Nihonbara Training Area, Japan -- The training conducted during Forest Light, a bilateral exercise between U.S. forces and the Japan Ground Self-Defense Force, has the added benefit of helping troops maintain combat mindsets and stay sharp on their units tactics, say Marines with Combat Assault Battalion, 3rd Marine Division, III Marine Expeditionary Force, participating in the exercise.

Combat readiness is extremely important due to today's combat operations, according to Staff Sgt. Carl R. Whitlow, company gunnery sergeant for Combat Engineer Company, CAB.

“It’s important to be prepared not only physically but also mentally, to give them that combat mindset that will set them up for future success,” he said.

The main focus of the exercise is training beside the Japanese and strengthening the relationship between the two nations. The training conducted during the exercise are the same skill sets Marines might use in a combat zone, CAB Marines said.

“Going through dry runs and rehearsals of (improvised explosive device) drills, V-sweeps, keeping up with our (combat marksmanship) shoots, firing (shoulder-launched multipurpose assault weapons) and AT4s, making sure we can put rounds down range and be on target is important,” said Whitlow. “The more we train here, the more successful we (Marines) will be in combat.”

For Forest Light, Marines conducted several training evolutions with their Japanese counterparts including assaulting through objectives, calling for support by fire, anti-personnel obstacle breaching, rocket shoots, combat marksmanship training and mounted and dismounted improvised explosive device training.

“Of course in country we may have different (standard operating procedures), but a lot of the training we’re doing here will prepare (Marines) for combat,” said Cpl. Dustin J. Gunnoe, a combat engineer with the company who recently returned from a six-month deployment to Afghanistan.

In addition to the training Marines conduct with JGSDF troops, they also fill down time with classes on weapon systems, hand and arm signals, patrolling, urban demolition, breaching, room clearing, calling for fire, movement techniques and combat lifesavers instruction.

“For a lot of Marines it feels like they return from a deployment, go home and relax on leave, return and start (the pre-deployment training program) all over again,” Whitlow said.

Throughout the exercise, Marines who have deployed to Operation Iraqi Freedom or Operation Enduring Freedom are sharing their knowledge with those who haven’t deployed yet in their careers.

“I’m excited, I really am. Deploying is the whole reason I joined the Marine Corps in the first place,” said Lance Cpl. David L. Hutton, a combat engineer who’s been with the company for about three months.

Hutton said he wants to be as prepared as possible for any future deployment.

“The guys that went before me have given me really good knowledge,” he said.

Forest Light is scheduled to end Sunday, but even after the exercise ends, CAB Marines continue training to remain combat ready, according to Whitlow.

“Of course combat readiness is still a priority in the rear,” Whitlow said. “Keeping that combat mindset is something we always stress.”