Joint confrontation management exercise

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Lynsie Nichols
  • 374th Airlift Wing Public Affairs
YOKOTA AIR BASE, Japan --  The 374th Airlift Wing Security Forces Squadron and the Japanese National Police held a combined exercise here at Yokota, November 2.

The exercise was a squadron level event that tested the capabilities of conflict management between SFS and JNP.

Staff Sgt. Donald Wilburn, 374th SFS Exercise Evaluation Team member, has been stationed at Yokota and participated in approximately 15 exercises.

"This exercise ended up being a violent protest, but it could be either way," said Sergeant Wilburn. "This demonstration tested us and the JNP to see how we work [together]."

Sergeant Wilburn has also been involved in similar real-world situations and is happy with the way the exercise played out.

"I feel that they [SFS and JNP] did excellent. Our gate guards did awesome, they definitely got compliance from the individuals that they needed to," said Sergeant Wilburn. "If this was a real world scenario, it would've gone really well."

Most demonstrations at or around Yokota are friendly, but Sergeant Wilburn wanted to practice a worst-case scenario.

"Nine times out of ten the demonstrations are friendly, they are not throwing projectiles at us or being hostile," said Sergeant Wilburn. "We are trying to practice a worst-case scenario to ensure our members are using proper force."

Sergeant Wilburn feels that these exercises are important because they allow both U.S. and Japanese law enforcement to work together in preparation for responding to a demonstration, either peaceful or violent.

"Our goal is to keep individuals that aren't supposed to be on base, off base, and keep the Yokota community safe from possible demonstrators that can become hostile," said Sergeant Wilburn.