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U.S. Marines with the III Marine Expeditionary Force and members of the Japan Ground-Self Defense Force 15th Brigade bands pose for a photo at Tedako Hall in Urasoe, Okinawa, Japan, April 16, 2021. The bands' harmonious performance was a display of the III MEF and 15th Brigade bands' alliance and unity within the musical arts. The annual concert was performed virtually and the recording will debut on social media platforms within the coming weeks. - U.S. Marines with the III Marine Expeditionary Force and members of the Japan Ground-Self Defense Force 15th Brigade bands pose for a photo at Tedako Hall in Urasoe, Okinawa, Japan, April 16, 2021. The bands' harmonious performance was a display of the III MEF and 15th Brigade bands' alliance and unity within the musical arts. The annual concert was performed virtually and the recording will debut on social media platforms within the coming weeks.

A formation of skis belonging to U.S. Marines from 2nd Battalion, 3rd Regiment, 3rd Marine Division, as they conduct a bilateral sniper rifle range with Soldiers from 5th Brigade, Japan Ground Self-Defense Force, during exercise Northern Viper on Hokudaien Training Area, Hokkaido, Japan, Jan. 28. - A formation of skis belonging to U.S. Marines from 2nd Battalion, 3rd Regiment, 3rd Marine Division, as they conduct a bilateral sniper rifle range with Soldiers from 5th Brigade, Japan Ground Self-Defense Force, during exercise Northern Viper on Hokudaien Training Area, Hokkaido, Japan, Jan. 28.

U.S. Marine and the commanding officer of 5th Brigade, Japan Ground Self-Defense Force, chant with the forces during an opening ceremony to start off exercise Northern Viper on Hokudaien Training Area, Hokkaido, Japan, Jan. 26. - U.S. Marine and the commanding officer of 5th Brigade, Japan Ground Self-Defense Force, chant with the forces during an opening ceremony to start off exercise Northern Viper on Hokudaien Training Area, Hokkaido, Japan, Jan. 26.

Approximately 275 U.S. Marines from 1st Battalion, 25th Marine Regiment, Marine Forces Reserve, currently assigned to 3d Marine Division as part of the Unit Deployment Program, and Marines from 1st Marine Aircraft Wing, will join their Japan Ground Self-Defense Force counterparts from the 8th Regiment, 13th Brigade, Middle Army. Their deployment validates the readiness and skill of the reserves to augment their active duty counterparts. - The forces will conduct a bilateral, combined arms exercise and live fire training in conjunction with ground and aviation units. During this iteration, the combined force will focus on helicopter-borne operations, with a comprehensive final training event that will begin with an aerial insert from MV-22B Ospreys, and consist of multiple days of complex bilateral movements against an opposing force.

U.S. Marines prepare to fire an M777 Howitzer during exercise KAMANDAG 3 at Colonel Ernesto P. Ravina Air Base, Philippines, Oct. 13. - U.S. Marines prepare to fire an M777 Howitzer during exercise KAMANDAG 3 at Colonel Ernesto P. Ravina Air Base, Philippines, Oct. 13.

U.S. Marine Lt. Col. Louis Simon, executive officer of the 13th Marine Expeditionary Unit, acts as the commander of troops during the opening ceremony of Exercise Iron Fist 2017, at Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, California, Feb. 6, 2017. Iron Fist is an annual, bilateral training exercise where U.S. and Japanese service members train together and share techniques, tactics and procedures to improve their combined operational capabilities. - U.S. Marine Lt. Col. Louis Simon, executive officer of the 13th Marine Expeditionary Unit, acts as the commander of troops during the opening ceremony of Exercise Iron Fist 2017, at Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, California, Feb. 6, 2017. Iron Fist is an annual, bilateral training exercise where U.S. and Japanese service members train together and share techniques, tactics and procedures to improve their combined operational capabilities.

Marines fire an illumination round from an M777A2 lightweight 155 mm during live-fire artillery training Sept. 1 at the Yausubetsu Maneuver Area in Hokkaido as part of Artillery Relocation Training Program 14-2. The illumination round is able to light a 1-by-1-kilometer grid square for two minutes. The Marines are with Battery B, 1st Battalion, 12th Marine Regiment, currently assigned to 3rd Battalion, 12th Marines, 3rd Marine Division, III Marine Expeditionary Force. - Marines fire an illumination round from an M777A2 lightweight 155 mm during live-fire artillery training Sept. 1 at the Yausubetsu Maneuver Area in Hokkaido as part of Artillery Relocation Training Program 14-2. The illumination round is able to light a 1-by-1-kilometer grid square for two minutes. The Marines are with Battery B, 1st Battalion, 12th Marine Regiment, currently assigned to 3rd Battalion, 12th Marines, 3rd Marine Division, III Marine Expeditionary Force.

A rifleman assigned to Western Army Infantry Regiment, Japan Ground Self Defense Force, provides security from an amphibious assault vehicle, during a live-fire platoon level assault, during Exercise Iron Fist 2016 at Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center Twentynine Palms, Feb. 9, 2016. Iron Fist is an annual bilateral training exercise between the Japan Ground Self Defense Force and Marines to strengthen warfighting capabilities in ship to shore operations. - A rifleman assigned to Western Army Infantry Regiment, Japan Ground Self Defense Force, provides security from an amphibious assault vehicle, during a live-fire platoon level assault, during Exercise Iron Fist 2016 at Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center Twentynine Palms, Feb. 9, 2016. Iron Fist is an annual bilateral training exercise between the Japan Ground Self Defense Force and Marines to strengthen warfighting capabilities in ship to shore operations.

Cpl. Malynn Ochsner shows Japan Ground Self-Defense Force Officer Candidate Ayako Yukawa how to operate a MK19 machine gun, MOD 3 on Camp Kinser, Okinawa, Japan, Jan. 15. Three hundred and sixty JGSDF officer candidates visited Combat Logistics Regiment 35 to complete joint and combined operation requirements. The cadets watched Marine Corps Martial Art Program demonstrations, learned the capabilities of various machine guns the Marine Corps uses, and observed a static display of motor transportation vehicles. Ochsner, from Pflugerville, Texas, is a distribution management specialist with 3rd Supply Battalion, CLR-35, 3rd Marine Logistics Group, III Marine Expeditionary Force. - Cpl. Malynn Ochsner shows Japan Ground Self-Defense Force Officer Candidate Ayako Yukawa how to operate a MK19 machine gun, MOD 3 on Camp Kinser, Okinawa, Japan, Jan. 15. Three hundred and sixty JGSDF officer candidates visited Combat Logistics Regiment 35 to complete joint and combined operation requirements. The cadets watched Marine Corps Martial Art Program demonstrations, learned the capabilities of various machine guns the Marine Corps uses, and observed a static display of motor transportation vehicles. Ochsner, from Pflugerville, Texas, is a distribution management specialist with 3rd Supply Battalion, CLR-35, 3rd Marine Logistics Group, III Marine Expeditionary Force.

Japanese Ground Self-Defense Force 1st Lt. Ryota Hasebe attached to 3rd Battalion 12th Marines, 3rd Marine Division, III Marine Expeditionary Force for two months starting Jan. 11 and ending March 13 poses for a photo at Camp Hansen, Okinawa. During those two months Hasebe learned about U.S. Marine Corps artillery and went to Marine Air Ground Combat Center Twentynine Palms, California for Integrated Training Exercise 2-15. Hasebe, 28, studied Chinese Literature and graduated from Kokugakuin University in Tokyo before joining the JGSDF in 2011. Hasebe is now the battalion fire direction control officer for 1st Battalion, 4th Field Artillery Regiment in Fukuoka Japan. - Japanese Ground Self-Defense Force 1st Lt. Ryota Hasebe attached to 3rd Battalion 12th Marines, 3rd Marine Division, III Marine Expeditionary Force for two months starting Jan. 11 and ending March 13 poses for a photo at Camp Hansen, Okinawa. During those two months Hasebe learned about U.S. Marine Corps artillery and went to Marine Air Ground Combat Center Twentynine Palms, California for Integrated Training Exercise 2-15. Hasebe, 28, studied Chinese Literature and graduated from Kokugakuin University in Tokyo before joining the JGSDF in 2011. Hasebe is now the battalion fire direction control officer for 1st Battalion, 4th Field Artillery Regiment in Fukuoka Japan.

Marines with 1st Reconnaissance Battalion, 1st Marine Division, and members of the Japan Ground Self-Defense Force conduct amphibious raids and military operations on urban terrain during Exercise Iron Fist 15 aboard Camp Pendleton on Feb. 3, 2015. Exercise Iron Fist 15 is an annual bilateral training exercise between U.S. and Japanese military forces that builds their combined ability to conduct amphibious and land-based contingency operations. IF15, currently in its tenth iteration, is scheduled from Jan. 26 to Feb. 27, 2015, in southern California. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Angel Serna/Released) - Marines with 1st Reconnaissance Battalion, 1st Marine Division, and members of the Japan Ground Self-Defense Force conduct amphibious raids and military operations on urban terrain during Exercise Iron Fist 15 aboard Camp Pendleton on Feb. 3, 2015. Exercise Iron Fist 15 is an annual bilateral training exercise between U.S. and Japanese military forces that builds their combined ability to conduct amphibious and land-based contingency operations. IF15, currently in its tenth iteration, is scheduled from Jan. 26 to Feb. 27, 2015, in southern California. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Angel Serna/Released)

U.S. Marine Lt. Col. Nicholas Davis, left, presents Japan Ground Self-Defense Force Col. Hiroji Yamashita with a plaque, Dec. 12, during the closing ceremony for Forest Light 15-1 at Camp Kita Kumamoto in Kumamoto, Kumamoto prefecture, Japan. Forest Light is a routine, semi-annual exercise designed to enhance the U.S. and Japan military partnership, solidify regional security agreements and improve individual and unit-level skills. Davis is the commanding officer of 2nd Battalion, 9th Marine Regiment, currently assigned to 4th Marine Regiment, 3rd Marine Division, III Marine Expeditionary Force, under the unit deployment program. Yamashita is the commanding officer of the 42nd Regiment, 8th Division, Western Army, JGSDF. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Drew Tech/Released) - U.S. Marine Lt. Col. Nicholas Davis, left, presents Japan Ground Self-Defense Force Col. Hiroji Yamashita with a plaque, Dec. 12, during the closing ceremony for Forest Light 15-1 at Camp Kita Kumamoto in Kumamoto, Kumamoto prefecture, Japan. Forest Light is a routine, semi-annual exercise designed to enhance the U.S. and Japan military partnership, solidify regional security agreements and improve individual and unit-level skills. Davis is the commanding officer of 2nd Battalion, 9th Marine Regiment, currently assigned to 4th Marine Regiment, 3rd Marine Division, III Marine Expeditionary Force, under the unit deployment program. Yamashita is the commanding officer of the 42nd Regiment, 8th Division, Western Army, JGSDF. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Drew Tech/Released)

U.S. Marines lead a foot patrol during Forest Light 15-1 at the Oyanohara Training Area in Yamato, Kumamoto prefecture, Japan Dec. 9. Forest Light is a routine, semi-annual exercise designed to enhance the U.S. and Japan military partnership, solidify regional security agreements and improve individual and unit-level skills. The Marines are with 2nd Battalion, 9th Marine Regiment, currently attached to 4th Marine Regiment, 3rd Marine Division, III Marine Expeditionary Force, under the unit deployment program. - U.S. Marines lead a foot patrol during Forest Light 15-1 at the Oyanohara Training Area in Yamato, Kumamoto prefecture, Japan Dec. 9. Forest Light is a routine, semi-annual exercise designed to enhance the U.S. and Japan military partnership, solidify regional security agreements and improve individual and unit-level skills. The Marines are with 2nd Battalion, 9th Marine Regiment, currently attached to 4th Marine Regiment, 3rd Marine Division, III Marine Expeditionary Force, under the unit deployment program.

U.S. Marines lead a foot patrol Dec. 9 during Forest Light 15-1 at the Oyanohara Training Area in Yamato, Kumamoto prefecture, Japan. Forest Light is a routine, semi-annual exercise designed to enhance the U.S. and Japan military partnership, solidify regional security agreements and improve individual and unit-level skills. The Marines are with 2nd Battalion, 9th Marine Regiment, currently attached to 4th Marine Regiment, 3rd Marine Division, III Marine Expeditionary Force, under the unit deployment program. - U.S. Marines lead a foot patrol Dec. 9 during Forest Light 15-1 at the Oyanohara Training Area in Yamato, Kumamoto prefecture, Japan. Forest Light is a routine, semi-annual exercise designed to enhance the U.S. and Japan military partnership, solidify regional security agreements and improve individual and unit-level skills. The Marines are with 2nd Battalion, 9th Marine Regiment, currently attached to 4th Marine Regiment, 3rd Marine Division, III Marine Expeditionary Force, under the unit deployment program.

Japan Ground Self-Defense Force Sgt. 1st Class Yatsuka Ikeda, left, helps U.S. Marine 1st Sgt. Timothy Babcock set up the American flag Dec. 1 before the opening ceremony for Forest Light 15-1 at the Oyanohara Training Area in Yamato, Kumamoto prefecture, Japan. Forest Light demonstrates the continued commitment of the U.S. and Japan to increase interoperability of our armed forces and maintain a strong partnership to protect Japan from external aggression. Ikeda is with 42nd Regiment, 8th Division, Western Army, JGSDF. Babcock, from Port Austin, Michigan, is company first sergeant with Company G, 2nd Battalion, 9th Marine Regiment, currently attached to 4th Marine Regiment, 3rd Marine Division, III Marine Expeditionary Force, under the unit deployment program. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Drew Tech/Released) - Japan Ground Self-Defense Force Sgt. 1st Class Yatsuka Ikeda, left, helps U.S. Marine 1st Sgt. Timothy Babcock set up the American flag Dec. 1 before the opening ceremony for Forest Light 15-1 at the Oyanohara Training Area in Yamato, Kumamoto prefecture, Japan. Forest Light demonstrates the continued commitment of the U.S. and Japan to increase interoperability of our armed forces and maintain a strong partnership to protect Japan from external aggression. Ikeda is with 42nd Regiment, 8th Division, Western Army, JGSDF. Babcock, from Port Austin, Michigan, is company first sergeant with Company G, 2nd Battalion, 9th Marine Regiment, currently attached to 4th Marine Regiment, 3rd Marine Division, III Marine Expeditionary Force, under the unit deployment program. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Drew Tech/Released)

U.S. Marine Lance Cpl. Jonas G. Dewald works with a fellow Marine to don his ghillie suit Dec. 2 in the Oyanohara Training Area in Yamato, Kumamoto prefecture, Japan. The concealment training is part of Forest Light 15-1, a semi-annual, bilateral exercise consisting of a command post exercise and field training events conducted by elements of III Marine Expeditionary Force and the Japan Ground Self-Defense Force to enhance the U.S. and Japan military partnership, solidify regional security agreements and improve individual and unit-level skills. Dewald, from Wilson, North Carolina, is a machine gunner with Weapons Company, 2nd Battalion, 9th Marine Regiment, currently attached to 4th Marine Regiment, 3rd Marine Division, III MEF, under the unit deployment program. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Drew Tech/Released) - U.S. Marine Lance Cpl. Jonas G. Dewald works with a fellow Marine to don his ghillie suit Dec. 2 in the Oyanohara Training Area in Yamato, Kumamoto prefecture, Japan. The concealment training is part of Forest Light 15-1, a semi-annual, bilateral exercise consisting of a command post exercise and field training events conducted by elements of III Marine Expeditionary Force and the Japan Ground Self-Defense Force to enhance the U.S. and Japan military partnership, solidify regional security agreements and improve individual and unit-level skills. Dewald, from Wilson, North Carolina, is a machine gunner with Weapons Company, 2nd Battalion, 9th Marine Regiment, currently attached to 4th Marine Regiment, 3rd Marine Division, III MEF, under the unit deployment program. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Drew Tech/Released)