Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force

What is the purpose of that organization, and how does it differ from an academy such as West Point?

Yes, the National Defense Academy was established in 1952 as a joint college school with the aim of training future officers for ground self-defense force, maritime self-defense force, and air self-defense force.

National Defense Academy, NDA, adheres to the three founding principles established under the first president the first principle is to the development of well-balanced character in knowledge virtue and physical ability second is academic education and military training that form a foundation of military officer and third is the formation of a tradition of cadets' self-discipline, autonomy, and self-reliance.

Their goal is to cultivate individuals worthy of becoming future officers.

NDA cadets strive to improve themselves with the spirit of self-discipline, autonomy, and self-reliance endeavor to cultivate rigorous moral character and aim to develop the expandable qualities necessary to fulfill their assigned mission.

The cadet honor code has been established by cadets themselves with integrity, true courage, and courtesy as its three virtues and is practiced as a spiritual foundation and code of conduct.

The difference is between the two is that the West Point is an Army cadet school while the National Defense Academy is a joint cadet school for the Ground Self-Defense Force, Maritime Self-Defense Force, and Air Self-Defense Force.

MDA cadets choose their future branch of service when they advance to their second year.

Proven in operational environments across the globe, if I could say that now.

We've seen Japan announce it as a Japanese Maritime Self-Defense Force.

There's a Group 3 UAS that they're looking at.

Obviously, the continued use by the US with the Coast Guards and the Marine Expeditionary Units and throughout Europe is proliferating.

And Japan has been much more active now in Southeast Asia.

So you mentioned that the first visit, in fact, to the Ream Naval Base was a Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force ship.

Japan has done a status of forces agreement with the Philippines.

The defense minister was recently in Indonesia to sign a new security pact.

Nuclear submarines can stay submerged and travel underwater for longer durations over greater distances and at higher speeds compared with conventional diesel powered vessels.

Admiral Akira Saito, chief of staff of the Maritime Self-Defense Force, said they are expected to deliver a dramatic improvement in capabilities in light of China's maritime expansion.

There are expectations that they would contribute to bolstering Japan's deterrence.

Defense Minister Shinjiro Koizumi has said that the government will not rule out the option of acquiring them and continue to explore it within a government panel of experts.

Obata cautioned it's unclear whether humans respond the same way.

Mitsubishi Heavy Industries launched Shogei, the seventh Taigei-class diesel-electric submarine, for Japan's Maritime Self-Defense Force on October 8 in Kobe.

The roughly 3,000-ton boat, costing about 80 billion yen, is due for delivery in March 2028 and carries upgraded diesel engines, lithium-ion batteries, and the new Type 18 torpedo.

The launch comes as Japan weighs nuclear propulsion for future submarines fitted with vertical launching systems for long-range missiles.

Yeah.

Um, and they, they also, you know, this is where it would sort of reinforce that the modern, you know, JMSDF is, you know, practically a foreign navy to the IJN.

Sure.

They do not really, you know, there are some traditions which are being passed down, but they, they do not view there being any sort of solid connection.

Right.

And so there's a quote I included in, in the book which was, um, the, the admiral commanding sort of the academy said, you know, basically to the effect that, um, the Japanese people have a greater connection to Yamato, the battleship, than the JMSDF does.

Right.

Um, and so there's that sort of, there's that huge disconnect, um, that's, that's sort of happening.

except for a self-defense force solely for the defense of Japanese national territories.

This is why the Japanese military today is called the Japanese Maritime Self-Defense Force and the Japanese Self-Defense Force, respectively.

And and but but these Japanese you feel like they are being unfairly targeted because this makes Japan a not normal nation to be a normal nation.

They need to have the right to a normal military.