Soldiers from 2nd Battalion, 35th Infantry Regiment, 25th Inf. Division, stand shoulder to shoulder with their counterparts from the 23rd Infantry Reg., 4th Bat., Royal Thai Army, Feb. 24, 2020 during the opening ceremony of Exercise Hanuman Guardian 20 at Camp Friendship in Korat, Thailand. Hanuman Guardian is an annual exercise, now in its tenth iteration, that is designed to enhance U.S. Army and Royal Thai Army capabilities, build strong relationships between both armies and increase mission readiness, enabling regional security and stability in the region

Royal Thai Navy seamen observe the amphibious assault ship USS America (LHA 6) during a welcoming ceremony, Feb. 22, 2020, at Laem Chabang, Thailand. A welcoming ceremony was held for 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit and the America Expeditionary Strike Group before the start of Exercise Cobra Gold 2020 Cobra Gold is the largest joint multinational military exercise in the Indo-Pacific region and is an integral part of the U.S. commitment to strengthen engagement in the region for a free and open Indo-Pacific.

From left to right, U.S. Marine Col. Robert Brodie, 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit commanding officer, Royal Thai Navy Capt. Arpa Chapanon and U.S. Marine Capt. Luke Frost, amphibious assault ship USS America (LHA 6) commanding officer, pose for a photo during a welcoming ceremony Feb. 22 at Laem Chabang Port, Thailand. A welcoming ceremony was held for 31st MEU and USS America (LHA 6) Expeditionary Strike Group before the start of Exercise Cobra Gold 2020, which is the largest joint multinational military exercise in the Indo-Pacific region and is an integral part of the U.S. commitment to strengthen engagement in the region for a free and open Indo-Pacific.

A heavy-equipment payload is dropped from a C-130J Super Hercules assigned to the 36th Airlift Squadron at the Combined Arms Training Center, Camp Fuji, Japan, during a capstone exercise taking place in the Indo-Pacific Command's area of responsibility, Feb. 10, 2020. During the exercise, aircraft from the 36th AS as well as the 41st and 61st Airlift Squadrons from Little Rock Air Force Base, Arkansas, were able to complete formation flight training ,as well as drop pallets consisting of simulated heavy equipment and containerized delivery system bundles.

U.S. 7th Fleet flagship USS Blue Ridge (LCC 19) arrives in Laem Chabang, Thailand for a regularly scheduled port visit. During the visit, Sailors will engage with the local culture, host military-to-military engagements and build relationships through music and public service activities. Blue Ridge, with embarked 7th Fleet staff, is on patrol, strengthening relationships with U.S. allies and partner nations while providing advanced communication capabilities and supporting Theater Security Cooperation across the Indo-Asia Pacific region

A U.S. Air Force C-130J Super Hercules, from Dyess Air Force Base, Texas, taxis to a parking spot during an Agile Combat Employment exercise Feb. 21, 2020, at Marine Corps Air Station Futenma, Japan. Exercises that utilize ACE concepts ensure forward-deployed forces in the Indo-Pacific are ready to protect and defend partners, allies and U.S. interests at a moment’s notice.

Soldiers assigned to the 25th Infantry Division enjoy their last bit of time on Schofield Barracks, Hawaii prior to departing for Thailand as part of the Pacific Pathways mission on Feb. 19, 2020. Pacific Pathways is an operation conducted by U.S. Army Pacific in order to train alongside and strengthen relationships with allied and partner militaries.

A Soldier with 1st Battalion, 1st Air Defense Artillery, 38th Air Defense Artillery Brigade, performs equipment checks during the unit’s participation in Resilient Shield 19 validating its role as the U.S. missile defense system on Feb. 21, 2019, Okinawa, Japan.

U.S. Marines with 3rd Assault Amphibian Battalion, 1st Marine Division, approach the amphibious transport dock ship, USS Portland (LPD 27) during a splash and recovery drill, as part of Exercise Iron Fist 2020, off the coast of Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, California. Iron Fist provides realistic, relevant training necessary for effective combined military operations. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Anabel Abreu Rodriguez

Army Chief of Staff Gen. James C. McConville makes a point during the Center for a New American Security Think Tank event with Secretary of the Army Ryan D. McCarthy, in Washington, D.C., Feb. 19, 2020.

Official U.S. Navy file photo of Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Curtis Wilbur (DDG 54)

Royal Australian Air Force and United States Air Force 36th Contingency Response Squadron Airmen load disaster relief cargo on a RAAF Alenia C-27J Spartan at Royal Australian Air Force Base East Sale, Sale, Victoria, Australia, Jan. 29, 2020. The 36th CRS supported the RAAF in their efforts to fight wildfires and provide humanitarian relief support in Australia.

A U.S. Air Force F-16 Fighting Falcon assigned to the 18th Aggressor Squadron, Eielson Air Force Base, Alaska, takes flight during Exercise Cope North 20 at Andersen Air Force Base, Guam, Feb. 14, 2020. Exercise Cope North is an annual U.S. Pacific Air Forces tri-lateral field training exercise with participants from the U.S. Air Force, U.S. Navy, U.S. Marine Corps, Japan Air Self-Defense Force and the Royal Australian Air Force. The primary intent of Cope North is to enhance coordination of combined air tactics, hone techniques and procedures while strengthening security and stability in the Indo-Pacific region.

Koku Jieitai (Japan Air Self-Defense Force) Staff Sgt. Hiroki Nishikawa and Staff Sgt. Shiji Miyahara, Base Defense Development Training squadron instructors, demonstrate combative maneuvers to Royal Australian Air Force, U.S. Air Force, and Koku Jietai (JASDF) personnel during Pacific Defender 20-1 at the Pacific Regional Training Center near Andersen Air Force Base, Guam, Feb. 9, 2020. Pacific Defender 20-1 was a week-long exchange of various security forces tactics, techniques, and procedures including hand-to-hand combatives and Military Working Dog operations.

Members of the Royal Australian Air Force, U.S. Air Force, and Koku Jieitai (Japan Air Self-Defense Force) participate in a simulated live fire scenario during Pacific Defender 20-1 at the Pacific Regional Training Center near Andersen Air Force Base, Guam, Feb. 11, 2020. During the scenario, participants were split into teams consisting of several members from each nation in order to test and enhance their interoperability.

From left: Army Gen. Mark A. Milley, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff; Josiah Bunting III, chairman, Friends of the National World War II Memorial; Ira Rigger, a veteran of the battle of Iwo Jima and other campaigns; and, Harry Miller, a World War II, Korean War and Vietnam War veteran, lay a wreath commemorating the 75th anniversary of the start of the battle of Iwo Jima at the National World War II Memorial in Washington, Feb. 19, 2020.

A U.S. Air Force B-52H Stratofortress from Minot Air Force Base, N.D., six F-16 Fighting Falcon and four Japan Air Self-Defense Force F-2s from Misawa Air Base, Japan fly in formation off the coast of Northern Japan as part of a combined Continuous Bomber Presence and Bomber Task Force mission Feb 4, 2020. Continuous Bomber Presence aircraft participation in events with other countries benefits U.S. national security interests without interfering with the ability to support current operations.

The U.S. Embassy in the Philippines organized a special flag-raising event to commemorate the 75th anniversary of General Douglas MacArthur’s raising of the U.S. flag over Embassy grounds during the Battle of Manila in 1945.

In this fiel photo, At Iwo Jima, A Warrior Is Forged Warrior At Iwo Jima. And He Did It With A Flamethrower. As the 75th anniversary of the World War II battle approaches, a retired Marine recalls the nightmare combat that earned him the Medal of Honor

U.S. Air Force Tech. Sgt. Shara Carlisle, 35th Force Support Squadron Airman Leadership School assistant commandant and instructor, teaches a leadership course to Japan Ground Self-Defense Force soldiers during a visit at Misawa Air Base, Japan, Feb. 12, 2020. The JGSDF soldiers, assigned to 6th Division, Camp Jinmachi, Yamagata, Japan, visited Misawa to have face-to-face interaction with U.S. Airmen as part of their basic English course.