Central Readiness Force

The Central Readiness Force (中央即応集団) was recently established on March 28, 2007, following the upgrading of the Japanese Defense Ministry from the former Japanese Defense Agency. Formation in Japan Ground Self-Defense Force (JGSDF) Camp Asaka in Nerima, Tokyo, the unit has the capability of responding to any situation in either Japanese or foreign soil. The unit can also be Japan's response to any combat operations in further peacekeeping missions as a rapid reaction force as a part of the Japanese government's National Defense Program Guidelines over the need to improve the JGSDF's capabilities to deal with new defense issues such as foreign peacekeeping operations and anti-terrorist operations. March 2009, Base transfer in Camp Zama,in Sagamihara, Kanagawa Prefecture.

The CRF had a formal ceremony in the same base on March 31, 2007. Japanese Defense Minister Fumio Kyuma was the guest of honour in formally inaugurating the force. Lieutenant General Josho Yamaguchi (山口淨秀 陸将) is the first CRF commanding officer. The current commander of the CRF is Lt. Gen. Masahiro Hidaka, appointed on July 26, 2012.

History
Formed on March 28, 2007, the CRF has consolidated the 1st Airborne Brigade, the 1st Helicopter Brigade, the Japanese Special Operations Group and the 101st NBC Protection Unit into a single force meant to conduct operations in domestic and foreign soil. On March 31, 2007, the Central Readiness Force had held its formal ceremony at the JGSDF's Camp Asaka in Nerima, Tokyo, which included guests such as Fumio Kyuma and Josho Yamaguchi, the former presiding over the formal establishment of the CRF.

The CRF went to be deployed in its first civil disaster mission to quell wildfires in the forests of the Yamanashi Prefecture on April 29, 2007 with the 1st Helicopter Brigade being deployed after its integration to the force. The CRF had conducted a military exercise on October 31, 2007 with its subordinate units participating in a wider range of scenarios from anti-NBC cleanup to personnel transportation and evacuation.

6 officers from the CRF were deployed to Nepal as part of the UNMIS mission on March 30, 2007 as part of their first CRF peacekeeping mission. A CRF officer deployed to Nepal as part of the UNMIN was awarded by UN peacekeeping officers for completing his duties to monitor the ceasefire between the Nepalese government and Maoist rebels. The officers had returned on March 18, 2008. 4 CRF officers under the UNDOF's transport unit were deployed to France as Japanese representatives on July 14, 2008 for its annual Bastille Day Military Parade celebration. The CRF was deployed to assist in the aftermath of the Tōhoku earthquake and tsunami in humanitarian relief efforts, as well as to combat radiation problems at the Fukushima nuclear power plant.

Structure
The structure of the CRF has been created with the following established for its headquarters:

Chain of command

 * Commander (Lieutenant General)
 * Deputy Commander for Domestic Operations (Major General)
 * Deputy Commander for International Operations (Major General)
 * Chief of Staff (Colonel)
 * Vice Chief of Staff (2 officers with rank of Colonel)

Divisions

 * Personnel
 * Intelligence
 * Defense Plans & Operations
 * Logistics
 * Administration
 * Accounting
 * Communications
 * National Welfare

Personnel

 * Reporting Officer
 * Army Surgeon
 * Inspector
 * Law Officer
 * Staff Manager
 * Adjutant

Formation
The following is the current formation of the CRF as 2011.


 * Headquarters – Camp Asaka, Nerima, Tokyo with 230 personnel
 * 1st Airborne Brigade – Camp Narashino, Narashino, Chiba with 1,900 personnel
 * Central Readiness Force Regiment – Camp Utsunomiya, Utsunomiya, Tochigi with 700 personal
 * Japanese Special Forces Group – Camp Narashino, Narashino, Chiba with 300 personnel
 * 1st Helicopter Brigade – Camp Kisarazu, Kisarazu, Chiba with 900 personnel
 * Central NBC Weapon Defense Unit – Camp Ōmiya, Ōmiya-ku, Saitama with 155 personnel
 * NBC Countermeasure Medical Unit – Camp Asaka, Asaka, Saitama with 70 personnel
 * International Peace Cooperation Activities Training Unit – Camp Komakado, Gotemba, Shizuoka with 80 personnel

Symbols
The following are represented in the insignia and patch of the Central Readiness Force:

CRF insignia



 * Japanese Archipelago and Red Circle surrounding it – CRF's mandate to operate in Japanese soil.


 * Laurel – Hope for a successful mission.


 * Purple Shadow – CRF's joint cooperation with the Japanese Ground Self-Defense Forces, the Japanese Maritime Self-Defense Forces and the Japanese Air Self-Defense Forces.

The insignia symbolizes the CRF's mandate to operate in Japanese soil.

CRF patch



 * Globe – CRF's mandate to operate anywhere around the world.


 * Cherry Blossoms – CRF's commanding officer.


 * Red Circle – Japan.

The patch symbolizes the CRF's mandate to operate in foreign territory as a representative of Japan in Peacekeeping missions.

Future plan
Under future plans to unify cooperation between Japan and the United States, the Central Readiness Force's headquarters will eventually be transferred out to Camp Zama by the year 2012. This would be done for the US military and the JSDF to operate with improved interoperability.