USMC Hosts Press at 155mm Howitzer Live Firing Exercises

February 3, 2006

Hijudai, Oita - The Third Marine Division, 12th Marine Regiment, 3rd Battalion held a media day at the Japan Self Defense Forces (JSDF) training site in Hijudai (Oita Prefecture) where it was conducting 155mm howitzer live-firing exercises January 30 to February 10. Battalion Commander Lt. Col Studdard, Marine Public Affairs specialists from Okinawa and public affairs staff from the Consulate joined to give the journalists a comprehensive explanation on why the training was being held in Hijudai, what safety precautions were being taken, how the guns were fired, and daily life on the test range.