Exercise Iron Fist

Soldiers, with the Japanese Ground Self Defense Force, Western Army Infantry Regiment and Marines with 1st Reconnaissance Battalion use oars to traverse over water in a combat rubber raiding craft here Feb. 14. More

Nicholas Parks, Alpha Company, 1st Reconnaissance Battalion, shows Japanese soldiers with the Western Army Infantry Regiment the weights he had in his pack during their 3 mile hike here Feb. 15. The Marines and More

Sgt. Tayler Jerome, team leader with Alpha Company, 1st Reconnaissance Battalion, explains how the Marines applied the natural look of their surroundings to their camouflage to blend in during a squad formation More

Soldiers with the Japanese Ground Self Defense Force, Western Army Infantry Regiment and Marines with 1st Tank Battalion, Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center Twentynine Palms, Calif., carry gear during a hike More

Marines with 1st Tank Battalion, Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center, Twentynine Palms, Calif., stage their tanks during an Exercise Iron Fist evolution here Feb. 15. The soldiers and Marines are participatin More

Lance Cpl. Westley Contrata (center), an interpreter with I Marine Expeditionary Force, participates in combat rubber raiding craft during Exercise Iron Fist here Feb. 16. Marines and soldiers with the Japanes More

Japanese Ground Self Defense Force, Western Army Infantry Regiment soldiers participate in combat rubber raiding craft training during Exercise Iron Fist here Feb. 16. Marines and Japanese soldiers are partic More

Cpl. Alexander King, a sniper from Weapons Company, 3rd Battalion, 1st Marine Regiment, gives a class on the M107 Special Application Scoped Rifle to Japanese soldiers with the Western Army Infantry Regiment he More

Sgt. Steve Marin, a mortarman with 5th Marine Regiment and a soldier, with the Japanese Ground Self Defense Force, Western Army Infantry Regiment, mortar platoon, review a range during training here Feb. 17. Th More

Sailors with Assault Craft Unit 5 secure a M777 Howitzer to the deck of a landing craft aboard Camp Pendleton, Calif., Feb 22, in preparation for part of Exercise Iron Fist, a bilateral training exercise betwee More

A sailor with Assault Craft Unit 1, guides the driver of an M1A1 Abrams Main Battle Tank, 1st Tank Battalion Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center Twentynine Palms, from the deck of a landing craft to Camp Pend More

Japanese Ground Self Defense Force, Western Army Infantry Regiment soldiers stand on the USS Makin Island as it departs Naval Base San Diego here Feb. 23. The soldiers are participating in Exercise Iron Fist, a More

An amphibious assault vehicle with 1st Platoon, Alpha Company, 3rd Assault Amphibian Battalion, submerges into the boat basin on Camp Pendleton, Calif., Feb. 24, to load onto USS Dubuque. This training is part More

A soldier, with the Japanese Ground Self Defense Force, watches as a landing craft with Assault Craft Unit 5 glides through the water towards USS Makin Island here Feb. 24. The landing craft was loaded with Jap More

A Landing Craft Air Cushion with Assault Craft Unit 5, out of Camp Pendleton, Calif., boards USS Makin Island here Feb. 24. Assault Craft Unit 5 is participating in Exercise Iron Fist, a bilateral training exer More

Lance Cpl. Marc Desir, a disbursing technician from Jamaica Queens, N.Y., accepts cash in the disbursing office to transfer onto temporary cash cards aboard USS Makin Island during Exercise Iron Fist here Feb. More

Cpl. Kyle Kerran, with 1st Tank Battalion from Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center, Twentynine Palms, Calif., from Canal Winchester, Ohio, performs radio checks on a Harris 117 radio in preparation of exercis More

Col. Akira Kurosawa, commanding officer of the Western Army Infantry Regiment (left), and Col. Michael R. Hudson, commanding officer of the 11th Marine Expeditionary Unit, speak before Japanese soldiers conduct More

Cpl. Scott Tricou (left), from Hammond, La., and Cpl. Kyle Kerran (right), from Canal Winchester, Ohio, perform radio checks on a Harris 117 radio in preparation of exercises aboard USS Makin Island here Feb. 2 More

Japanese soldiers conduct combat rubber raiding craft training from the well deck of USS Makin Island during Exercise Iron Fist here Feb. 25. Marines with the 11th Marine Expeditionary Unit and soldiers with th More

Staff Sgt. Donald J. Hammond, administration chief with the 11th Marine Expeditionary Unit, from Memphis, Tenn., participates in a game of spades here Feb. 25. Hammond is playing in a tournament designed to inc More

A combat cargo Marine stationed aboard USS Makin Island briefs soldiers from the Japanese Ground Self Defense Force, Western Army Infantry Regiment, about boarding aircraft here, Feb. 26, 2011. The Marines and More

Cpl. William O. McLaughlin, with the 11th Marine Expeditionary Unit, from Brooklyn, N.Y., participates in a game of spades here Feb. 25. McLaughlin is playing in a tournament designed to increase moral and cama More

Marines, with the 11th Marine Expeditionary Unit and sailors, stationed aboard USS Makin Island, play a card game against each other here Feb. 25. Sailors and Marines are participating in a spades tournament to More

Petty Officer 2nd Class Richard Evitts, an intelligence specialist, left, and Pfc. Rick Griesbach play chess on the mess decks of the amphibious assault ship USS Makin island (LHD 8) during the ship's first-eve More

Marines with 1st Tank Battalion quick reaction force Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center Twentynine Palms, Calif., coordinate with air support for a landing zone pickup aboard Camp Pendleton, Feb. 28, during More

SAN DIEGO (Feb. 06, 2012) Japanese Capt. Makita, center, and members of the Japanese Ground Self Defense Force (JGSDF) are aboard the amphibious assault ship USS Peleliu (LHA 5) to participate in exercise Iron More

SAN DIEGO (Feb. 07, 2012) Sailors at Naval Base San Diego release mooring lines as the amphibious assault ship USS Peleliu (LHA 5) gets underway for exercise Iron Fist 2012. Iron Fist is a bilateral exercise be More

PACIFIC OCEAN (Feb. 07, 2012) An AV-8B Harrier approaches the flight deck of the amphibious assault ship USS Peleliu (LHA 5) during flight operations. Peleliu is participating in exercise Iron Fist 2012. Iron F More

PACIFIC OCEAN (Feb. 07, 2012) An AV-8B Harrier approaches the flight deck of the amphibious assault ship USS Peleliu (LHA 5) during flight operations. Peleliu is participating in exercise Iron Fist 2012. Iron F More

SAN DIEGO (Feb. 07, 2012) The amphibious assault ship USS Peleliu (LHA 5) transits San Diego Bay after pulling out of Naval Base San Diego to participate in exercise Iron Fist 2012. Iron Fist is a bilateral exe More

SAN DIEGO (Feb. 07, 2012) The amphibious assault ship USS Peleliu (LHA 5) transits San Diego Bay after pulling out of Naval Base San Diego on their way to participate in exercise Iron Fist 2012. Iron Fist is a More

PACIFIC OCEAN (Feb. 08, 2012) Members of the Japan Ground Self-Defense Force conduct small arms weapons training aboard the amphibious assault ship USS Peleliu (LHA 5). Peleliu is participating in exercise Iron More

PACIFIC OCEAN (Feb. 08, 2012) Members of the Japan Ground Self-Defense Force conduct small arms weapons training aboard the amphibious assault ship USS Peleliu (LHA 5). Peleliu is participating in exercise Iron More

SAN CLEMENTE ISLAND, Calif. (Feb. 10, 2012) The amphibious assault ship USS Peleliu (LHA 5) stages along the coast of San Clemente Island for the beach assault phase of exercise Iron Fist 2012. This bilateral t More

SAN CLEMENTE ISLAND, Calif. (Feb. 10, 2012) Members from the Japan Ground Self-Defense Force file along the flight line for their air assault aboard the amphibious assault ship USS Peleliu (LHA 5) during exerci More

SAN CLEMENTE ISLAND, Calif. (Feb. 10, 2012) The amphibious assault ship USS Peleliu (LHA 5) launches Landing Craft Utility (LCU) 1635 off the coast of San Clemente Island for the beach assault phase of exercise More

SAN CLEMENTE ISLAND, Calif. (Feb. 12, 2012) The guided-missile cruiser USS Chancellorsville (CG 62) maneuvers into position to conduct live naval gunfire as part of exercise Iron Fist 2012. Iron Fist is a train More

PACIFIC OCEAN (Feb. 12, 2012) Japanese Maj. Gen. Katsuki Takata, deputy chief of staff for operations, Western Army, completes his visit to the amphibious assault ship USS Peleliu (LHA 5), during exercise Iron More

Two Ch-53E Super Stallions with Marine Heavy Helicopter Squadron 465 ‘Warhorse,’ 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing fly away from the shore after carrying Charlie Company, 1st Reconnaissance Marines and Japanese recon an More

Corporal Rene Gonzalez, left, data network specialist, and Lance Cpl. Carlos D. Vassallo, field radio operator, both with the 15th Marine Expeditionary Unit, pack radio equipment in preparation for a communicat More

Data communications Marines with the 15th Marine Expeditionary Unit, left, demonstrate to Marines with 9th Communication Battalion the capabilities of an AN(PRC)-117F radio during a communications exercise aboa More

An egress instructor inspects a soldier with the Japan Ground Self-Defense Force, as he practices bracing for impact while conducting Underwater Egress training during Exercise Iron Fist 2014 aboard Camp Pendle More

A soldier with the Japan Ground Self-Defense Force conducts helocast training with 1st Reconnaissance Battalion during Exercise Iron Fist 2014 aboard Camp Pendleton, Calif., Jan. 23, 2014. Iron Fist is an amphi More

Soldiers with the Japan Ground Self-Defense Force listen to Marines from 1st Air Naval Gunfire Liaison Company during Exercise Iron Fist 2014 aboard Camp Pendleton, Calif., Jan. 23, 2014. Iron Fist 2014 is an a More

U.S. Marines and sailors and Japanese soldiers render salutes during the American and Japanese national anthems at the opening ceremony of Exercise Iron Fist 2014 aboard Camp Pendleton, Calif., Jan. 23, 2014. I More

U.S. Marines from 1st Air Naval Gunfire Liaison Company and soldiers from the Japan Ground Self-Defense Force run along the beach during Exercise Iron Fist 2014 aboard Camp Pendleton, Calif., Jan. 24, 2014. Iro More

A U.S. Marine, pre-scout sniper instructor, Division Schools, demonstrates stalking techniques to soldiers from the Japan Ground Self-Defense Force during Exercise Iron Fist 2014 aboard Camp Pendleton, Calif., More

U.S. Marines with 1st Reconnaissance Battalion, 1st Marine Division, demonstrate how to execute an amphibious insertion using a combat rubber reconnaissance craft to soldiers with the Japan Ground Self-Defense More

A soldier with the Japan Ground Self-Defense Force makes final adjustments to a Zodiac boat before departing on a navigation drill during Exercise Iron Fist 2014 aboard Naval Amphibious Base Coronado, Calif., J More

Soldiers from the Japan Ground Self-Defense Force prepare their weapons for sniper training during Exercise Iron Fist 2014 aboard Camp Pendleton, Calif., Jan. 27, 2014. Iron Fist 2014 is an amphibious exercise More

U.S. Marines with 1st Air Naval Gunfire Liaison Company and soldiers from the Japan Ground Self-Defense Force hike uphill during Exercise Iron Fist 2014 aboard Camp Pendleton, Calif., Jan. 28, 2014. Iron Fist 2 More

A soldier from the Japan Ground Self-Defense Force performs shooting drills while conducting scout sniper training during Exercise Iron Fist 2014 aboard Camp Pendleton, Calif., Jan. 29, 2014. Iron Fist is an am More

Soldiers from the Japan Ground Self-Defense Force conduct land navigation with 1st Air Naval Gunfire Liaison Company during Exercise Iron Fist 2014 aboard Camp Pendleton, Calif., Jan. 30, 2014. Iron Fist 2014 i More

Soldiers with the Japan Ground Self-Defense Force carry a Combat Rubber Reconnaissance Craft into the ocean to conduct surf passages as part of reconnaissance training with the Expeditionary Warfare Training Gr More

U.S. Marines with 1st Air Naval Gunfire Liaison Company eat lunch with soldiers from the Japan Ground Self-Defense Force during Exercise Iron Fist 2014 aboard Camp Pendleton, Calif., Feb. 3, 2014. Iron Fist 201 More

Soldiers with the Japan Ground Self-Defense Force conduct surf passages on a Combat Rubber Reconnaissance Craft as part of reconnaissance training with the Expeditionary Warfare Training Group Pacific during Ex More

Soldiers from the Japan Ground Self-Defense Force and U.S. Marines with the 15th Marine Expeditionary Unit set up radios during Exercise Iron Fist 2014 aboard Camp Pendleton, Calif., Feb. 4, 2014. Iron Fist 201 More

A soldier with the Japan Ground Self-Defense Force descends from a 30-foot tower while performing fast-rope insertion training during Exercise Iron Fist 2014 aboard Camp Pendleton, Calif., Feb. 5, 2014. Iron Fi More

I Marine Expeditionary Force Commanding General, Lt. Gen. John A. Toolan, visits soldiers from the Japan Ground Self-Defense Force and U.S. Marines with 1st Air Naval Gunfire Liaison Company during Exercise Iro More

A soldier from the Japan Ground Self-Defense Force conducts a radio check with 1st Air Naval Gunfire Liaison Company during Exercise Iron Fist 2014 aboard Camp Pendleton, Calif., Feb. 5, 2014. Iron Fist 2014 is More

A U.S. Marine, pre-scout sniper instructor, Division Schools, explains sniper-shooting techniques to soldiers from the Japan Ground Self-Defense Force during Exercise Iron Fist 2014 aboard Camp Pendleton, Calif More

Soldiers from the Japan Ground Self-Defense Force point out targets while training with U.S. Marines with 1st Battalion, 1st Marine Regiment, during Exercise Iron Fist 2014 aboard Camp Pendleton, Calif., Feb. 7 More

A soldier from the Japan Ground Self-Defense Force performs a weasel-walk as a stalking technique during Exercise Iron Fist 2014 aboard Camp Pendleton, Calif., Feb. 10, 2014. Iron Fist is an amphibious exercise More

Petty Officer 3rd Class Bryan Dingess, boatswain's mate, Beach Master Unit 1, guides a Landing Craft Air Cushion onto the beach during Exercise Iron Fist 2014 aboard Camp Pendleton, Calif., Feb. 12, 2014. Iron More

Soldiers with the Japan Ground Self-Defense Force look at targets while training with U.S. Marines from 1st Air Naval Gunfire Liaison Company during Exercise Iron Fist 2014 aboard San Clemente Island, Calif., F More

U.S. Marine Maj. Paul Bartok, middle, Marine liaison to the Western Army Infantry Regiment, Japan Ground Self-Defense Force, speaks with officials of the JGSDF during Exercise Iron Fist 2014 aboard San Clemente More

Soldiers with the Japan Ground Self-Defense Force and U.S. Marines from 1st Air Naval Gunfire Liaison Company look at their targets during Exercise Iron Fist 2014 aboard San Clemente Island, Calif., Feb. 14, 20 More

U.S. Marines with 1st Reconnaissance Battalion, 1st Marine Division, and soldiers from the Japan Ground Self-Defense Force load a combat rubber reconnaissance craft into a CH46-E Sea Knight while conducting rec More

Officials from the Japan Ground Self-Defense Force observe and learn about AAV-7 Assault Amphibious Vehicles during Exercise Iron Fist 2014 aboard Camp Pendleton, Calif., Feb. 16, 2014. Iron Fist is an amphibio More

An AAV-7 Amphibious Assault Vehicle performs an amphibious landing during Exercise Iron Fist 2014 aboard Camp Pendleton, Calif., Feb. 19, 2014. Iron Fist is an amphibious exercise that brings together Marines a More

Landing Craft Air Cushion (LCAC) 90, assigned to Assault Craft Unit (ACU) 5, carries heavy vehicles and troops to a designated landing beach as part of Exercise Iron Fist. This is the ninth occurrence of this a More

Soldiers with the Japan Ground Self-Defense Force complete Marine Corps swim qualification as part of Exercise Iron Fist 2015 aboard Camp Pendleton, Calif., Jan. 26, 2015. Exercise Iron Fist 15 is an annual bil More

Marines with 1st Reconnaissance Battalion, 1st Marine Division, teach Basic Maneuver Techniques for the Combat Rubber Raiding Craft to members of the Japan Ground Self-Defense Force aboard Camp Pendleton on Jan More

Marines with 1st Reconnaissance Bn., 1st Marine Division, demonstrate how to build a hide-site with the Japan Ground Self-Defense Force (JGSDF) soldiers during Exercise Iron Fist 2016 aboard Camp Pendleton, Cal More

Marines with 1st Reconnaissance Battalion, 1st Marine Division, train members of the Japan Ground Self-Defense Force in amphibious raiding and military operations on urban terrain aboard Camp Pendleton on Jan. More

Marines with 1st Reconnaissance Battalion, 1st Marine Division, and members of the Japan Ground Self-Defense Force conduct amphibious raids and military operations on urban terrain during Exercise Iron Fist 15 More

Marines with 1st Air Naval Gunfire Liaison Company, 1st Marine Division, and members of the Japan Ground Self-Defense Force, conduct mortar fire during Exercise Iron Fist 15 aboard Camp Pendleton, Feb. 3, 2015. More

Sailors with Combat Logistics Battalion-13, I Marine Expeditionary Force, teach members of the Japan Ground Self-Defense Force their tactical combat casualty care and combat life saver procedures during Exercis More

Marines with Combat Logistics Detachment-1, I Marine Expeditionary Force, demonstrate helicopter support team operations to members of the Japan Ground Self-Defense Force during Exercise Iron Fist 15 aboard Cam More

Japan Ground Self-Defense Force (JGSDF) soldiers measure range distances with their M24 sniper rifles at the unknown distance live-fire event during Exercise Iron Fist 2016 aboard Marine Corps Base Camp Pendlet More

A Japan Ground Self-Defense Force soldier sites in on a target at an unknown distance range aboard Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton Calif., Jan. 28, 2016. The JGSDF soldiers trained with instructors from 1st Ma More

Japan Ground Self-Defense Force soldiers paddle their combat rubber raiding craft (CRRC) to shore during a beach reconnaissance exercise, aboard Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, Calif., Feb. 3, 2016. This trai More

U.S. Marines and Japan Ground Self-Defense Force soldiers detonate a Mine Clearing Line Charge to clear an obstacle during a breaching training event aboard Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, Calif., Feb. 4, 201 More

Japan Ground Self-Defense Force (JGSDF) soldiers board Amphibious Assault Vehicles during an Exercise Iron Fist training event, at Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, Calif., Feb. 5, 2016. Exercise Iron Fist is a More

Marines assigned to Weapons Company, 1st Battalion, 4th Marine Regiment, 1st Marine Division, demonstrate the misfire procedures for an 81 mm mortar system during Exercise Iron Fist 2016 aboard Marine Corps Air More

Japan Ground Self-Defense Force (JGSDF) Sgt. Yugi Eguchi plots the location of a high-value target on a map during urban reconnaissance training aboard Camp Pendleton, Calif., Feb. 9, 2016. The training is part More

A U.S. Marine guides a landing craft air cushion (LCAC) as it comes ashore during the Supporting Arms Coordinating Center Exercise (SACCEX) for Iron Fist 2016, Camp Pendleton Calif., Feb 20., 2016. The LCACs ar More

U.S. Marines with 1st Reconnaissance Battalion and the Japan Ground Self-Defense Force conduct a beach landing on White beach as part of training for Exercise Iron Fist 2016, at Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton More

Lance Cpl. Kyle Barger, crew chief, Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron 163, 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing, demonstrates how to properly don a life preserver to Japanese soldiers with the Western Army, Japan Ground Sel More

Amphibious Assault Vehicles (AAVs) maneuver across the shoreline to prepare for follow-on operations during the Amphibious Landing Exercise (PHIBLEX) for Exercise Iron Fist 2016 aboard Camp Pendleton, Calif., More

The USS Somerset (LPD 25) positions itself off the shore of Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton to launch amphibious assault vehicles onto a simulated contested beachhead, during a scenario-based, battalion-sized More

Maj. Gen. Shinichi Aoki, deputy chief of staff (operations), Western Army, Japan Ground Self Defense Force (JGSDF), addresses U.S. Marines and JGSDF soldiers at Camp Pendleton, March 1, 2016, prior to the closi More

CAMP PENDLETON, Calif. (Feb. 25, 2017) Amphibious Assault Vehicles manned by Japanese Ground Self Defense Force soldiers head ashore during Exercise Iron Fist 2017. The annual bilateral training exercise where More

Soldiers in the Japan Ground Self Defense Force conduct Marine Corps intermediate swim qualification as a part of the Exercise Iron Fist on Camp Pendleton, CA, Jan. 16, 2018. Exercise Iron Fist brings together More

MARINE CORPS BASE CAMP PENDLETON, Calif. (Jan. 19, 2018) A U.S. Sailor assigned to Assault Craft Unit 5 secures a Japanese tactical vehicle to a Landing Craft Air Cushion during exercise Iron Fist 2018. Capable More

CAMP PENDLETON, Calif. (Jan. 23, 2018) Japan Ground Self-Defense Force soldiers assigned to the Western Army Infantry Regiment fast rope out of the back out of the back on an MV-22 Osprey during exercise Iron More

CAMP PENDLETON, Calif. (Jan. 23, 2018) Soldiers assigned to the Western Army Infantry Regiment of the Japan Ground Self Defense Force secure the line during a fast-rope exercise to prevent the rope from going i More

CAMP PENDLETON, Calif. (Jan. 24, 2018) Marines assigned to the 3rd Assault Amphibious Battalion, 1st Marine Division and Western Army Infantry Regiment, Japan Ground Self-Defense Force soldiers conduct a mobile More

CAMP PENDLETON, Calif. (Jan. 24, 2018) Japan Ground Self-Defense Force soldiers assigned to the Western Army Infantry Regiment set up a 360 degree perimeter security position during exercise Iron Fist 2018. The More