'We’re here to build a relationship with the Japanese' - West Bromwich soldier chosen to train in Japan
A soldier from the Black Country is in Japan to train with the Japanese Ground Self Defence Forces (JGSDF).
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Lance Corporal Sam Rudge is on the mountainous island of Kyushu for Exercise Vigilant Isles, which sees soldiers from 16 Air Assault Brigade – the British Army’s global response force - working with the JGSDF’s 12th Brigade.
The troops are working together to practice how to defend against an invading force.
Sam is an electronics technician with 32 Regiment Royal Artillery, responsible for maintaining the electronics on Puma uncrewed aerial systems (UAS). The Puma is flown to spot enemy positions and direct artillery fire.
The 20-year-old, from West Bromwich, said: “My job can be very quiet or very busy, depending on whether the Puma gets damaged or goes wrong – and it’s been behaving so far!
"The Japanese unit we’re working with doesn’t have anything like Puma, and they’ve really valued the capability we deliver.”
Sam, based at Larkhill in Wiltshire, has previously deployed on exercises in Estonia and Germany during his four-year career in the Army.
Sam said: “We’re here to build a relationship with the Japanese, and it’s been really interesting.
“The Japanese have been very welcoming, and it’s always a good experience to get to know soldiers from a different country and see how they operate.
"The language barrier has been a challenge but using translation software and hand signals we’ve been able to understand each other.”
Sam, who is studying for an NVQ in electronics, moved to West Bromwich just before joining the Army. He grew up in Market Bosworth in Leicestershire, attending The Market Bosworth School.
Exercise Vigilant Isles – running this year for the third time – is part of the deepening military relationship between the UK and Japan, built around a shared commitment to Indo-Pacific security.
The UK is the only European country able to conduct bilateral military training in Japan.
