U.S. Marines and Japanese Ground Self-Defense Force soldiers dine together during the closing ceremony of exercise Iron Fist 2016 at Camp Pendleton, March 1, 2016. Exercise Iron Fist brought together Marines and JGSDF soldiers to hone their ability to conduct combined amphibious operations to help preserve peace and prevent conflict in the Asia-Pacific Region. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. April Price) - U.S. Marines and Japanese Ground Self-Defense Force soldiers dine together during the closing ceremony of exercise Iron Fist 2016 at Camp Pendleton, March 1, 2016. Exercise Iron Fist brought together Marines and JGSDF soldiers to hone their ability to conduct combined amphibious operations to help preserve peace and prevent conflict in the Asia-Pacific Region. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. April Price)
United States Marines and Japan Ground Self-Defense Force soldiers stand together in formation for the opening ceremony of exercise Iron Fist 2016 on Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, Calif., Jan. 22, 2016. Iron Fist is and annual, bilateral amphibious training exercise held in Southern California between the United States Marine Corps and the Japan Ground Self-Defense Force. The Marines taking part in the exercise are from I Marine Expeditionary Force on Camp Pendleton. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Timothy Valero/ Released) - United States Marines and Japan Ground Self-Defense Force soldiers stand together in formation for the opening ceremony of exercise Iron Fist 2016 on Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, Calif., Jan. 22, 2016. Iron Fist is and annual, bilateral amphibious training exercise held in Southern California between the United States Marine Corps and the Japan Ground Self-Defense Force. The Marines taking part in the exercise are from I Marine Expeditionary Force on Camp Pendleton. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Timothy Valero/ Released)
An AV-8B Harrier, piloted by Capt. Daniel S. Fiust of Marine Attack Squadron 513, takes in fuel March 28 while training above Fort Hunter Liggett, seen below. A KC-130J Hercules turboprop aircraft from San Diego-based Marine Aerial Refueler Transport Squadron 352 circled dozens of times, 22,000 feet above the remote Army post, and refueled the Harrier three times, pumping 15,000 pounds of fuel in total. Fiust conducted surveillance, reconnaissance and simulated guided-munitions strikes as part of an 11th Marine Expeditionary Unit air-ground task force exercise. The Harrier flew from the squadron’s home station in Yuma, Ariz., stopping once at Naval Air Station North Island in San Diego. Six of the squadron’s jets will reinforce the 11th Marine Expeditionary Unit’s aviation combat element, Marine Medium Helicopter Squadron 166 (Reinforced) when they deploy. - An AV-8B Harrier, piloted by Capt. Daniel S. Fiust of Marine Attack Squadron 513, takes in fuel March 28 while training above Fort Hunter Liggett, seen below. A KC-130J Hercules turboprop aircraft from San Diego-based Marine Aerial Refueler Transport Squadron 352 circled dozens of times, 22,000 feet above the remote Army post, and refueled the Harrier three times, pumping 15,000 pounds of fuel in total. Fiust conducted surveillance, reconnaissance and simulated guided-munitions strikes as part of an 11th Marine Expeditionary Unit air-ground task force exercise. The Harrier flew from the squadron’s home station in Yuma, Ariz., stopping once at Naval Air Station North Island in San Diego. Six of the squadron’s jets will reinforce the 11th Marine Expeditionary Unit’s aviation combat element, Marine Medium Helicopter Squadron 166 (Reinforced) when they deploy.