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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.