Ranger Courses Explained

Unit Name:Rangers
Native Name:レンジャー
Country: Japan
Type:Special Forces-type training courses
Dates:1956–present
Specialization:Direct action
Special reconnaissance
Unconventional warfare
Garrison:Fuji Training School, JGSDF Camp Fuji
Identification Symbol:Ranger Pin Badge

The are military education and training courses oriented toward Commando operations in the Japanese Ground Self-Defense Force (JGSDF).

History

The original course that is still held at Fuji School was established in 1956 by two JGSDF officers who had graduated from the United States Army Ranger School.[1] This course was basically the Japanese version of the American Ranger School at the beginning.

In 1960, local ranger courses were started by each infantry regiment. As ranger courses continued to be carried out in various JGSDF units, they developed according to the country's geography.

Ranger Courses

Generally, there are four types of Ranger Courses as follows, but all courses are known for their severe harshness so only eligible soldiers can take these courses:

Local courses
  • Enlisted ranks can take Ranger courses with their divisions, brigades and regiments. These courses are conducted by instructors who have completed the Fuji School course, but are localized according to the area in charge of each unit. For example, there is the Japanese Alps in the area of responsibility for the 13th Infantry Regiment (Matsumoto, Nagano), so its Ranger Courses focus on mountain warfare and are known as the "Alpen Ranger".[2]
  • After heavy physical training, nine exercises are held in the ordinary local course for nine weeks while enduring great mental and psychological stresses and physical fatigue, and the following skills are acquired:
    At Fuji School (at the base of Mount Fuji)
  • Course instructor candidates and officers need to complete the 13-week course at the Fuji School. Those who complete this course are specifically qualified to wear a gold badge.
    At Narashino (Chiba Prefecture)
  • The 1st Airborne Brigade aims to give ranger training to all the members and implements its own Airborne Ranger Courses.
    At Niseko (Hokkaido)
  • is established by . This is advanced post-graduate ranger training for cold-weather warfare, thus soldiers who have completed this course are entitled to wear special badges, in addition to regular ranger badges.

    JGSDF soldiers are not the only to participate in the courses. Air Self Defense Force paramedics (Japanese counterpart of the United States Air Force Pararescuemen) also have participated in Airborne Ranger Courses. JGSDF rangers are known as the pioneers of the rope and mountain rescue techniques, thus eligible members of the civilian law enforcement and rescue organization (Mountain security squads of the Police and Rescue Technicians of the Fire departments, for example) can take Ranger Courses arranged for search and rescue operations.[3] [4]

    Deployment

    Unlike the United States Army Rangers, the JGSDF has adopted a policy to improve the level of the whole forces by distributing rangers to each units, thus the unit consisting only of rangers was not established except for the training units in the Fuji School and CWCT. But in case of special operations or disaster response, commanding officers may gather Rangers and organize Ranger units temporarily.

    When Western Army Infantry Regiment (WAiR; later expanded to Amphibious Rapid Deployment Brigade) was launched in 2002, Ranger platoons were set up in this regiment. These platoons are certified as special operation units.[5] In 2012, they conducted joint landing exercises with the United States Marine Corps in Guam.[6] [7]

    References

    Books

    External links

    Notes and References

    1. News: https://web.archive.org/web/20180918003117/https://foreignpolicy.com/2018/09/17/u-s-japan-military-exercise-rising-thunder/. September 18, 2018. Don’t Let the U.S.-Japanese Alliance Get Out of Shape. Kevin Knodell. September 17, 2018. Foreign Policy.
    2. Web site: Featured! Ground Self Defense Force 13th Infantry Regiment. North Kanto Defense Bureau. 2016. 2018-07-22. PDF.
    3. Book: 1993. Chapter 4. The Self-Defense Force in society. White paper for defense. Ministry of Finance Printing Bureau. Defense Agency.
    4. Web site: Notice: Yokohama Press Tour “Behind the Scenes of Disaster Rescue Initiatives in the Birthplace of Rescue Teams in Japan”. Foreign Press Center Japan. November 7, 2014. June 18, 2019.
    5. Web site: Instruction concerning the scope of special operation members. 2004. Shigeru Ishiba. 2018-08-09.
    6. News: Japan's Navy: Sailing Towards the Future. James. Hardy. January 21, 2013. The Diplomat.
    7. News: First joint training in the island - The Ground Self Defense Force and the 3rd Marine Corps of the United States. October 15, 2012. The SDF news. Japanese.

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