Western Army Infantry Regiment

Western Army Infantry Regiment Seibu Hōmen Futsū-ka Rentai
WAIR on the deck of USS Makin Island (LHD 8)
Active	2002 - Present
Country	Japan
Branch	Japan Ground Self-Defense Force
Type	Light Infantry
Role	Amphibious operations
Size	~ 680
Part of	Western Army
Garrison/HQ	Sasebo, Nagasaki
Nickname(s)	WAIR
Commanders
Current commander	Colonel Akira Kurosawa

The Western Army Infantry Regiment (西部方面普通科連隊 Seibu Hōmen Futsū-ka Rentai), is a battalion sized Japanese light infantry regiment that specializes in amphibious operations. Its main purpose is to defend remote islands in Japanese territorial waters, specifically to the Kyushu region, including Okinawa. The regiment is based at Sasebo in Nagasaki.

History

A WAIR soldier holds his binoculars while kneeling on the ground during a training mission with US Marines in Camp Pendleton.

The WAIR was created on March 27, 2002 in order to defend remote islands n the western part of Japan in case of an invasion or enemy attacks, although they are also mandated to assist in search and rescue efforts in case their assistance is needed. It consists of Ranger-trained JGSDF soldiers and at the initial formation, it consisted of 600 soldiers. The regiment is created by using the US Marine Corp as a basis.

In August 2010, a proposal was being considered by the then Japanese government to convert a conventional [battalion strength] regiment from either the 8th Division or the 15th Brigade into a "US-style" amphibious unit, effectively giving the Western Army a battalion of marines for dealing with contingencies. However, the JGSDF doesn't plan to increase its numbers significantly in order to avoid any hostile tensions with its Asian neighbors, especially since having a marine unit is considered to be an offensive unit.

In 2013, troops from the Western Army Infantry Regiment deployed from the JS Hyuga and JS Shimokita for an amphibious warfare exercise in California.

Possible sister unit

The training of soldiers.

The training of soldiers.

As of June 2013, as part of an ongoing expansion of defense capabilities in the Western Army's area of responsibility, the MOD were considering creating a special "isle assault unit", whose role would be the recapture of remote Japanese islands that had been invaded by a foreign power. It would share this mission with the pre-existing Western Army Infantry Regiment, itself currently undergoing an expansion in manpower and equipment (e.g. increase in authorised strength to 680 effectives, & adding (initially 4) AAVP-7A1's to its TOE). Equipment for the new unit on the other hand, may ultimately include the Maneuver Combat Vehicle and the Light-weight Combat Vehicle (LCV) System alongside MV-22 Ospreys.

Its growth is part of the National Defense Programme Guidelines that were adopted by the Japanese government in order to ascertain the JGSDF's capabilities in amphibious warfare in defending its islands in case of a future war involving Japan, which can bolster the Japanese-American military alliance.

If stood up, the new unit together with the WAIR would form a major part of the Western Army's first response to a hostile incursion in the more remote parts of its AOR.

Training

Potential recruits for WAIR must be Ranger-qualified before they are accepted. Once in the unit, WAIR soldiers are trained in reconnaissance, survival skills and techniques.

Equipment

WAIR forces are equipped with light infantry weapons, including mortars and Japanese-made military trucks such as the Mitsubishi Type 73 Light Truck.

See also

• US Marine Corps
• Royal Marines