When the new brigade is fully formed, and all troops and equipment assigned, the WAIR will be tasked as and perhaps also renamed the 1st Amphibious Rapid Deployment Regiment.

[9] As of June 2013, as part of an ongoing expansion of defense capabilities in the Western Army's area of responsibility, the MOD were considering creating a special "isle assault unit", whose role would be the recapture of remote Japanese islands that had been invaded by a foreign power.

[10] It would share this mission with the pre-existing Western Army Infantry Regiment, itself currently undergoing an expansion in manpower and equipment (e.g. increase in authorised strength to 680 effectives, & adding (initially 4) AAVP-7A1's to its TOE).

[11] Its growth is part of the National Defense Programme Guidelines that were adopted by the Japanese Government in order to ascertain the JGSDF's capabilities in amphibious warfare in defending its islands in case of a future war involving Japan, which can bolster the Japanese–American military alliance.

[5] WAIR forces were equipped with light infantry weapons, including mortars and Japanese-made military trucks such as the Mitsubishi Type 73.