The activities also will feature an increased number of noncombat activities , such as search-and-rescue missions and navigation training , as well as some cultural and trust-building exercises , including community-service projects .
But as japan has started taking part in more overseas missions , including supporting u. s.forces in noncombat roles in afghanistan and iraq , nervousness over japan 's ambitions has also increased , especially among neighbors scarred by japan 's aggression in world war ii .
The exchanges , which are confined to noncombat training , fall short of the kinds of advanced military exercises that occur between the u.s. and longer-term allies in the region , such as the philippines and australia .
