The III Marine Expeditionary Force (MEF) wrapped up the bilateral U.S.-Japan exercise Resolute Dragon 24 on Wednesday where 3,000 U.S. Marines and sailors trained alongside the Japan Self-Defense Force, according to a statement from the U.S.
In other developments, the 1st Marine Air Wing issued a release detailing the activities of its aviation units during the Rim of the Pacific 202 exercise that took place in Hawaii and ended on Friday, while the U.K. has disclosed the activities of its Commando Force during Exercise Predator’s Run held in Australia.
Resolute Dragon 24 began on Jul. 28 and took place across Japan, including Chugoku region on the main island of Honshu, the main island of Kyushu, Okinawa and around Japan’s southwest islands. Both the U.S. Marine Corps and Japanese military have been focusing on defense of Japan’s southwest islands and the deployment of small units to those islands to conduct surveillance, targeting and antiship attacks to counter any Chinese military action in that area.
China claims the disputed Senkaku Islands held by Japan as its territory. The 12th Marine Littoral Regiment (MLR), which has been organized to carry out such operations, took part in Resolute Dragon for the first time, the unit only having been stood up last year.
“Exercise Resolute Dragon 24 further strengthened the coordination and complementary capabilities of the Japan Ground Self-Defense Force and U.S. Marine Corps,” said Lt. Gen. Roger B. Turner, commanding general of III MEF in the release. “Through training and bilateral exercises like Resolute Dragon 24, the allied force is better prepared to win in a contemporary conflict.”
Resolute Dragon 24 included training events such as deploying an AN/TPS-80 Ground/Air Task Oriented Radar to Yonaguni Island, bilateral training with U.S. MV-22 and Japanese V-22 Osprey tiltrotor aircraft, medical and logistics capabilities and force-on-force and live-fire training in multiple locations, stated the release.
Meanwhile, in a Tuesday release, the 1st MAW detailed the participation of its subordinate command, Marine Aircraft Group 24, stationed at Marine Corps Base Hawaii , during RIMPAC 2024, which took place around Hawaii from June 26 – Aug. 2. MAG-24’s participating units included Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron (VMM) 363, operating MV-22B Ospreys; Marine Aerial Refueler Transport Squadron (VMGR) 153, supporting with KC-130J Hercules; Marine Wing Support Squadron (MWSS) 174, responsible for aviation ground support; Marine Aviation Logistics Squadron (MALS) 24, handling aviation logistics; and Marine Unmanned Aerial Vehicle Squadron (VMU) 3, delivering real-time intelligence.
“RIMPAC provided MAG-24 an opportunity to conduct realistic missions while integrating our planning and execution with joint and allied partners,” said U.S. Marine Corps Col. William Heiken, commanding officer of MAG-24, in the release. “Our squadrons demonstrated their capability to operate in a complex multinational environment successfully, showcasing our readiness and adaptability. The type of training RIMPAC facilitates is unique and invaluable, ensuring our forces remain prepared for any challenge.”
The Ospreys of VMM-363 carried out assault support missions and fast-roping exercises along with conducting deck landing qualifications on the ships taking part in RIMPAC 2024. The KC-130Js of VGMR-153 provided logistics functions, including aerial delivery, air-to-air refueling and transportation of people and supplies, according to the release. VMU-3, which operates the MQ-9 Reaper unmanned aerial vehicle, engaged in multi-intelligence reconnaissance, supporting operations such as the live-fire sinking exercises, naval surface escort missions, photo exercises, visit, board, search and seizure training and serving as the command-and-control node for the amphibious landing at Marine Corps Training Area Bellows.
MALS-24 provided aviation logistics on the ground, while MWSS-174 managed ground support missions, including 24/7 forward arming and refueling point (FARP) operations.
On Sunday, the Royal Navy released details the participation of its Commando Force in the Australian-led Predator’s Run, which also involved the U.S. Marine Corps and the Philippines Army, held in Australia’s Northern Territory from Jul. 15 to Wednesday.
The release stated than more than 400 Royal Marine Commandos, comprising of two Commando company groups of 40 Commando, engineers of 24 Commando, artillery support from 29 Commando, logisticians of the Commando Logistic Regiment, reconnaissance specialists from 30 Commando Information Exploitation Group and medical personnel, took part in the exercise, supported by support ships RFA Argus (A135) and RFA Lyme Bay (L3007) and three Merlin helicopters of 845 Naval Air Squadron.
The release also said that the Commandos’ participated to explore how they could operate in advance of the main allied force, far from established supply chains, in small raiding teams designed to cause maximum disruption to the enemy.
