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U.S. Navy corpsmen with the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit, and soldiers with the 1st Amphibious Rapid Deployment Regiment, Japan Ground Self-Defense Force, asses the injuries of a simulated casualty during a bilateral casualty evacuation exercise on Camp Hansen, Okinawa, Japan, on March 10, 2023. The training enabled the bilateral medical team to practice in-route care and shock trauma field training during Iron Fist 23. 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 JGSDF, and the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Bridgette Rodriguez)

The U.S. Navy’s amphibious transport dock ship USS Green Bay (LPD-20) with the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit, right, and the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force’s tank landing ship JS Osumi (LST-4001), center, move in formation behind the amphibious assault ship USS America (LHA-6) during Iron Fist 23 in the Philippine Sea Mar. 1, 2023. Iron Fist 23 provided an opportunity for ships of the USS America Amphibious Ready Group and the JMSDF to work together in coordinating large scale ship operations. 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 Japan Ground Self-Defense Force, and the JMSDF. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. William N. Wallace)

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. 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. Marines with Combat Logistics Battalion 31 (CLB), 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit, and Japanese soldiers with the 1st Amphibious Rapid Deployment Regiment conduct a convoy with a Marine Corps joint light tactical vehicle and two medium tactical vehicle replacement trucks, and a Japanese Toyota Type 73 medium truck and two Type 73 Kogata light utility vehicles for a company-level training exercise on Combined Arms Training Center Camp Fuji, Shizuoka Prefecture, Japan, Mar. 17, 2022.

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.

U.S. Navy corpsman with Combat Logistics Battalion 31, 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU) compete against Japanese Ground Self-Defense Force (JGSDF) medics with the Amphibious Ready Deployment Brigade to place a tourniquet on a casualty on Combined Arms Training Center Camp Fuji, Shizuoka Prefecture, Japan, Mar. 21, 2022. The corpsmen and medics worked together to set up a shock trauma platoon, which enables the quick stabilization of casualties in a field environment.

A British Royal Marine Commando with 40 Commando Royal Marines, sets security during an experimental jungle training exercise, Naval Base Guam, Guam, Mar. 22, 2022. Exercise Noble Arashi is part of 31st MEU’s Noble Series of exercises which are used to validate or invalidate the Family of Naval Concepts, develop techniques and procedures for the employment of MEU assets in support of sea denial and fleet maneuver, and inform future force design and experimentation efforts.

U.S. Marine Lance Cpl. Chris Meinershagen, a mortar Marine with Battalion Landing Team 1/5, 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU), holds security during room clearing drills at Barrigada, Guam, Mar. 21, 2022. Exercise Noble Arashi is part of 31st MEU's Noble Series of exercises which are used to validate or invalidate the Family of Naval Concepts, develop techniques and procedures for the employment of MEU assets in support of sea denial and fleet maneuver, and inform future force design and experimentation efforts.

U.S. Marine Corps Lt. Col. Stanley Calixte, commanding officer of Combat Logistics Battalion 31 (CLB), 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit, briefs Japanese soldiers with the 1st Amphibious Rapid Deployment Regiment before a convoy for a company-level training exercise on Combined Arms Training Center Camp Fuji, Shizuoka Prefecture, Japan, Mar. 17, 2022.

Marines with the 31st MEU demonstrated quick response air delivery capabilities to integrate Japanese forces in training.

U.S. Marines with Kilo Battery, Battalion Landing Team 1/5 (BLT 1/5), 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit, conduct a simulated gun drill during a direct fire range at Combined Arms Training Center Camp Fuji, Japan, March 14, 2022. BLT 1/5 routinely conducts live-fire operations to maintain proficiency and combat readiness. Maritime Defense Exercise Amphibious Rapid 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. Marines with Battalion Landing Team 1/5, 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit, engage targets during an unknown distance course at Combined Arms Training Center Camp Fuji, Japan, March. 14, 2022. The course consisted of a live-fire training in which Marines found and eliminated targets at unknown distances. Maritime Defense Exercise Amphibious Rapid 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. Manuel Alvarado)

U.S. Marines with Battalion Landing Team 3/5, 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU), prepare for a night convoy at Camp Hansen, Okinawa, Japan, May 24, 2021.

U.S. Marines with India Company, Battalion Landing Team, 3rd Battalion, 5th Marines (BLT 3/5), 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU), conduct an amphibious night raid rehearsal on combat rubber raiding crafts at Kin Blue training area, Okinawa, Japan, May 22, 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.

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. Marines with the Maritime Raid Force (MRF), 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU), carry a simulated adversary on Camp Hansen, Okinawa, Japan, May 18, 2021.

U.S. Marines with the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU), provide security while patrolling to a known location during on and off drills on a MV-22 in support of MEUEX at Camp Hansen, Okinawa, Japan, on May 17, 2021.

U.S. Marines with Force Reconnaissance Platoon (FRP), 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU), detach themselves after underwater navigation course at Kin Blue, Okinawa, Japan, April 28, 2021.