Japan-U.S. Joint Exercise
First Joint Exercise in the Southwest Sea Area
(Image provided by the U.S. Navy)
PACIFIC OCEAN (Nov. 4, 2011) JS Hyuga (DDH 181) prepares to turn from a formation with U.S. Navy and Japan Maritime Self Defense Force ships during Annual Exercise 2011. Annual Exercise is a bi-lateral field-training exercise designed to practice and evaluate the coordination procedures and interoperability elements required to effectively and mutually respond to the defense of Japan, to a regional crisis or contingency situation in the Asia-Pacific region, while building bilateral confidences and working relationships. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Adam K. Thomas//AFLO) [0006]