An MFO Donor State since 1988, Japan expanded its support of the MFO mission by providing two personnel, in April 2019, from the Japanese Self-Defense Force to serve on the Force Commander’s staff in the Sinai. In June 2023, that number doubled to four personnel.

Two Japanese officers fill positions in the Liaison Branch; one as the Deputy Chief of Liaison (Plans) and the other as the Assistant Liaison Operations Officer. Our two newest Japanese contingent members both work in the Engineering Office. One is a Project Engineer responsible for planning, developing, and managing engineering projects at MFO locations in Sinai. The second is a Project Support Senior Noncommissioned Officer with primary duties to supervise construction and facility works projects at all MFO sites including remote sites. All four soldiers are based at our South Camp in Sharm el Sheikh.

Japanese personnel are posted to the Sinai for a period of 12 months.