In late March 2018, the Japanese Ministry of Defense announced a major reorganization of the Japan Ground Self-Defense Force that included the establishment of an Amphibious Rapid Deployment Brigade. In anticipation of this, the RAND Corporation convened a conference at its Santa Monica, California, headquarters on March 6, 2018, to examine the establishment of Japan's amphibious operations force from a variety of perspectives.

U.S.-Japan Alliance Conference

Meeting the Challenge of Amphibious Operations

Scott W. Harold, Koichiro Bansho, Jeffrey W. Hornung, Koichi Isobe, Richard L. Simcock II

ResearchPublished Sep 27, 2018

In late March 2018, the Japanese Ministry of Defense announced a major reorganization of the Japan Ground Self-Defense Force that included the establishment of an Amphibious Rapid Deployment Brigade (ARDB). In anticipation of the establishment of the ARDB, the RAND Corporation convened a conference at its Santa Monica, California, headquarters on March 6, 2018, to examine the establishment of Japan's amphibious operations force from a variety of perspectives. The scholars and practitioners who contributed to this event were asked to evaluate the reasons for the ARDB's establishment, its deterrence value and defense capabilities, its relevance for humanitarian assistance and disaster relief missions, the extent to which it contributes to jointness within the Japan Self-Defense Forces, its relationship with and value to the U.S. Marine Corps, and ideas for the future evolution of Japan's amphibious operations capabilities. The papers on which these presenters based their remarks at that conference are captured in this conference proceedings.

Key Findings

Experts shared six papers at the conference

  • Retired Japan Ground Self-Defense Force Lieutenant General Koichiro Bansho discusses Japan's new defense strategy in the Southwest Islands and development of amphibious operations capabilities.
  • Retired Japan Ground Self-Defense Force Lieutenant General Koichi Isobe shares an insider's view of the history, evolution, and prospects of Japan's Amphibious Rapid Deployment Brigade.
  • Jeffrey W. Hornung of the RAND Corporation explores four primary challenges to improving interoperability among the Japan Self-Defense Forces.
  • Retired U.S. Marine Corps Major General Richard L. Simcock II reviews the opportunities that Japan's investment in amphibious capabilities presents for the Marine Corps and assesses the next steps the United States should take to maximize the prospects of achieving a set of long-held goals in the realm of amphibious operations.

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Document Details

Citation

RAND Style Manual
Harold, Scott W., Koichiro Bansho, Jeffrey W. Hornung, Koichi Isobe, and Richard L. Simcock II, U.S.-Japan Alliance Conference: Meeting the Challenge of Amphibious Operations, RAND Corporation, CF-387-GOJ, 2018. As of September 23, 2024: https://www.rand.org/pubs/conf_proceedings/CF387.html
Chicago Manual of Style
Harold, Scott W., Koichiro Bansho, Jeffrey W. Hornung, Koichi Isobe, and Richard L. Simcock II, U.S.-Japan Alliance Conference: Meeting the Challenge of Amphibious Operations. Santa Monica, CA: RAND Corporation, 2018. https://www.rand.org/pubs/conf_proceedings/CF387.html.
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This work was sponsored by the Government of Japan and conducted within the International Security and Defense Policy Center of the RAND National Security Research Division (NSRD).

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