For the first time, the U.S. Marine Corps announced that it had conducted live-fire exercises with its HIMARS artillery systems near the famous Mount Fuji, located in Japanese territory. The activity was carried out by personnel from the 3rd Battalion, 12th Marine Regiment, based on Okinawa Island. Specifically, the training exercise took place yesterday, with the main goal of demonstrating the Corps’ ability to provide fire support for ground operations at the so-called Camp Fuji, as well as to send a message of commitment to security in the Indo-Pacific region.
Quoting some statements on the matter, Lieutenant Colonel Frank Mastromauro said: “HIMARS live-fire training at Camp Fuji is essential to our battalion’s lethality. This exercise allows our Marines to rehearse critical tasks, refine our procedures, and demonstrate deterrence capability in the Indo-Pacific region, thereby contributing to the stability of our allies.”
It is worth recalling that the U.S. Marine Corps has had access to Camp Fuji for training purposes since 1953, with a long history of exercises involving artillery and infantry platforms, such as Fuji Viper and Shinka. According to the official statement released by the institution, the training area offers unique opportunities for exercises, including specialized infrastructure for operating HIMARS systems and vast terrain to test their range.
Expanding on additional details, the USMC noted that the activity also provided an important opportunity for the 12th Regiment to continue refining new combat tactics involving the HIMARS system — an illustrative example being the so-called HIMARS Rapid Infiltration (HIRAIN). This method involves the rapid insertion of a unit into an operational area to secure a target location, the use of the artillery system, and the subsequent withdrawal of the assets to a safe area.
Furthermore, it is important to highlight that U.S. Marines had already been training with HIMARS systems recently within Japanese territory, although those exercises took place at the Yausubetsu Maneuver Area on the northern island of Hokkaido. In particular, these activities were conducted as part of the Resolute Dragon exercise, held between September 11 and 25.
10月27日、静岡県の東富士演習場において在日米海兵隊による高機動ロケット砲システム（ハイマース：HIMARS）の射撃訓練が成功裏に行われました。… pic.twitter.com/6UT2jcoBSx
— 防衛省・自衛隊 (@ModJapan_jp) October 27, 2025
Finally, it should be mentioned that yesterday’s exercises led to the temporary closure of several major roads near Camp Fuji, which caused some commotion and inconvenience among the local population. Addressing the issue, Japan’s Ministry of Defense stated on its social media accounts: “To ensure public traffic safety during the exercise, a section of the national highway was temporarily closed, which caused inconvenience to local residents. The Ministry of Defense will continue to explore measures to reduce the burden on local communities.”
*Image credits: Corporal Joseph Kreis – USMC
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