U.S. Marines load a simulated casualty onto a Japan Ground Self-Defense Force UH-1J Iroquois during casualty evacuation training Aug. 21 at the Yausubetsu Maneuver Area during Artillery Relocation Training Program 14-2. In case of a serious injury or illness during ARTP 14-2, Marines and sailors are prepared to work with members of the JGSDF to successfully evacuate a casualty. The Marines are with 3rd Battalion, 12th Marine Regiment, 3rd Marine Division, III Marine Expeditionary Force. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Matthew Manning/Released) - U.S. Marines load a simulated casualty onto a Japan Ground Self-Defense Force UH-1J Iroquois during casualty evacuation training Aug. 21 at the Yausubetsu Maneuver Area during Artillery Relocation Training Program 14-2. In case of a serious injury or illness during ARTP 14-2, Marines and sailors are prepared to work with members of the JGSDF to successfully evacuate a casualty. The Marines are with 3rd Battalion, 12th Marine Regiment, 3rd Marine Division, III Marine Expeditionary Force. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Matthew Manning/Released)

Japan Ground Self-Defense Force officers view and discuss the engines of the MV-22B Osprey tiltrotor aircraft July 18 on Marine Corps Air Station Futenma. The officers attended a demonstration of the Marine Corps’ rotor and tiltrotor aircraft and aircraft maintenance. The JGSDF officers are aircraft maintenance workers and pilots with 15th Aviation Squadron, 15th Brigade, Western Army. - Japan Ground Self-Defense Force officers view and discuss the engines of the MV-22B Osprey tiltrotor aircraft July 18 on Marine Corps Air Station Futenma. The officers attended a demonstration of the Marine Corps’ rotor and tiltrotor aircraft and aircraft maintenance. The JGSDF officers are aircraft maintenance workers and pilots with 15th Aviation Squadron, 15th Brigade, Western Army.

Japan Ground Self-Defense Force 2nd Lt. Kyohei Aikawa, left, observes machine gun targets pointed out by U.S. Marine Sgt. David C. Nicol May 8 in the Central Training Area during a quarterly Marine Corps common skills training evolution specifically designed for bulk fuel specialists. Aikawa is currently taking part in the Japan Observer Exchange Program, which allows JGSDF service members to spend time with U.S. Marines. Aikawa was observing Bulk Fuel Company, 9th Engineer Support Battalion, as they trained with medium machine guns to provide their own security in a combat environment. Aikawa is a combat engineer officer with 2nd Division, 2nd Engineer Battalion, headquartered in Hokkaido, Japan. Nicol is a squad leader and bulk fuel specialist with Bulk Fuel Headquarters Company, 9th ESB, 3rd Marine Logistics Group, III Marine Expeditionary Force. - Japan Ground Self-Defense Force 2nd Lt. Kyohei Aikawa, left, observes machine gun targets pointed out by U.S. Marine Sgt. David C. Nicol May 8 in the Central Training Area during a quarterly Marine Corps common skills training evolution specifically designed for bulk fuel specialists. Aikawa is currently taking part in the Japan Observer Exchange Program, which allows JGSDF service members to spend time with U.S. Marines. Aikawa was observing Bulk Fuel Company, 9th Engineer Support Battalion, as they trained with medium machine guns to provide their own security in a combat environment. Aikawa is a combat engineer officer with 2nd Division, 2nd Engineer Battalion, headquartered in Hokkaido, Japan. Nicol is a squad leader and bulk fuel specialist with Bulk Fuel Headquarters Company, 9th ESB, 3rd Marine Logistics Group, III Marine Expeditionary Force.

Community members pound rice to create mochi, a glutinous rice cake, May 10 during the Fuji Friendship Festival 2014 at Combined Arms Training Center Camp Fuji, Marine Corps Installations Pacific. The U.S.-Japan Fuji Friendship Association hosted the activity. Established nearly 14 years ago, the association coordinates events off base for Marines and sailors assigned to CATC Camp Fuji, like planting rice and the ceremonial hauling of large fish nets at Numazu, Japan, according to Wasaku Tatsumichi, the chief secretary of the association. - Community members pound rice to create mochi, a glutinous rice cake, May 10 during the Fuji Friendship Festival 2014 at Combined Arms Training Center Camp Fuji, Marine Corps Installations Pacific. The U.S.-Japan Fuji Friendship Association hosted the activity. Established nearly 14 years ago, the association coordinates events off base for Marines and sailors assigned to CATC Camp Fuji, like planting rice and the ceremonial hauling of large fish nets at Numazu, Japan, according to Wasaku Tatsumichi, the chief secretary of the association.

Marines with Company I, 3rd Battalion, 1st Marine Regiment, participate in the closing ceremony for Exercise Forest Light 14-2 March 8 at Sekiyama Training Area, Niigata prefecture, Japan. Forest Light was a two-week long exercise in which Marines and JGSDF members trained together, improving interoperability in cold-weather environments. Marines and JGSDF members trained in tactical movements and cold-weather survival skills in the snow. 3rd Bn., 1st Marines, is currently assigned to 4th Marines, 3rd Marine Division, III Marine Expeditionary Force, under the unit deployment program. - Marines with Company I, 3rd Battalion, 1st Marine Regiment, participate in the closing ceremony for Exercise Forest Light 14-2 March 8 at Sekiyama Training Area, Niigata prefecture, Japan. Forest Light was a two-week long exercise in which Marines and JGSDF members trained together, improving interoperability in cold-weather environments. Marines and JGSDF members trained in tactical movements and cold-weather survival skills in the snow. 3rd Bn., 1st Marines, is currently assigned to 4th Marines, 3rd Marine Division, III Marine Expeditionary Force, under the unit deployment program.

U.S. Marine Lt. Col. Bradford Tippett, right, delivers remarks to Marines with 3rd Battalion, 1st Marine Regiment, and service members with the Japan Ground Self-Defense Force 2nd Infantry Regiment, 12th Brigade, alongside JGSDF Col. Tatsuya Osaki during the opening ceremony of Exercise Forest Light 14-2 Feb. 25 at Sekiyama Training Area, Niigata prefecture, Japan. Tippett spoke to the group about the positive effects of bilateral training. “When (bilateral training) happens, both sides walk away better than when they started,” said Tippett. Forest Light improved the allies’ cold-weather survival skills. Tippett is the commanding officer of 3rd Bn., 1st Marines, currently assigned to 4th Marines, 3rd Marine Division, III Marine Expeditionary Force, under the unit deployment program. Osaki is the commanding officer of 2nd Infantry Regiment, 12th Brigade, Eastern Army. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Joey S. Holeman Jr. /Released) - U.S. Marine Lt. Col. Bradford Tippett, right, delivers remarks to Marines with 3rd Battalion, 1st Marine Regiment, and service members with the Japan Ground Self-Defense Force 2nd Infantry Regiment, 12th Brigade, alongside JGSDF Col. Tatsuya Osaki during the opening ceremony of Exercise Forest Light 14-2 Feb. 25 at Sekiyama Training Area, Niigata prefecture, Japan. Tippett spoke to the group about the positive effects of bilateral training. “When (bilateral training) happens, both sides walk away better than when they started,” said Tippett. Forest Light improved the allies’ cold-weather survival skills. Tippett is the commanding officer of 3rd Bn., 1st Marines, currently assigned to 4th Marines, 3rd Marine Division, III Marine Expeditionary Force, under the unit deployment program. Osaki is the commanding officer of 2nd Infantry Regiment, 12th Brigade, Eastern Army. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Joey S. Holeman Jr. /Released)

Marines patrol through snow March 6 during a culminating field event for Exercise Forest Light 14-2 at Sekiyama Training Area in Niigata prefecture, Japan. The three-day field training tested the cold-weather tactics and survival skills learned throughout the training. The Marines are with Company I, 3rd Battalion, 1st Marine Regiment, currently assigned to 4th Marines, 3rd Marine Division, III Marine Expeditionary Force, under the unit deployment program. - Marines patrol through snow March 6 during a culminating field event for Exercise Forest Light 14-2 at Sekiyama Training Area in Niigata prefecture, Japan. The three-day field training tested the cold-weather tactics and survival skills learned throughout the training. The Marines are with Company I, 3rd Battalion, 1st Marine Regiment, currently assigned to 4th Marines, 3rd Marine Division, III Marine Expeditionary Force, under the unit deployment program.

Japan Ground Self-Defense Force members and U.S. Marines rush to retrieve dodgeballs at the beginning of a match during the culture day for Exercise Forest Light 14-2 March 3 at Camp Takada, Niigata prefecture, Japan. The dodgeball tournament allowed the two forces to get to know each other in a more personal way. The JGSDF members are with 2nd Infantry Regiment, 12th Brigade, Eastern Army. The Marines are with Company I, 3rd Battalion, 1st Marine Regiment, currently assigned to 4th Marines, 3rd Marine Division, III Marine Expeditionary Force, under the unit deployment program. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Joey S. Holeman Jr./Released) - Japan Ground Self-Defense Force members and U.S. Marines rush to retrieve dodgeballs at the beginning of a match during the culture day for Exercise Forest Light 14-2 March 3 at Camp Takada, Niigata prefecture, Japan. The dodgeball tournament allowed the two forces to get to know each other in a more personal way. The JGSDF members are with 2nd Infantry Regiment, 12th Brigade, Eastern Army. The Marines are with Company I, 3rd Battalion, 1st Marine Regiment, currently assigned to 4th Marines, 3rd Marine Division, III Marine Expeditionary Force, under the unit deployment program. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Joey S. Holeman Jr./Released)

Top enlisted soldiers with the Japan Ground Self-Defense Force and U.S. Marines swing kettle bells during a combat fitness course as part of the Japan Observer Exchange Program Jan. 23 on Camp Hansen. The JOEP is part of a larger effort to strengthen and enhance joint efforts between the U.S. and Japan. The JGSDF soldiers are with various units throughout the JGSDF, and the Marines are with the Staff Noncommissioned Officer Academy, Okinawa. Photo by Cpl. Lena Wakayama - Top enlisted soldiers with the Japan Ground Self-Defense Force and U.S. Marines swing kettle bells during a combat fitness course as part of the Japan Observer Exchange Program Jan. 23 on Camp Hansen. The JOEP is part of a larger effort to strengthen and enhance joint efforts between the U.S. and Japan. The JGSDF soldiers are with various units throughout the JGSDF, and the Marines are with the Staff Noncommissioned Officer Academy, Okinawa. Photo by Cpl. Lena Wakayama