Tag Archives: Iron Fist

U.S. Marines, Japan Self Defense Force Kick Off Iron Fist Exercise in Western Pacific

U.S. Marines, Japan Self Defense Force Kick Off Iron Fist Exercise in Western Pacific

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U.S. Marine Corps Col. Matthew Danner, commanding officer of the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit, right, and Japan Ground Self-Defense Force Col. Yoshikazu Nishida, the commanding officer of the 1st Amphibious Rapid Deployment Regiment, left, visit U.S. Marines with Battalion Landing Team 1/4, 31st MEU, conducting defensive posturing for Iron Fist 23 at Hijudai, Japan, Feb. 19, 2023. US Marine Corps

The U.S Marine Corps and the Japan Ground Self-Defense Force (JGSDF) began the bilateral Iron Fist 2023 exercise last week. It’s the first exercise that has been held in Japan since it began in 2006. Previous iterations were held at Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, Calif. Read More →

Marines, Japanese Ground Forces Link Up at Iron Fist for ACV, Amphibious Training

Marines, Japanese Ground Forces Link Up at Iron Fist for ACV, Amphibious Training

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U.S. Marines with the 15th Marine Expeditionary Unit and Japan Ground Self-Defense Force (JGSDF) soldiers with 2nd Amphibious Rapid Deployment Regiment render honors during the Japanese and United States national anthems as part of the Exercise Iron Fist 2022 opening ceremony at Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, Calif., Jan. 10, 2022. US Marine Corps Photo

CAMP PENDLETON, Calif. – The U.S.-Japan amphibious exercise Iron Fist will include waterborne training with the Marine Corps’ newest amphibious combat vehicles. Read More →

Top Stories 2020: Marine Corps Operations

Top Stories 2020: Marine Corps Operations

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Marine Corps Lance Cpl. Austin McBain, a fire support specialist with 1st Air Naval Gunfire Liaison Company, I Marine Expeditionary Force (MEF) Information Group, monitors a radio during exercise Summer Fury 20 in Yuma, Ariz., on July 14, 2020. US Marine Corps Photo

This post is part of a series of stories looking back at the top naval news from 2020.

2020 was a turning-point year for the Marine Corps. After previewing changes to come in his Commandant’s Planning Guidance released last year, Commandant Gen. David Berger released a Force Design 2030 document this year outlining major changes in how the service would operate and equip itself. No longer would the Marine Corps be a service schlepping around tanks for sustained ground operations; rather, it would be light and mobile, using small ships to maneuver around islands and shorelines to attack an adversary from all angles and challenge their ability to track and target the small and on-the-move units. Read More →

Iron Fist Teaching Japanese Amphib Force to Synch with U.S. Marines

Iron Fist Teaching Japanese Amphib Force to Synch with U.S. Marines

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A Japan Ground Self-Defense Force assault amphibious vehicle drives on the beach during an amphibious assault as part of Exercise Iron Fist 2020 on Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, Calif., on Feb. 12, 2020. US Marine Corps Photo

CAMP PENDLETON, Calif. – With dock landing ship USS Pearl Harbor (LSD-52) in the hazy horizon, a procession of green-and-tan camouflaged amphibious assault vehicles pushed onto the sandy beach and headed north as Marines with Fox Company, 2nd Battalion, 1st Marines, held their positions. Read More →

Officials: U.S.-Japan Iron Fist Amphib Exercise 'Extremely Important' as China's Navy Expands

Officials: U.S.-Japan Iron Fist Amphib Exercise ‘Extremely Important’ as China’s Navy Expands

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U.S. Marines with 15th Marine Expeditionary Unit and Japan Ground Self-Defense Force soldiers with Amphibious Rapid Deployment Brigade stand in formation during the opening ceremony of Exercise Iron Fist 2020 on Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, California on Jan. 17, 2020. US Marine Corps Photo

CAMP PENDLETON, Calif. – Sailors and Marines kicked off an annual bilateral Iron Fist exercise with Japanese soldiers on Friday that’s designed to help Japan’s fledgling amphibious force become ready to operate. Read More →

Iron Fist 2018 Ramps Up Training as Japan Readies 1st Amphibious Unit

Iron Fist 2018 Ramps Up Training as Japan Readies 1st Amphibious Unit

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Marines with 1st Battalion, 4th Marines, 11th Marine Expeditionary Unit and Soldiers with Western Army Infantry Regiment, Japan Ground Self Defense Force stand in formation as part of the Exercise Iron Fist 2018 opening ceremony on Jan. 12. US Marine Corps Photo

CAMP PENDLETON, Calif. — With its official operational date fast approaching, Japan’s first Amphibious Rapid Deployment Brigade kicked off the bilateral Iron Fist 2018 exercise on Friday with an opening ceremony alongside its Marine Corps hosts. It wasn’t a time for long speeches. Read More →

Iron Fist 2017: Japan Under Time Crunch to Establish New Amphibious Unit

Iron Fist 2017: Japan Under Time Crunch to Establish New Amphibious Unit

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A Japan Ground Self Defense Force soldier gives orders to bound after exiting an Assault Amphibious Vehicle, during Exercise Iron Fist 2017, aboard Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, Calif., Feb. 25, 2017. US Marine Corps

A Japan Ground Self Defense Force soldier gives orders to bound after exiting an Assault Amphibious Vehicle, during Exercise Iron Fist 2017, aboard Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, Calif., Feb. 25, 2017. US Marine Corps

CAMP PENDLETON, Calif. – While rough seas and queasy stomachs tested some 350 Japanese soldiers and command staffs who took to sea aboard Navy ships for exercise Iron Fist, time might be their greatest obstacle. Read More →

Iron Fist 2016: With U.S. Marines by Their Side, Japanese Soldiers Hit the Beach

Iron Fist 2016: With U.S. Marines by Their Side, Japanese Soldiers Hit the Beach

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Marines with 3d Assault Amphibian Battalion, 1st Marine Division, 1st Marine Division, I Marine Expeditionary Force position amphibious assault vehicles for security during the amphibious landing exercise (PHIBLEX) for Exercise Iron Fist 2016. US Marine Corps Photo

Marines with 3d Assault Amphibian Battalion, 1st Marine Division, I Marine Expeditionary Force position amphibious assault vehicles for security during the amphibious landing exercise (PHIBLEX) for Exercise Iron Fist 2016. US Marine Corps Photo

CAMP PENDLETON, Calif. – A dozen amphibious assault vehicles left the USS Somerset (LPD-25) a mile offshore and raced toward the beach Friday in two waves. The night before, a group of Marines and Japanese soldiers r­ode ashore in combat rubber raiding craft, using speed and surprise to survey and prepare the beachhead in advance of the amphibious landing force. Read More →

Iron Fist 2016: U.S. Marines Train Japanese Soldiers in the Finer Points of Sniping

Iron Fist 2016: U.S. Marines Train Japanese Soldiers in the Finer Points of Sniping

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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 Pendleton, Calif. US Marine Corps Photo

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 Pendleton, Calif. US Marine Corps Photo

CAMP PENDLETON, Calif. – Just days after the official kick-off to the annual Iron Fist 2016 bilateral exercise, a small, elite group of Japanese Ground Self-Defense Force soldiers dove into training for what they like to do best: Sniping. Read More →

U.S. Marines Teach Japanese Forces How to Fight From the Sea in Expanded Iron Fist Exercise

U.S. Marines Teach Japanese Forces How to Fight From the Sea in Expanded Iron Fist Exercise

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Chief Warrant Officer 3 Michael Carmody, top left, the Battalion Gunner for 1st Battalion, 4th Marines, 1st Marine Division, gives a tour of Marine Corps Base Twentynine Palms training grounds to members of the Japan Ground Self-Defense Force (JGSDF) during a site survey as part of Iron Fist mid-planning conference at Twentynine Palms in 2015. US Marine Corps Photo

Chief Warrant Officer 3 Michael Carmody, top left, the Battalion Gunner for 1st Battalion, 4th Marines, 1st Marine Division, gives a tour of Marine Corps Base Twentynine Palms training grounds to members of the Japan Ground Self-Defense Force (JGSDF) during a site survey as part of Iron Fist mid-planning conference at Twentynine Palms in 2015. US Marine Corps Photo

CAMP PENDLETON, Calif. – Over the next five weeks, a small force of Japanese soldiers is getting down and dirty with U.S. Marines, learning from them what it means to fight from the sea. Read More →