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OKINAWA, JAPAN (Mar. 12, 2023) Marines assigned to the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit, Sailors assigned the forward deployed amphibious assault carrier USS America (LHA 6), and members of the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force and Japan Ground Self-Defense Force pose for a photo during the closing ceremony for Exercise Iron Fist aboard the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force landing ship tank JS Osumi (LST-4001) while moored in Okinawa, Japan, Mar. 12. Iron Fist is an annual bilateral exercise designed to increase interoperability and strength the relationships between the U.S. Marine Corps, the U.S. Navy, the Japan Ground Self-Defense Force, and the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force. America, lead ship of the America Amphibious Ready Group, is operating in the 7th Fleet area of operations. 7th Fleet is the U.S. Navy’s largest forward-deployed numbered fleet, and routinely interacts and operates with Allies and partners in preserving a free and open Indo-Pacific region. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class Shelby M. Tucker) - OKINAWA, JAPAN (Mar. 12, 2023) Marines assigned to the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit, Sailors assigned the forward deployed amphibious assault carrier USS America (LHA 6), and members of the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force and Japan Ground Self-Defense Force pose for a photo during the closing ceremony for Exercise Iron Fist aboard the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force landing ship tank JS Osumi (LST-4001) while moored in Okinawa, Japan, Mar. 12. Iron Fist is an annual bilateral exercise designed to increase interoperability and strength the relationships between the U.S. Marine Corps, the U.S. Navy, the Japan Ground Self-Defense Force, and the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force. America, lead ship of the America Amphibious Ready Group, is operating in the 7th Fleet area of operations. 7th Fleet is the U.S. Navy’s largest forward-deployed numbered fleet, and routinely interacts and operates with Allies and partners in preserving a free and open Indo-Pacific region. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class Shelby M. Tucker)

Ships of the America and Essex Amphibious Ready Groups, and Carrier Strike Group 3, sail in formation with the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force during exercise Noble Fusion. Left to right: USS Dewey (DDG 105), USS Ashland (LSD 48), JS Kongō (DDG 173), USS Miguel Keith (ESB 5), USS America (LHA 6), USS Mobile Bay (CG 53), USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN 72), USS Spruance (DDG 111), USS Essex (LHD 2), landing crafts, air cushion from Assault Craft Unit (ACU) 5. Noble Fusion demonstrates that Navy and Marine Corps forward-deployed stand-in naval expeditionary forces can rapidly aggregate Marine Expeditionary Unit/Amphibious Ready Group teams at sea, along with a carrier strike group, as well as other joint force elements and allies, in order to conduct lethal sea-denial operations, seize key maritime terrain, guarantee freedom of movement, and create advantage for U.S., partner and allied forces. Naval Expeditionary forces conduct training throughout the year, in the Indo-Pacific, to maintain readiness. - Ships of the America and Essex Amphibious Ready Groups, and Carrier Strike Group 3, sail in formation with the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force during exercise Noble Fusion. Left to right: USS Dewey (DDG 105), USS Ashland (LSD 48), JS Kongō (DDG 173), USS Miguel Keith (ESB 5), USS America (LHA 6), USS Mobile Bay (CG 53), USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN 72), USS Spruance (DDG 111), USS Essex (LHD 2), landing crafts, air cushion from Assault Craft Unit (ACU) 5. Noble Fusion demonstrates that Navy and Marine Corps forward-deployed stand-in naval expeditionary forces can rapidly aggregate Marine Expeditionary Unit/Amphibious Ready Group teams at sea, along with a carrier strike group, as well as other joint force elements and allies, in order to conduct lethal sea-denial operations, seize key maritime terrain, guarantee freedom of movement, and create advantage for U.S., partner and allied forces. Naval Expeditionary forces conduct training throughout the year, in the Indo-Pacific, to maintain readiness.

An F-35B Lightning II from the Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 121 gets refueled by a KC-135 Stratotanker from the 909th Air Refueling Squadron in support of Exercise Noble Fusion over the Pacific Ocean Feb. 4, 2022. Noble Fusion demonstrates that Navy and Marine Corps forward-deployed stand-in naval expeditionary forces can rapidly aggregate Marine Expeditionary Unit/Amphibious Ready Group teams at sea, along with a carrier strike group, joint forces and allies in order to conduct lethal sea-denial operations, seize key maritime terrain, guarantee freedom of movement, and create advantage for U.S., partner and allied forces. Naval Expeditionary forces conduct training in the Indo-Pacific throughout the year to maintain readiness. - An F-35B Lightning II from the Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 121 gets refueled by a KC-135 Stratotanker from the 909th Air Refueling Squadron in support of Exercise Noble Fusion over the Pacific Ocean Feb. 4, 2022. Noble Fusion demonstrates that Navy and Marine Corps forward-deployed stand-in naval expeditionary forces can rapidly aggregate Marine Expeditionary Unit/Amphibious Ready Group teams at sea, along with a carrier strike group, joint forces and allies in order to conduct lethal sea-denial operations, seize key maritime terrain, guarantee freedom of movement, and create advantage for U.S., partner and allied forces. Naval Expeditionary forces conduct training in the Indo-Pacific throughout the year to maintain readiness.

U.S. Marines and JMSDF Soldiers conduct MWD detection training exercises - U.S. Marine Corps Staff Sgt. Adam Cook, left, the kennel master for the Provost Marshal Office with Headquarters and Headquarters Squadron, conducts military working dog detection training at Marine Corps Air Station (MCAS) Iwakuni, Nov. 20, 2019. The training was part of a joint force detection exercise with Japanese Maritime Self-Defense Force (JMSDF) soldiers. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Triton Lai)

JMSDF, MCAS Iwakuni take Friendship Day 2019 to new altitudes - Japanese guests view various U.S. and Japanese static display aircraft during the 43rd Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force – Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni Friendship Day at MCAS Iwakuni, Japan, May 5, 2019. Since 1973, MCAS Iwakuni has held a single-day air show designed to foster positive relationships and offer an exciting experience that displays the communal support between the U.S. and Japan. The air show encompassed various U.S. and Japanese static display aircraft, aerial performances, food and entertainment. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Sgt. Timothy Valero)

Yutaka Fujii, a civilian K-9 handler with Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force, passes a ball to his canine at Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, Japan, March 12, 2018. The training brought Japanese K-9 handlers from the JMSDF Kure Repair and Supply Facility Petroleum Terminal unit and the Hiroshima Police Headquarters to the air station, where they practiced detecting explosives with K-9’s. - Yutaka Fujii, a civilian K-9 handler with Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force, passes a ball to his canine at Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, Japan, March 12, 2018. The training brought Japanese K-9 handlers from the JMSDF Kure Repair and Supply Facility Petroleum Terminal unit and the Hiroshima Police Headquarters to the air station, where they practiced detecting explosives with K-9’s.

Sgt. Andrew Sturgress, a MV-22B Osprey tiltrotor aircraft crew chief assigned to Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron 262, 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit, walks past Mr. Norio Tomonaga, the Mayor of Sasebo, and the Assemblymen of Defense for Sasebo City during take-off preparation from Sasebo, Nagasaki, Japan, Nov. 18, 2016. The aircraft flew from the island of Okinawa, conducted simulated humanitarian aid with the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force at multiple locations and was refueled by JMSDF personnel before returning to Okinawa. - Sgt. Andrew Sturgress, a MV-22B Osprey tiltrotor aircraft crew chief assigned to Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron 262, 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit, walks past Mr. Norio Tomonaga, the Mayor of Sasebo, and the Assemblymen of Defense for Sasebo City during take-off preparation from Sasebo, Nagasaki, Japan, Nov. 18, 2016. The aircraft flew from the island of Okinawa, conducted simulated humanitarian aid with the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force at multiple locations and was refueled by JMSDF personnel before returning to Okinawa.

A U.S. Marine Corps MV-22B Osprey flies over the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force warships, near Tokyo Bay, during the 28th iteration of the JMSDF Fleet Review, Oct. 18, 2015. Approximately 28 aircraft from the JMSDF, U.S. Navy, and U.S. Marine Corps flew above the warship. The fleet review allowed the JMSDF to assess its readiness and demonstrated the Japanese and the U.S. commitment to enduring prosperity and security in the Asia-Pacific region. - A U.S. Marine Corps MV-22B Osprey flies over the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force warships, near Tokyo Bay, during the 28th iteration of the JMSDF Fleet Review, Oct. 18, 2015. Approximately 28 aircraft from the JMSDF, U.S. Navy, and U.S. Marine Corps flew above the warship. The fleet review allowed the JMSDF to assess its readiness and demonstrated the Japanese and the U.S. commitment to enduring prosperity and security in the Asia-Pacific region.

Aircraft Rescue Firefighters with Headquarters and Headquarters Squadron work together to evacuate a casualty during the mass casualty exercise aboard Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, Japan, April 3, 2015. MCAS Iwakuni conducted the exercise in preparation for the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force/MCAS Iwakuni Friendship Day 2015 Air Show. The exercise simulated an aircraft crash and oil spill in a crowded area. - Aircraft Rescue Firefighters with Headquarters and Headquarters Squadron work together to evacuate a casualty during the mass casualty exercise aboard Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, Japan, April 3, 2015. MCAS Iwakuni conducted the exercise in preparation for the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force/MCAS Iwakuni Friendship Day 2015 Air Show. The exercise simulated an aircraft crash and oil spill in a crowded area.