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)

U.S. Marines prepare to deploy an oceanographic sensor at the Pacific Ocean, Calif., Oct. 13. - U.S. Marines prepare to deploy an oceanographic sensor at the Pacific Ocean, Calif., Oct. 13.

Lance Cpl. Christian Frohlich, a radio operator with 1st Air Naval Gunfire Liasion Company, I Marine Expeditionary Force Headquarters Group, relays coordinates to the objective area of a naval gunfire bombing range on San Clemente Island, Feb. 21, 2016, during the supporting arms coordination center exercise (SACCEX) portion of Exercise Iron Fist 2016. The SACCEX provides U.S. and Japanese forces with hands-on experience in tactics proven to be effective in securing enemy-occupied shorelines during large-scale amphibious assaults. - Lance Cpl. Christian Frohlich, a radio operator with 1st Air Naval Gunfire Liasion Company, I Marine Expeditionary Force Headquarters Group, relays coordinates to the objective area of a naval gunfire bombing range on San Clemente Island, Feb. 21, 2016, during the supporting arms coordination center exercise (SACCEX) portion of Exercise Iron Fist 2016. The SACCEX provides U.S. and Japanese forces with hands-on experience in tactics proven to be effective in securing enemy-occupied shorelines during large-scale amphibious assaults.

1st Lt. Carson Fletcher, assigned to Battalion Landing Team, 2nd Battalion, 5th Marines, speaks with an Australian Army Soldier, assigned to 2nd Battalion, Royal Australian Regiment, during an amphibious assault for Talisman Sabre 2015 at Fog Bay, Australia, July 11, 2015. Talisman Sabre is a biennial exercise that provides an invaluable opportunity for nearly 30,000 U.S. and Australian defense forces to conduct operations in a combined, joint and interagency environment that will increase both countries’ ability to plan and execute a full range of operations from combat missions to humanitarian assistance efforts. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Daniel M. Young/Released) - 1st Lt. Carson Fletcher, assigned to Battalion Landing Team, 2nd Battalion, 5th Marines, speaks with an Australian Army Soldier, assigned to 2nd Battalion, Royal Australian Regiment, during an amphibious assault for Talisman Sabre 2015 at Fog Bay, Australia, July 11, 2015. Talisman Sabre is a biennial exercise that provides an invaluable opportunity for nearly 30,000 U.S. and Australian defense forces to conduct operations in a combined, joint and interagency environment that will increase both countries’ ability to plan and execute a full range of operations from combat missions to humanitarian assistance efforts.

Soldiers with 7th Singapore Infantry Brigade and Marines with 1st Battalion, 5th Marine Regiment devise a reaction strategy in case of simulated Improvised Explosive Device attacks during exercise Valiant Mark aboard Marine Corps Base, Camp Pendleton, Calif., Dec. 6, 2014. Valiant Mark enhances U.S. and Singaporean forces’ combined combat readiness through live-fire and urban terrain training as well as amphibious operations familiarization. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Danielle Rodrigues) - Soldiers with 7th Singapore Infantry Brigade and Marines with 1st Battalion, 5th Marine Regiment devise a reaction strategy in case of simulated Improvised Explosive Device attacks during exercise Valiant Mark aboard Marine Corps Base, Camp Pendleton, Calif., Dec. 6, 2014. Valiant Mark enhances U.S. and Singaporean forces’ combined combat readiness through live-fire and urban terrain training as well as amphibious operations familiarization. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Danielle Rodrigues)