自衛隊震災派遣 平時から自治体と連携深めよ

The Yomiuri Shimbun (Mar. 11, 2013)
SDF must boost cooperation with others to fight disasters
自衛隊震災派遣　平時から自治体と連携深めよ（3月10日付・読売社説）

It is obviously important for the Self-Defense Forces to prepare for emergencies by learning from the lessons of two years ago and reflecting them in future antidiaster plans. And these plans must be repeatedly practiced in the form of exercises in cooperation with local municipalities and other entities.
　２年前の様々な教訓を震災対処計画に反映し、自治体などと訓練を繰り返して、緊急時に備えることが肝要である。

The Great East Japan Earthquake posed five unprecedented challenges for the SDF:
　自衛隊にとって、東日本大震災は初めての体験が五つも重なった。

-- Conducting rescue and support activities for disaster victims by mobilizing 100,000 of its members, the largest mobilization in its history.
　過去最大の１０万人体制による被災者救出・支援活動、

-- Implementing a full-scale operational integration of the ground, maritime and air forces.
陸海空３自衛隊の本格的な統合部隊の編成、

-- Participating in Operation Tomodachi, a joint rescue operation conducted by Japanese and U.S. forces.
日米共同のトモダチ作戦、

-- Calling up SDF reserve personnel.
予備自衛官の招集、

-- Dealing with the disaster on two fronts--the earthquake and tsunami on the one hand and the nuclear crisis on the other.
地震・津波と原発事故対処の２正面作戦である。

Before the March 11, 2011, disaster, the Defense Ministry had plans to deal with three kinds of devastating earthquakes, including an epicentral temblor with its focus just beneath the Tokyo metropolitan area. The ministry's plans for how to fight disasters caused by powerful earthquakes generated in the Japan Trench and the Kuril Trench were still in the making.
　防衛省には当時、首都直下地震など３種類の巨大地震の対処計画があったが、日本海溝・千島海溝の地震の計画は作成中だった。

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Cooperation in ordinary times

Through application of the plans for dealing with an earthquake directly beneath the capital to the March 11 catastrophe, however, the SDF was relatively swift in deploying troops from across the country and coordinating its activities with various organizations concerned.
　それでも、首都直下地震の計画を準用することで、全国からの応援部隊の派遣や関係機関との調整が比較的迅速に実施できた。

The contingency plan for an epicentral earthquake just below Tokyo that was revised toward the end of last year was based on such premises as establishing integrated troop units and joint Japanese-U.S. operations on the basis of the experiences of the Great East Japan Earthquake. The ministry is to work on plans in the near future for a potentially gigantic Nankai Trough earthquake.
　昨年末に改定された首都直下地震の計画は、大震災の経験を踏まえ、統合部隊編成や日米共同対処を前提とした。今後、南海トラフ巨大地震の計画も策定する。

It is especially important to ensure close cooperation between the SDF and such organizations as local governments in ordinary times, to beef up antiquake arrangements by stockpiling food and other things needed for disaster relief operations.
　重要なのは、自衛隊と自治体などが平時から緊密に連携し、必要な資機材や食料などをそろえ、震災対処体制を強化することだ。

The Ground Self-Defense Force's North Eastern Army Headquarters in Sendai, which served as the forward command in the earthquake and tsunami disaster, held a meeting in September 2011 to study the disaster's lessons with affected local governments, police, fire departments and regional offices of the Japan Coast Guard. In January this year, they implemented a map exercise with the aim of sharing information and collaborating to provide disaster victims with medical services.
　大震災時に前線本部となった陸上自衛隊東北方面総監部（仙台市）は、２０１１年９月に自治体や警察・消防・海上保安部と教訓検討会、今年１月には情報共有や医療連携の図上演習を実施した。

Another map exercise on a larger scale is scheduled in fiscal 2013, while field exercises involving 20,000 to 30,000 personnel from the Self-Defense Forces and other organizations will take place in fiscal 2014.
　１３年度は、より大規模な図上演習、１４年度は２万～３万人規模の実動訓練へと発展させる。

To maximize the number of lives saved in the initial phase of rescue activities, the period called "golden 72 hours" is crucial.
　災害時の人命救助は、「黄金の７２時間」と呼ばれる初動がカギとなる。

What should be done to secure emergency communications to ensure the efficient mobilization of SDF troops and a solid grasp of what is going on in disaster-hit areas if wire and wireless communications go down because of power outages?
停電などで有線・無線通信が途絶した時、いかに緊急通信手段を確保し、被災状況を把握して部隊を効率的に動かすか。

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Training feedback desirable

First of all, training must be carried out after antidisaster plans are drawn up. To solve problems, if any, that come to light through the training, the plans must be reviewed and thoroughly revamped if necessary.
　まず対処計画を練り、訓練を実施する。そこで明らかになった問題点を改善するため、体制を見直し、計画も練り直す――。

This cycle of training and improvement must be constantly iterated so it will lead to steps that can save a larger number of disaster victims.
　このサイクルを重ねる地道な作業こそが、より多くの被災者を救えることにつながろう。

One high-ranking GSDF officer said: "We can only put into practice what we learn through training. Based on this fact, we've been studying the specifics of our day-to-day training."
　ある陸自幹部は「我々は訓練したことしか、実施できない。その覚悟で訓練内容を考え、訓練に臨んでいる」と語る。

Such a high sense of awareness is certainly conducive to enhancing the quality of SDF training.
こうした強い問題意識が訓練を充実させる。

In the wake of the Great East Japan Earthquake, the SDF has significantly increased the number of agreements it has concluded with various organs to obtain their cooperation in emergencies.
　自衛隊は大震災後、災害時に様々な関係機関との協力を可能にする協定を大幅に増やした。

One of them, an accord with expressway operators, will allow SDF vehicles to preferentially pass through expressways and use rest stops for emergency purposes.
　高速道路会社との協定は、自衛隊車両の緊急通行やサービスエリアの優先使用を可能にする。

Private major supermarket chains, for their part, have promised to provide the SDF with emergency goods, including food, in times of crisis.
民間の大手スーパーは、食料など緊急物資の提供を約束している。

It is definitely important to steadily expand the network for such cooperation.
　これらの協力のネットワークを着実に拡大することが大切だ。

(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, March 10, 2013)
（2013年3月10日01時12分  読売新聞）