HAYAMA, Japan—On October 16 United States Navy Medical Readiness and Training Command (USNMRTC) Yokosuka, Government of Japan, Japanese Self Defense Force (JSDF) Ground and Maritime branches and the United States Army participated in Big Rescue Kanagawa. This annual joint event, coordinated by the Kanagawa Prefecture and Hayama Town Government Offices, showcases the capabilities of civilian, military, and allied partners in the event of a natural disaster. USNMRTC Yokosuka doctors, nurses, Corpsmen, and interpreters worked in concert with event participants to triage, treat, and process simulated casualties. The cooperative nature of this exercise allowed those from disparate disciplines, backgrounds, and cultures to come together to promote readiness.

"Thank you for your team's participation in Big Rescue Kanagawa 2022,” said Honorable Yuji Kuroiwa, Governor of Kanagawa Prefecture. “Although it had been three years since the last one, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, we had a very good training with 145 organizations participating. In this training, I felt technology had advanced in the three years, for instance there were different types of drones flying above us and under water too. Technology and human power were moving forward in unity to save lives. I witnessed the Police, Fire, Coast Guard, Self-Defense Forces, U.S. Army, U.S. Navy, civilian organizations, citizens, and volunteers come together and become huge, comprehensive force."

"It was our great honor to co-host Big Rescue Kanagawa 2022 in Hayama Town and welcome participants and observers from all over Kanagawa Prefecture,” said Honorable Takahito Yamanashi, Mayor of Hayama. “I am so grateful to all who participated for a successful drill. This drill was a great opportunity to prepare, review, and showcase how our organizations interoperate with each other. Let us maintain the connections we made through this drill, remember how we trained together, fully utilize the available technologies, and keep doing our best for the communities we serve."



“The US Army Medical Department Activity (MEDDAC)-Japan was very happy to participate in Big Rescue Kanagawa. Our medical team worked hand in hand with our Japanese neighbors during this simulated disaster drill. We participate in these events in a spirit of cooperation with our local prefecture" said Colonel Jeremy D. Johnson, Commanding Officer MEDDAC-Japan. "These events help us build connections and interoperability with the local Japanese emergency services teams so that we are ready to work together should we face a future disaster here in Japan.”

“This event serves as a platform for Allied forces, civilian governments, and commercial industries to reinforce our collective commitment to public safety, effective communication, and successful operations in the case of natural disaster,” said Captain T. Blair Hines, Commanding Officer USNMRTC Yokosuka. “These joint medical drills reinforce vital partnerships with Allies in our local community and the broader area of operation.”

USNMRTC Yokosuka is the largest Military Treatment Facility in the Indo-Pacific area of responsibility, serving over 46,000 operational forces, and supports Seventh Fleet commands; III Marine Expeditionary Force assigned to mainland Japan; USFK in South Korea; and Military Sealift Command in Diego Garcia in the Indian Ocean. USNMRTC Yokosuka provides a vast array of services to our service-members from primary and specialty care to dental. USNMRTC Yokosuka leads the AOR with breakthrough performance in healthcare delivery Key Performance Indicators and consistently implements innovative programs to deliver specialty healthcare services efficiently across vast distances.