 U.S. security forces have combined with Japan's self-defense force augmenting each other's capabilities to tackle a full-scale base attack during exercise garden protect. We get to see what each other does, help each other out, and learn from each other. During the exercise, the base commanding officer was taken into hostage followed by a waterborne incursion into the Japanese pier. These challenges have set both forces to work closely together and counteract the threat. U.S. forces and Japan forces both did a great job. Working together is really necessary. Our forces take this drill very seriously, and we look forward to doing this every year and accomplish what needs to be done. Garden Protect is an exercise who wants a year testing security forces' capabilities and enhancing interoperability with Japanese counterparts. Petty Officer Claire Farron, Fleet Activities, Sasebo, Japan.