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U.S. Marines with Marine Wing Support Squadron 172 refuel an MV-22B Osprey at a forward arming and refueling point in preparation for exercise Resolute Dragon 21, Dec. 3, 2021 at Ojojihara Proving Grounds, Japan. RD21 is the largest bilateral field training exercise between the U.S. Marine Corps and Japan Self-Defense Force in 2021. RD21 is designed to strengthen the defensive capabilities of the U.S.-Japan Alliance by exercising integrated command and control, targeting, combined arms, and maneuver across multiple domains. - U.S. Marines with Marine Wing Support Squadron 172 refuel an MV-22B Osprey at a forward arming and refueling point in preparation for exercise Resolute Dragon 21, Dec. 3, 2021 at Ojojihara Proving Grounds, Japan. RD21 is the largest bilateral field training exercise between the U.S. Marine Corps and Japan Self-Defense Force in 2021. RD21 is designed to strengthen the defensive capabilities of the U.S.-Japan Alliance by exercising integrated command and control, targeting, combined arms, and maneuver across multiple domains.

U.S. Marines, Japan Ground Self-Defense Force set to begin Exercise Resolute Dragon

U.S. Marines and members of the Japan Ground Self-Defense Force, alongside elements from the U.S. Navy and U.S. Army, are set to kick off their largest bilateral training exercise of the year with Resolute Dragon 2021 taking place at multiple training locations across Japan from Dec. 4-17. The exercise begins with an opening ceremony at Ojojihara Training Area, where U.S. and Japanese troops will gather for the presentation of their national colors and opening remarks from senior commanders...

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The fewer and the prouder: The hard truth looking up

The fewer and the prouder. A revolutionary phrase to paint a picture of the resilience and fortitude female Marines have held close since the day Opha May Johnson raised her hand and enlisted in the Marine Corps in 1918. What comes to mind when someone says U.S. infantry Marine? Perhaps the thought of, ‘those guys are strong and rugged’ or ‘that’s a man who’s willing to endure the difficult path.’ What if instead someone said a U.S. Marine Infantrywoman. Yes, read it over once more. It’s new and almost unfamiliar, but it’s also exhilarating and powerful...

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U.S. Marine Capt. Shane Kim, Logistics Officer for Headquarters Battalion, 3rd Marine Division conducts a Beach Landing Site survey alongside Maj. Laurence Medina, Operations Officer for the Philippine Marine Corps’ Coastal Defense Regiment as part of Exercise KAMANDAG 5-21 in Claveria, Philippines, Oct. 3, 2021. BLS surveys provide vital information in support of amphibious operations, enabling rapid, bilateral response to crisis when required. - U.S. Marine Capt. Shane Kim, Logistics Officer for Headquarters Battalion, 3rd Marine Division conducts a Beach Landing Site survey alongside Maj. Laurence Medina, Operations Officer for the Philippine Marine Corps’ Coastal Defense Regiment as part of Exercise KAMANDAG 5-21 in Claveria, Philippines, Oct. 3, 2021. BLS surveys provide vital information in support of amphibious operations, enabling rapid, bilateral response to crisis when required.

Shoulder to shoulder: Marines collaborate for international security

U.S. Marines and Sailors representing 3rd Marine Division, III Marine Expeditionary Force took part in the first-ever coastal defense exercise held in Cagayan province, Philippines as part of the fifth iteration of exercise KAMANDAG, Sept. 28 - Oct. 8. Despite COVID-19 restrictions, the U.S. and Philippine Marine Corps, along with the Japanese Amphibious Rapid Deployment Brigade, continued the annual exercise with appropriate precautions, demonstrating multilateral commitment to mutual defense and stability in the Indo-Pacific. "We must be able to outmaneuver our enemies in the same way that we shall be able to maneuver this virus and still be able to continue to train..."

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U.S. Marine Corps Sgt. Morelia Capuchino Diaz, a food service specialist with Camp Courtney Mess Hall, Combat Logistics Regiment 37, places on a kevlar as she walks to the firing line during the new Annual Rifle Qualification on Camp Hansen, Okinawa, Japan, Oct. 5, 2021. The ARQ is a three-day, combat-centric course of fire that tests Marines’ marksmanship skills in a dynamic-shooting environment. Shooters utilize artificial support, engage moving targets as well as engage targets while on the move. - U.S. Marine Corps Sgt. Morelia Capuchino Diaz, a food service specialist with Camp Courtney Mess Hall, Combat Logistics Regiment 37, places on a kevlar as she walks to the firing line during the new Annual Rifle Qualification on Camp Hansen, Okinawa, Japan, Oct. 5, 2021. The ARQ is a three-day, combat-centric course of fire that tests Marines’ marksmanship skills in a dynamic-shooting environment. Shooters utilize artificial support, engage moving targets as well as engage targets while on the move.

New Annual Rifle Qual: A shooter’s perspective

U.S. Marines across Okinawa participated in the new Annual Rifle Qualification from Oct. 4-8. This consisted of a three-day course of fire that tests Marines’ marksmanship skills in a dynamic-shooting environment. The intent of ARQ is to provide an enhanced combat centric evaluation that uses a lethality based scoring system with more realistic standards. Shooters utilize artificial support to engage moving targets both while on foot and remaining stationary...

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A U.S. Navy Sailor directs a Marine Corps F-35B Lightning II aircraft assigned to Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 242 aboard the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force helicopter destroyer JS Izumo (DDH-183) off the coast of Japan, Oct. 3, 2021. Marines and Sailors assigned to the amphibious assault ship USS America (LHA 6) embarked aboard Izumo to support the first ever F-35B Lightning II operations aboard a Japanese vessel. The U.S. and Japan continue to work closely together to broaden their operational capabilities, support the Treaty of Mutual Cooperation and Security and maintain a free and open Indo-Pacific. - A U.S. Navy Sailor directs a Marine Corps F-35B Lightning II aircraft assigned to Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 242 aboard the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force helicopter destroyer JS Izumo (DDH-183) off the coast of Japan, Oct. 3, 2021. Marines and Sailors assigned to the amphibious assault ship USS America (LHA 6) embarked aboard Izumo to support the first ever F-35B Lightning II operations aboard a Japanese vessel. The U.S. and Japan continue to work closely together to broaden their operational capabilities, support the Treaty of Mutual Cooperation and Security and maintain a free and open Indo-Pacific.

Marine Corps F-35B Conduct First Landing Aboard JS Izumo

At the request of the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force, Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 242 successfully conducted the first ever landing of two F-35B Lightning II aircraft aboard the Japanese Ship Izumo on Oct. 3. Following a series of modifications to the JS Izumo to enable short take-off and vertical landing operations, a capability that the “B” variant of the F-35 specializes in, U.S. Marines embarked aboard the JS Izumo and worked directly with JMSDF personnel as part of a bilateral effort to ensure the capability test was both effective and safe...

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