The United States and Japan have wrapped up on a week’s worth of training exercises and tensions seem to be winding down in Korea.
The drills, dubbed “Keen Sword”, took place on military sites and in the surrounding waters of mainland Japan and the island of Okinawa. They involved about 40,000 troop, 400 aircraft and 60 ships from both the U.S. and Japanese military.
Together they focused on air and missile defense, base security, maritime defense, and search & rescue operations. It was the largest bilateral field training exercise between the United States and Japan and the tenth to take place since 1986.
Since this comes so soon after the incident in Korea with the North attacking the South and the South’s retaliation, the politicians were pretty quick to point out that this drill was “not directed at any nation. Rather, it was intended to practice and evaluate the procedures needed to respond to the defense of Japan or a regional crisis.”
Of course, politicians can say whatever they think they should say to save face and try to keep the peace, but the military is already doing that for them.
Our presence in that part of the world is a large deterrent from a full-scale conflict breaking out around there. We need to keep ourselves sharp in case a conflict does arise, and with recent events and someone like Kim Jong-il still in power, we need to be ready to respond.
As a future fighter pilot, training and preparation are things that should be on your mind all of the time, whether it’s preparing your package for a recruiter or accomplishing your mission at the moment.
You can implement your own “training exercises” at any time. With what you learn on the Afterburner Club, you can prepare yourself physically and mentally, not only to get the flight slot that you deserve, but also to accomplish your mission and support your team after you get there.
Tyler Guess says
What is it going to take for north and south Korea to ease tensions and turn over their leadership to someone that is not so dictated?
Cole says
I dont think there is any way other than a war that will change north korea
Keith says
I feel that our presence in the area is the strongest deterrence we have at our disposal. By the United States conducting military operations in an area within close striking distance to North Korea, I hope that N. Korea comes to reality and realizes the consequences they may face for their actions. Hopefully the relationship between China and N. Korea will help to ease the tensions, but then again, they are both Communist. Someone needs to put a lid on Kim Jong-il before its too late. He has already gotten away with enough.
Tyler Guess says
Yes its all true yall just have to remember our military is every where working to keep tensions at its lowest. Not just korea we have alot to hold under our belt for what the u.s. Has been built upon and all those we have helped and defend against those that trespass against us. War with korea means were in war too.