YAKIMA, Wash. – American and Japanese soldiers congratulate

YAKIMA, Wash. – American and Japanese soldiers congratulate each other after a friendly game of volleyball during Rising Thunder 19. Rising Thunder 2019 is an annual exercise between the U.S. Army and the Japan Ground Self-Defense Force featuring units from the 7th Infantry Division, the Illinois Army National Guard's 33rd Infantry Brigade Combat Team and 108th Sustainment Brigade, and Japan's 25th Infantry Regiment. The exercise, held Aug. 28 – Sept. 13 at Yakima Training Center in Yakima, Washington, consists of company/platoon unilateral and bilateral training events in two phases, culminating with a bilateral live fire exercise. (U.S. Army Reserve photo by Sgt. Jeff Daniel)