks at sea."

The Ronald Reagan Strike Group is forward-deployed to the U.S. 7th Fleet area of operations in the support of security and stability in the Indo-Pacific region.