Indian, Japanese military training in Washington this month

TACOMA — Units from Joint Base Lewis-McChord this month are training with two foreign militaries.

The News Tribune reported that about 150 soldiers from India’s army are spending the next two weeks training at the base in an annual exercise called Yudh Abhyas. On the other side of the Cascades, 300 soldiers from the Japanese Ground Self Defense Force are beginning an annual exercise called Rising Thunder with a JBLM Stryker brigade at the Yakima Training Center.

The soldiers from all three countries will spend the next few weeks taking classes, firing weapons and practicing movements. When not on the clock, they will play games and share meals.

JBLM officials say the exercises are examples of the partnerships the Army is trying to cultivate with military in the Pacific.