U.S. Marine Corps Col. Matthew Danner, left, the commanding officer of the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit, and Japan Ground Self Defense Force Col. Hajime Tsuji, the commanding officer of the 2nd Amphibious Rapid Deployment Regiment, shake hands during the opening ceremony of Iron Fist 24, on Camp Ainoura, Sasebo, Japan, Feb. 25, 2024. - U.S. Marine Corps Col. Matthew Danner, left, the commanding officer of the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit, and Japan Ground Self Defense Force Col. Hajime Tsuji, the commanding officer of the 2nd Amphibious Rapid Deployment Regiment, shake hands during the opening ceremony of Iron Fist 24, on Camp Ainoura, Sasebo, Japan, Feb. 25, 2024. The opening ceremony initiated training between the two armed forces. Iron Fist is an annual bilateral exercise designed to increase interoperability and strengthen the relationships between the U.S. Marine Corps, the U.S. Navy, the Japanese Ground Self Defense Force, and the Japanese Maritime Self-Defense Force. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Peter J. Eilen)

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)

A U.S. Marine Corps MV-22B Osprey with Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron 265 (Reinforced), 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit, and a Japanese Ground Self-Defense Force V-22 Osprey with the 107th Aviation Unit conduct a bilateral formation flight over Mount Fuji, Japan, Mar. 17, 2022. Bilateral flights build familiarity and interoperability between U.S. and Japanese aviation units. - A U.S. Marine Corps MV-22B Osprey with Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron 265 (Reinforced), 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit, and a Japanese Ground Self-Defense Force V-22 Osprey with the 107th Aviation Unit conduct a bilateral formation flight over Mount Fuji, Japan, Mar. 17, 2022. Bilateral flights build familiarity and interoperability between U.S. and Japanese aviation units. Maritime Defense Exercise Amphibious Ready Deployment Brigade is a bilateral exercise meant to increase interoperability and strengthen ties between U.S. and Japanese forces for the defense of Japan. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Cesar Ronaldo Alarcon)

U.S. Marine Corps Staff Sgt. Mathew Kearney (left), chief instructor at the Jungle Warfare Training Center (JWTC), 1st Lt. Sargon II Bebla (center), platoon commander, and Staff Sgt. Brian Giera (right), platoon sergeant, with Battalion Landing Team (BLT) 1/5, 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU), observe stalking lanes at the JWTC in Okinawa, Japan, Jan. 8, 2022. Scout snipers play an integral part in the Stand in Force Concept operating as the eyes and ears of the ground force commander, allowing for a more efficient decision making process. - U.S. Marine Corps Staff Sgt. Mathew Kearney (left), chief instructor at the Jungle Warfare Training Center (JWTC), 1st Lt. Sargon II Bebla (center), platoon commander, and Staff Sgt. Brian Giera (right), platoon sergeant, with Battalion Landing Team (BLT) 1/5, 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU), observe stalking lanes at the JWTC in Okinawa, Japan, Jan. 8, 2022. Scout snipers play an integral part in the Stand in Force Concept operating as the eyes and ears of the ground force commander, allowing for a more efficient decision making process. The 31st MEU, the Marine Corps' only continuously forward-deployed MEU, provides a flexible and lethal force ready to perform a wide range of military operations as the premiere crisis response force in the Indo-Pacific region. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Christopher W. England)

U.S. Marine Corps Sgt. Kaleb Smith, an automotive maintenance technician with Combat Logistics Battalion 31, 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU), and a native of Knoxville, Tennessee, is awarded the 2020 Motor Transport Noncommissioned Officer of the Year at Camp Hansen, Okinawa, Japan, on May 28, 2021. - U.S. Marine Corps Sgt. Kaleb Smith, an automotive maintenance technician with Combat Logistics Battalion 31, 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU), and a native of Knoxville, Tennessee, is awarded the 2020 Motor Transport Noncommissioned Officer of the Year at Camp Hansen, Okinawa, Japan, on May 28, 2021. On behalf of the commandant of the Marine Corps, Marines were recognized as the 2020 United States Marine Corps Motor Transport Awards Program recipients for their hard work and dedication to the Motor Transport community and mission. The 31st MEU, the Marine Corps’ only continuously forward-deployed MEU, provides a flexible and lethal force ready to perform a wide range of military operations as the premier crisis response force in the Indo-Pacific region. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Karis Mattingly)

U.S. Marine Corps Sgt. Kaley Gee, the Marine Air Ground Task Force planning specialist chief and training non-commissioned officer with the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU), Command Element, receives a meritorious promotion on Camp Hansen, Okinawa, Japan, May 2, 2021. - U.S. Marine Corps Sgt. Kaley Gee, the Marine Air Ground Task Force planning specialist chief and training non-commissioned officer with the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU), Command Element, receives a meritorious promotion on Camp Hansen, Okinawa, Japan, May 2, 2021. The 31st MEU, the Marine Corps’ only continuously forward-deployed MEU, provides a flexible and lethal force ready to perform a wide range of military operations as the premier crisis response force in the Indo-Pacific region. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Alexandria Nowell)

U.S Marine Corps Gunnery Sgt. Luckner Desma, chief, Motor Transport Operations goes over immediate action drills during a Vehicle Commander Course on Camp Hansen, Okinawa, Japan, April 20, 2021. - U.S Marine Corps Gunnery Sgt. Luckner Desma, chief, Motor Transport Operations goes over immediate action drills during a Vehicle Commander Course on Camp Hansen, Okinawa, Japan, April 20, 2021. The command element conducted a Vehicle Commander Course (VCC) instruction and testing in order to train and assess the tactical and technical proficiency of Marines in order to certify them to serve as Vehicle Commanders. The 31st MEU, the Marine Corps’ only continuously forward-deployed MEU, provides a flexible and lethal force ready to perform a wide range of military operations as the premier crisis response force in the Indo-Pacific region. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Sgt. Daisha R. Ramirez)

The 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit is operating aboard ships of the America Expeditionary Strike Group in the 7th fleet area of operations to enhance interoperability with allies and partners and serve as a ready response force to defend peace and stability in the Indo-Pacific region. - U.S. Navy Hull Technician 2nd Class Dawsen Forbes, a hull technician assigned to amphibious assault ship USS America (LHA 6), and a native of Denver, North Carolina, fits a laptop inside a welded aluminum piece within a light tactical all-terrain vehicle (MRZR) aboard LHA 6 in the Philippine Sea, Jan. 20, 2021. Forbes designed and welded aluminum parts to fit inside the MRZR to help secure radios, laptops and extra equipment during training exercises and operations. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Cody Rowe)