SwiftResponse

SWIFT RESPONSE

Swift Response 25 demonstrates multinational power projection and the expansion of critical capabilities on the battlefield in the High North and Baltics through airborne jumps and integration of technology in support of the Army Modernization Strategy and DoD Arctic Strategy. Swift Response 25 involves five near-simultaneous airborne insertions, HIRAIN training, a field hospital exercise and live fires conducted with NATO networks in Norway, Latvia, Lithuania, Sweden and Finland from May 11 – 31, 2025.

Videos

Video by Daisuke Sato

The first ever Fourlateral River Cleanup 2022

U.S. Army Garrison - Japan

May 20, 2022 | 2:39

Narration:
Nearly 50 personnel from Camp Zama’s Better Opportunities for Single Soldiers program, the Japan Ground Self-Defense Force’s 4th Engineer Group, Zama and Sagamihara cities, and other local companies came together to clean up the Sagami River on May 17th.

Interview: Amber Kurka, Chief, Public Engagement, USAG Japan

Narration:
During the clean-up, attendees from each organization, including Zama City Mayor Mito Sato; Sagamihara City Vice Mayor Nobukazu Onda; and Col. Kenji Honda, commander of the 4th Engineer Group, spread out in socially distanced grids to search the area around the river and pick up a variety of litter and combustibles—everything from plant containers, aluminum cans, plastic bottles and cigarette butts, to larger items like TVs and barbecue grills.

Interview: Mayor Mito Sato, Zama City
I’m very grateful for all the work being done here today.

We regularly conduct activities with U.S. Army Japan and the JGSDF, but an event like today’s, in which we can work together to make a social contribution, is very beneficial to all of us. I really appreciate the opportunity to be a part of this effort today.

Interview: Vice Mayor Nobukazu Onda, Sagamihara City
We’ve never previously had the opportunity for four different organizations to come together like this. And COVID has made it even harder.

In that sense, I think today’s event is very significant, in that we were able to work face to face and bond with each other in an environment where we were spread out and didn’t have to worry about COVID as much.

We really appreciate U.S. Army Garrison Japan inviting us today.

Narration:
Within an hour, the group had collected enough litter and discarded items to fill between 30 to 40 garbage bags.

Interview: COL Kenji Honda, Commander, 4th Engineer Group/Zama Chutonchi, JGSDF
I think it was great that our four different organizations were able to come together at the same place and same time for this cleanup event.

I think it helped to deepen our relationship with each other. I’d like to have events like today’s more often in the future in order to continue fostering a good relationship of trust between Japan and the U.S.

Narration:
The cleanup effort was the first of its kind to be hosted jointly among U.S. Army Japan, the JGSDF, and Zama and Sagamihara cities.

Interview: Jenifer Peterson, Deputy Commander, USAG Japan

Narration:
Reporting for U.S. Army Garrison Japan, this is XXXXXXXX

Italy
Paratroopers from the 173rd Airborne Brigade will depart from Italy to conduct an airborne drop into Lithuania.
Finland
The Finnish Army will conduct a live fire exercise with the Polish Armed Forces and U.S. Forces will fire HIMARS also known as HIRAIN training.

Polish paratroopers will conduct an airborne jump into Finland, where they will join the Finnish Army to conduct force on force training.
Latvia

In Latvia, paratroopers from Spanish Airborne Brigade and 173rd Airborne Brigade will conduct an airborne jump into Latvia and a live-fire exercises will follow .

Also, the Latvian national exercise, Crystal Arrow, will be conducted simultaneously with Swift Response 25.
Lithuania

In Lithuania, there will be a Field hospital exercise and medical operations. A U.S.-based blood support detachment will deploy to Europe, where they will be issued Army Prepositioned Stock and join the 512th Field Hospital in Lithuania. The exercise will demonstrate theater medical support operations while working under chemical, biological, radiological, nuclear conditions. The field hospital exercise will also include a simulated blood draw and resupply to forward positioned medical teams using drones.

Paratroopers from the 173rd Airborne Brigade will conduct an airborne assault into Lithuania alongside NATO Allies from France, Germany, Italy, and the Netherlands.

The Lithuanian national exercise Iron Wolf will be linked with Swift Response 25 events with participants from the Netherlands, Lithuania and Germany.
Norway
As part of Swift Response 25, paratroopers from the 82nd Airborne Division will deploy from the U.S. and conduct
a direct airborne jump into Norway in the first major event commencing DEFENDER 25. This event is one of five,
near-simultaneous airborne operations that will be taking place in Finland, Latvia, Lithuania, Norway, and Sweden.

Also U.S. and Host Nation will conduct Live-fires in Norway.
Slovenia
Slovenia is providing a strategic aerial port of disembarkation (APODs) in Cerklje Air Base.
Sweden

NATO Allies will conduct an airborne jump into Gotland Island, setting the stage for U.S. Marines to conduct a High Mobility Artillery Rocket System Rapid Insertion (HIRAIN) training on the island.
United Kingdom
Troops moving from United Kingdom to Norway and Sweden.

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