Japan OIF

I have seen pictures of the JASDF in Iraq, but never JGSDF..GREAT pictures!

Can you explain the difference ? I know nothing about other coalition troop than USA...I just post pictures of coalition force when I find them in private US soldier photo albums !

P-E wrote:Can you explain the difference ? I know knothing about other coalition troop than USA...

JASDF is Japan AIr Self Defense Force, while JGSDF is Japan Ground Self Defense Force.

This is actually one of the first combat operations that the JSDF has ever participated in as their military is formed on the principle of purely a self defense based military.


Here is a picture of the plane that the JASDF used in Iraq...I have a picture somewhere of the whole crew in front of that plane with their USAF comrades,but alas,I cant find it



Here is a JASDF airman over in Iraq, they are lowering their falg for the last time as Japan had their last deployment









Check out that cool armband in that last picture








JGSDF

If I recall correctly, only 200 Japanese troops were deployed to Iraq.

Other pictures from Ur, Iraq.

The original Japanese mandate was non-combat, they are very sensitive about combat operations and their post WWII constitution... I believe the original contingents were there as Engineers and medical personnel. I am not sure how much this changed over the course of operations but that is what I recall from 2004. Scott.

I like the JASDF ballcaps.  I'd love to find an example of one.