GREGG K. KAKESAKO / GKAKESAKO@STARBULLETIN.COM Soldiers of the Japanese Ground Self Defense Force practiced techniques in clearing a house held by insurgents during a nearly monthlong training exercise at Schofield Barracks. This is the first time Hawaii Army National Guard soldiers served as mentors -- a role normally held by soldiers of the 25th Infantry Division. CLICK FOR LARGE

Hawaii Guard unit will go to Japan

Hawaii's retooled 299th Cavalry will train the ally's troops in Osaka in February

A unit of the Hawaii's Army National Guard that has been undergoing some major changes lately is headed for Japan next year as they help train 180 Japanese soldiers.

For the past four years, the training mission had been done by the active Army's 25th Infantry Division, but Maj. Gen. Bob Lee, who leads the Hawaii National Guard, said the job this year was given to 1st Squadron, 299th Cavalry. The unit took over the program this month and will be heading to Japan in February, and will be participating in the annual training exercise Yama Sakura at Camp Itami in Osaka.

The 299th, led by Lt. Col. Kenneth Hara, fought as an infantry unit in Iraq, but after it returned it was redesignated as a cavalry unit, which changes the way it will fight future battles.

Hara said that as an infantry unit -- the 2nd Battalion, 299th Infantry -- his soldiers were trained to find and destroy the enemy.

Now, as a cavalry unit, the mission of the 299th is just to find and report the whereabouts of the enemy so the two other infantry battalions of the Guard's 29th Brigade Combat team can destroy them.

"We now will have more listening and observation posts," Hara said.

Brig. Gen. Joe Chaves, who commands both the 29th Brigade and the Hawaii Army National Guard, said that by September , the 29th Brigade will evolve into to a leaner and more self-sustaining infantry unit.

GREGG K. KAKESAKO / GKAKESAKO@STARBULLETIN.COM Lt. Col. Kenneth Hara, commander of the Hawaii Army National Guard's 1st Squadron, 299th Cavalry, left, escorted Maj. Gen. Bob Lee, state adjutant general, and other U.S. and Japanese officers during a live-fire training exercise at Schofield Barracks last week. CLICK FOR LARGE

Hara said the 299th also was downsized under the reorganization -- dropping to about 430 soldiers from 560. The newly reorganized unit held its first active duty annual training session from Nov. 1 through tomorrow working with the Japanese soldiers.

"There were many similarities to our cultures," said Hara, "like taking off our slippers and shoes before we enter a home or eating with chopsticks. ... Those were the things that the Japanese soldiers really noticed."

During the sessions at Schofield Barracks, the training began first in the classroom and then gradually moved from the individual soldier to teams of four soldiers, then squads with nine soldiers, and a platoon of 40, Hara said.

Artillery officer 1st Lt. Wayne Anno said both the Japanese and Hawaii soldiers had to overcome the language barrier in the beginning.

"But these (Japanese) soldiers were the cream of the crop," Anno added. "I understand that these soldiers had to earn their way to the top to train here. ... They were in extremely good shape. They ran everyday from Area X (where the soldiers were housed) to the commissary and back. It was a good six miles."

Col. Tomei Mihara, who commanded the 1st Infantry Regiment of the 1st Division of the Japanese Ground Self Defense Force, said his soldiers not only learned technical military techniques, but also made international relationships that will help both Japan and the United States. Those relationships are expected to be renewed in February when the Hawaii soldiers train in Osaka.