Yakima Training Center, WASHINGTON – Staff Sgt. Lucas Miller is not officially an Army translator. The motor transportation operator from 109th Transportation Company, 17th Combat Sustainment Support Battalion, never trained at the Defense Language Institute. Miller was asked for by name to deploy from Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, Alaska to the Yakima Training Center in Washington to facilitate communication between the U.S. Army and the Japan Ground Self-Defense Force during a bi-lateral training exercise.
In the top of Millers patrol cap is a pair of silver wings surrounding a parachute with a small “FF” lapel affixed to the top. Last June, Miller participated in the Artic Aurora training by providing translations during the first annual jump with the 1st Airborne Brigade of the JGDSF.
While the units are building partnerships on the range, they also find opportunities to build relationships off the range and learn about each other’s culture and combined history. Annually the Nisei Veterans Committee comes to observe the training at YTC and hosts a luncheon at the NVC Memorial Hall in Seattle to educate the community and our Soldiers about the history of our two nations.