US Marines, Japanese forces conclude first Japan-based Iron Fist Exercise

Japanese Major Gen. Shingo Nashinoki, right, commander, Amphibious Rapid Deployment Brigade, gives a gift to Brig. Gen. Fridrik Fridriksson, commanding general, 3rd Marine Expeditionary Brigade, III Marine Expeditionary Force, during the closing ceremony for Exercise Iron Fist aboard the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force landing ship tank JS Osumi (LST-4001) while moored in Okinawa, Japan, Mar. 12. Iron Fist is an annual bilateral exercise designed to increase interoperability and strength the relationships between the U.S. Marine Corps, the U.S. Navy, the Japan Ground Self-Defense Force, and the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force. America, lead ship of the America Amphibious Ready Group, is operating in the 7th Fleet area of operations. 7th Fleet is the U.S. Navy’s largest forward-deployed numbered fleet, and routinely interacts and operates with Allies and partners in preserving a free and open Indo-Pacific region.