U.S. Forces Japan (USFJ) has reportedly increased its headquarters personnel by approximately 200 since last year as part of efforts to strengthen its command functions.

The Asahi Shimbun reported on the 26th that Lt. Gen. Stephen Jost, Commander of U.S. Forces Japan, stated that the number of personnel at the headquarters has grown by about 215 since last year.

Regarding the Japan Self-Defense Forces' (JSDF) Joint Operations Command, which was established last year to integrate the command structures of the Ground, Maritime, and Air Self-Defense Forces, Lt. Gen. Jost remarked, "It has enabled a rapid response (in contingencies) that was not possible a year and a half ago."

He also emphasized that the increase in headquarters staff allows for a 24-hour response capability across all combat functions, including logistics and medical support.

U.S. Kadena Air Base in Okinawa, Japan [Yonhap News file photo. Not directly related to the article]

In an interview with the Asahi Shimbun last year, Lt. Gen. Jost had projected that the USFJ headquarters would be transformed into a Joint Force Headquarters over the coming years.

USFJ headquarters currently falls under the U.S. Indo-Pacific Command in Hawaii and has primarily been responsible for base and unit management, rather than holding operational command authority.

During the Biden administration, the U.S. government had pledged to reorganize USFJ in line with Japan's establishment of the JSDF Joint Operations Command, agreeing to transfer some command authority from the Indo-Pacific Command to USFJ. However, with the change in administration following Donald Trump's inauguration, the status of this transfer remains uncertain.

In this latest interview, Lt. Gen. Jost did not comment on whether the USFJ headquarters would transition into a Joint Force Headquarters.

However, he stated that the enhancement of command and control coordination between the JSDF Joint Operations Command and USFJ has now entered its second phase, with the third phase of transformation scheduled to be completed by the spring of 2028.

The first phase involved the establishment of the 'JSDF Joint Operations Command Coordination Team (JCT)' last year, which serves to facilitate communication and liaison between USFJ and the JSDF Joint Operations Command.

The Asahi Shimbun noted that the first full-scale participation of USFJ in the JSDF's large-scale disaster drill—which simulated events such as a Nankai Trough mega-earthquake and a nuclear power plant accident and concluded on the 24th—is part of this first phase of strengthening command and control coordination.

Lt. Gen. Jost explained that the second phase concerns the Bilateral Operations Coordination Center (BOCC), a system for coordinating the joint operations of USFJ and the JSDF in contingencies, adding that they are currently discussing operational procedures.

He stated, "In this region, we must prepare based on the premise not of whether a crisis will occur, but when it will occur. We will maintain the most robust posture possible together with Japan."