U.S. and Japanese national flags are presented during the opening ceremony for the field training exercise portion of Resolute Dragon 23 held at Camp Kengun, Kumamoto, Japan, Oct. 14, 2023. - U.S. and Japanese national flags are presented during the opening ceremony for the field training exercise portion of Resolute Dragon 23 held at Camp Kengun, Kumamoto, Japan, Oct. 14, 2023. RD 23 is an annual bilateral exercise in Japan that strengthens the command, control, and multi-domain maneuver capabilities of Marines in III Marine Expeditionary Force and allied Japan Self-Defense Force personnel. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Staff Sgt. Robert G. Gavaldon)

1st Lieutenant Francisco Mendoza looks at the view from the starboard side of the historical Japanese memorial Mikasa warship. - 1st Lieutenant Francisco Mendoza, S-4 Logistics of Combined Arms Training Center, Camp Fuji Japan, takes in the starboard side view from the historical Japanese memorial Mikasa warship, September 13, 2023. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Song Jordan)

Republic of Korea Marine Corps 1st Lt. Rukhan Lee, an interpreter with ROK Marine Corps Headquarters, center, facilitates a conversation between U.S. Marine Corps Col. Andrew Gourgoumis, current operations officer with III Marine Expeditionary Force, right, and ROK Marine Corps Lt. Col. Jaemyoung Lee, an exercise planning officer with ROK Marine Corps Headquarters, left, in the Landing Force Operations Center aboard the USS Blue Ridge (LCC-19) in support of Ulchi Freedom Shield 23, August 25, 2023. U.S. 7th Fleet’s flagship USS Blue Ridge is in port at Fleet Activities Yokosuka in Yokosuka, Japan. Ulchi Freedom Shield is a defense-oriented exercise designed to strengthen the ROK-U.S. Alliance, enhance our combined defense posture, and strengthen security and stability on the Korean peninsula. Gourgoumis is a native of Boston. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Tyler Andrews) - Republic of Korea Marine Corps 1st Lt. Rukhan Lee, an interpreter with ROK Marine Corps Headquarters, center, facilitates a conversation between U.S. Marine Corps Col. Andrew Gourgoumis, current operations officer with III Marine Expeditionary Force, right, and ROK Marine Corps Lt. Col. Jaemyoung Lee, an exercise planning officer with ROK Marine Corps Headquarters, left, in the Landing Force Operations Center aboard the USS Blue Ridge (LCC-19) in support of Ulchi Freedom Shield 23, August 25, 2023. U.S. 7th Fleet’s flagship USS Blue Ridge is in port at Fleet Activities Yokosuka in Yokosuka, Japan. Ulchi Freedom Shield is a defense-oriented exercise designed to strengthen the ROK-U.S. Alliance, enhance our combined defense posture, and strengthen security and stability on the Korean peninsula. Gourgoumis is a native of Boston. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Tyler Andrews)

A U.S. Marine shooter and spotters assess the target in the Team Pistol Match finals at Range 1 on Camp Hansen Dec. 13, 2018. Marine Corps Shooting Teams members verified the hits of the shooter. - A U.S. Marine shooter and spotters assess the target in the Team Pistol Match finals at Range 1 on Camp Hansen, Okinawa, Japan Dec. 13, 2018. Marine Corps Shooting Teams members verified the hits of the shooter.

Counsilor Yamada Hiroshi, Japan Diet Upper House Member, discusses key civil-military affairs concerning U.S. Marine Corps equities in Japan and the Indo-Pacific region during a meeting with U.S. Marine Corps Lt. Gen. David H. Berger at Camp H. M. Smith, Hawaii, April 30, 2018. - Counsilor Yamada Hiroshi, Japan Diet Upper House Member, discusses key civil-military affairs concerning U.S. Marine Corps equities in Japan and the Indo-Pacific region during a meeting with U.S. Marine Corps Lt. Gen. David H. Berger at Camp H. M. Smith, Hawaii, April 30, 2018. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Makenzie Fallon)

2nd Lt. Jennifer N. Galvan gives a mission brief during a Marine Corps Combat Readiness Evaluation at Central Training Area, Camp Hansen, Okinawa, Japan, April 18, 2017. 3d Law Enforcement Battalion conducted the evaluation to test each company’s ability to execute tasks ranging from policing operations to police patrolling, route regulations, key leader engagements in towns and local population centers, and security of key infrastructure in an expeditionary environment, to ensure they are prepared to support the operational requirements of III Marine Expeditionary Force. Galvan, a native of Oak Lawn, Ill., is a platoon commander for Bravo Company, 3d LE Bn., III MEF Headquarters Group. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Joshua Pinkney) - 2nd Lt. Jennifer N. Galvan gives a mission brief during a Marine Corps Combat Readiness Evaluation at Central Training Area, Camp Hansen, Okinawa, Japan, April 18, 2017. 3d Law Enforcement Battalion conducted the evaluation to test each company’s ability to execute tasks ranging from policing operations to police patrolling, route regulations, key leader engagements in towns and local population centers, and security of key infrastructure in an expeditionary environment, to ensure they are prepared to support the operational requirements of III Marine Expeditionary Force. Galvan, a native of Oak Lawn, Ill., is a platoon commander for Bravo Company, 3d LE Bn., III MEF Headquarters Group. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Joshua Pinkney)

An F-35B Lightning II with Marine Fighter Attack Squadron (VMFA) 121, lands at Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, Japan, Jan. 18, 2017. VMFA-121 conducted a permanent change of station to MCAS Iwakuni, from MCAS Yuma, Ariz., and now belongs to Marine Aircraft Group 12, 1st Marine Aircraft Wing, III Marine Expeditionary Force. The F-35B Lightning II is a fifth-generation fighter, which is the world's first operational supersonic short takeoff and vertical landing aircraft. The F-35B brings strategic agility, operational flexibility and tactical supremacy to III MEF with a mission radius greater than that of the F/A-18 Hornet and AV-8B Harrier II in support of the U.S. - Japan alliance. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Jacob A. Farbo) - An F-35B Lightning II with Marine Fighter Attack Squadron (VMFA) 121, lands at Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, Japan, Jan. 18, 2017. VMFA-121 conducted a permanent change of station to MCAS Iwakuni, from MCAS Yuma, Ariz., and now belongs to Marine Aircraft Group 12, 1st Marine Aircraft Wing, III Marine Expeditionary Force. The F-35B Lightning II is a fifth-generation fighter, which is the world's first operational supersonic short takeoff and vertical landing aircraft. The F-35B brings strategic agility, operational flexibility and tactical supremacy to III MEF with a mission radius greater than that of the F/A-18 Hornet and AV-8B Harrier II in support of the U.S. - Japan alliance. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Jacob A. Farbo)

Multinational service members conduct a Search and Rescue demonstration during the opening ceremony for ASEAN Exercise 16-3 at 14th Military Circle Airfield, Chonburi Province, Thailand Sept. 5, 2016. AEX 16-3 is a small-scale humanitarian assistance and disaster relief exercise consisting of 18 nations and co-hosted by Thailand, Japan, Lao People’s Democratic Republic and the Russian Federation. It is the third iteration of the ASEAN Defense Ministers Meeting plus multinational exercise program in 2016. - Multinational service members conduct a Search and Rescue demonstration during the opening ceremony for ASEAN Exercise 16-3 at 14th Military Circle Airfield, Chonburi Province, Thailand Sept. 5, 2016. AEX 16-3 is a small-scale humanitarian assistance and disaster relief exercise consisting of 18 nations and co-hosted by Thailand, Japan, Lao People’s Democratic Republic and the Russian Federation. It is the third iteration of the ASEAN Defense Ministers Meeting plus multinational exercise program in 2016.

U.S. Marine Corps Cpl. Christian Marin, a heavy equipment mechanic with Marine Wing Support Squadron 171 stationed at Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, Japan, radios-in a simulated casualty during Exercise Eagle Wrath 2016 at Combined Arms Training Center Camp Fuji,Japan, July 28, 2016. During the culminating event, Marines established a mock air base including a landing zone and refueling point, constructed defensive and machine-gun positions, and conducted convoys and patrols over the course of four days. MWSS-171 conducts this exercise once a year in order to train all the Marines within the squadron, enhance their technical skills, field experience and military occupational specialty capability. - U.S. Marine Corps Cpl. Christian Marin, a heavy equipment mechanic with Marine Wing Support Squadron 171 stationed at Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, Japan, radios-in a simulated casualty during Exercise Eagle Wrath 2016 at Combined Arms Training Center Camp Fuji,Japan, July 28, 2016. During the culminating event, Marines established a mock air base including a landing zone and refueling point, constructed defensive and machine-gun positions, and conducted convoys and patrols over the course of four days. MWSS-171 conducts this exercise once a year in order to train all the Marines within the squadron, enhance their technical skills, field experience and military occupational specialty capability.