Central Readiness Regiment

The Central Readiness Regiment (中央即応連隊, Chūō-Sokuō-Rentai) is an infantry regiment of the Japan Ground Self-Defense Force, being stationed at Camp Utsunomiya[4] near the Utsunomiya Air Field (Camp Kita-Utsunomiya), as it is intended to be ready for rapid deployment both in Japan and abroad.[5]

Central Readiness Regiment
ActiveMarch 26, 2008 – present
Country Japan
Branch Japan Ground Self-Defense Force
TypeMechanized infantry
RoleRapid deployment
Sizeapprox. 700 soldiers[1]
Part ofGround Component Command (陸上総隊)[2]
Garrison/HQUtsunomiya, Tochigi Prefecture
Nickname(s)Chū-Soku-Ren (中即連)
Motto(s)Who Else but Us (俺がやらねば誰がやる)
Engagements・South Sudan PKO Mission
・2021 Afghanistan RJNO Operation
・Operation Ocean Shield
Commanders
Current
commander		Colonel Yamada Norikazu (since 2020)[3]

History

The regiment was established in August 2006.[6] The first regimental commander, Colonel Yamamoto, was appointed in 2007 with the formation of the regiment was complete by March 2008.[6]

In 2009, a detachment selected from the regiment was sent to Djibouti to participate in an anti-piracy operation as a security force at the air base.[6] Since then, the regiment has been deployed on a number of missions outside of Japan, including a humanitarian assistance mission for the 2010 Haiti earthquake and the United Nations Mission in South Sudan.[6]

Organization and Equipment

The regiment was established as a unique infantry regiment of the Central Readiness Force.[1] Unlike the 1st Airborne Brigade being a unique airborne force, the regiment has adopted a table of organization and equipment similar to that of an infantry regiment with three rifle companies.[1] However, it has developed specialized organization of its own for special missions, including a military engineering company being established in 2017 and an explosive ordnance disposal team in 2019.[2] All of the soldiers in this regiment have volunteered to be transferred, and many are qualified as paratrooper or ranger.[1]

The regiment is equipped with armoured fighting vehicles similar to other infantry regiments, including Komatsu LAV and Type 96 Armored Personnel Carrier.[1][7] In addition, the regiment also is equipped with unique equipment to prepare for military operations other than war overseas, such as Bushmaster Protected Mobility Vehicles for non-combatant evacuation operations and Long-range acoustic devices as non-lethal weapons.[2]

In August 25, 2019, an IHI Aerospace-made unmanned ground vehicle was deployed at the 2019 Fuji Firepower demonstration for explosive ordnance disposal missions.[8]

  • A CRR soldier during the multi-national Cobra Gold exercise
    A CRR soldier during the multi-national Cobra Gold exercise
  • Type 82 Command Communication Vehicle with a Rising Sun Flag
    Type 82 Command Communication Vehicle with a Rising Sun Flag
  • CRR soldiers rushing from a Type 96 APC
    CRR soldiers rushing from a Type 96 APC

References
  1. Saito 2017.
  2. Kikuchi 2020.
  3. Central Readiness Regiment. "連隊長紹介" [Introduction of Regimental Commander] (in Japanese). Retrieved July 28, 2022.
  4. Japan Ground Self-Defense Force. "宇都宮駐屯地" [Camp Utsunomiya]. 陸上自衛隊 公式Webサイト (in Japanese). Retrieved June 21, 2022.
  5. Central Readiness Regiment. "中央即応連隊の任務・役割" [Mission and Role of the Central Readiness Regiment] (in Japanese). Retrieved June 21, 2022.
  6. Central Readiness Regiment. "中央即応連隊 沿革" [History of the Central Readiness Regiment] (in Japanese). Retrieved June 8, 2022.
  7. "96式装輪装甲車" [Type 96 Armored Personnel Carrier]. rikuzi-chousadan.com (in Japanese). Retrieved June 8, 2022.
  8. Koji Miyake (August 28, 2019). "New Japanese UGV bursts onto the scene". Shephard News.

Books
  • Kikuchi, Masayuki (2020). "中央即応連隊 在外邦人等保護措置" [Central Readiness Regiment: Rescue of Japanese Nationals Overseas]. 陸上自衛隊 BATTLE RECORDS [Battle Records of the Ground Self Defense Force] (in Japanese). Hobby Japan. pp. 26–37. ISBN 978-4798621814.
  • Saito, Yūsuke (2017). "陸上自衛隊 中央即応連隊" [JGSDF Central Readiness Regiment]. 日本の特殊部隊 [Special Forces of Japan] (in Japanese). KAMADO. pp. 30–31. NCID BB01834038.
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