Sailors and Marines Train With Japanese Soldiers During Iron Fist 2020
by U.S. Navy Petty Officer 2nd Class Natalie Byers and Petty Officer 2nd Class Jessica Paulauskas
May 4, 2020

Harpers Ferry-class dock landing ship USS Pearl Harbor (LSD 52) and amphibious transport dock ship USS Portland (LPD 27) along with U.S. Marines welcomed aboard Japanese Ground Self-Defense Force (JGSDF) Amphibious Rapid Deployment Regiment soldiers in support of Exercise Iron Fist 2020, Februay 3 through Februay 14.

More than 400 Marines attached to 15th Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU); 2nd Battalion, 1st Marines and Combat Logistics Battalion 15 embarked Pearl Harbor and Portland to exercise amphibious operational core competencies and demonstrate the enhanced air and amphibious capability of joint American-Japanese forces.

“For more than a decade, Iron fist has helped us operate together in a maritime environment,” said Rear Adm. John Gumbleton, commander, Expeditionary Strike Group 3. “The amphibious operations are vital to effective crisis response and support to regional maritime security.”

Exercise Iron Fist demonstrates more than 50 years of interoperability development and enhanced amphibious capability of U.S. and Japanese forces. Pearl Harbor provided both an air and amphibious platform for U.S. Marine Corps and JGSDF soldiers to train and conduct operations.

“I am surprised at how quickly we came together as a team,” said Cmdr. Kevin T. Dean, commanding officer of Pearl Harbor. “Both the USMC and the JGSDF operate AAVs the same way, but it is another thing all together to operationalize a bilateral force quickly, despite a significant language barrier to achieve effective ship to shore tactical objectives. This exercise reassured that we can deliver the rapid global expeditionary response capabilities expected of the U.S. Navy and Marine Corps team.”

Sailors and Marines kept both ship’s flight decks active as CH-53E Super Stallion helicopters from the “Heavy Haulers” of Marine Heavy Helicopter Squadron (HMH) 462 and the “Warhorse” of HMH-465 conducted deck landing qualifications aboard Portland. MV-22B Ospreys from the “White Knights” of Marine Medium Tilt Rotor Squadron (VMM) 165 conducted a simulated air assault exercise from the flight deck aboard Pearl Harbor and Portland.

These rotary wing assets can put Marines on the ground at a specific location for an assault, help support them, and then extract them once a mission is accomplished. The successful evolution of the air assault reinforced the skills necessary for air and ground combat elements to establish a force on a hostile shore, if needed.

“I couldn’t be prouder of how our Sailors and Marines have performed,” said Portland’s Commanding Officer Capt. Karrey Sanders. “Portland Sailors have executed every event required of them at the highest level. This exercise has allowed the crew to demonstrate their expertise in amphibious operations and flight operations.”

Eleven assault amphibious vehicles (AAVs) transited to Portland from Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, California, Feb. 5. Portland Sailors and Marines with 3rd Assault Amphibian Battalion, 1st Marine Division, collaborated efforts to recover the AAVs safely and efficiently. The AAVs disembarked Portland in route to San Clemente Island, California, for a simulated shore landing and returned back to the ship for another successful recovery, Feb. 6. The battalion later conducted a ground assault, leaving Portland Feb. 12, in route back to Camp Pendleton.

Throughout the exercise Sailors, Marines and Japanese soldiers came together to successfully launch multiple amphibious assault vehicle operations, conducted more than 20 flight deck landings, and welcomed aboard Pearl Harbor Lt. Gen. Joseph Osterman, commanding general, I Marine Expeditionary Force, Maj. Gen. Takanori Hirata, commanding general, Amphibious Raid Development Brigade, Rear Adm. John Gumbleton, commander, Expeditionary Strike Group 3, Captain John Barnett, commodore of Amphibious Squadron 1, Akira Muto, Japanese Consul General of Los Angeles, and Issei Koska, Japanese Vice Consul of Los Angeles.

“Over the course of the last few weeks, I know that our Marines, Sailors and Japanese soldiers have pushed themselves in the field, sharpening their technical and tactical proficiency,” said Osterman. “Training alongside each other on USS Pearl Harbor and USS Portland, the beaches of Camp Pendleton and on San Clemente Island reflects the amphibious nature that is the heart and soul of the Marine Corps and the Amphibious Rapid Deployment Brigade. It’s the bond between the Japanese soldiers, Marines and Sailors molded in shared experience—training side-by-side— that truly makes us stronger as we continue to build on the foundation of our partnerships.”

Iron Fist 2020 occurs during the 60th anniversary of the signing of the Treaty of Mutual Cooperation and Security between the U.S. and Japan, exemplifying the spirit of trust and cooperation between the Marine Corps and JGSDF. This year marked the 15th iteration of Exercise Iron Fist and put greater focus on the JGSDF’s ability to plan and conduct combined amphibious operations.

“As we continue to work side-by-side with the Japanese Self-Defense Forces, we grow our already strong partnership— making us a stronger more lethal force with the goal of maintaining peace and prosperity in the Indo-Pacific region,” said Gumbleton.

Iron Fist is an annual exercise designed to enhance the U.S. and Japanese forces’ ability to plan, communicate and conduct combined amphibious operations. Bilateral training exercises, like Iron Fist, develop forces capable of working in close collaboration and strengthen U.S. 3rd Fleet’s ability to respond quickly and effectively to crisis that may occur in the Indo-Pacific.

U.S. 3rd Fleet leads naval forces in the Indo-Pacific and provides the realistic, relevant training necessary for an effective global Navy. U.S. 3rd Fleet works in close coordination with U.S. 7th Fleet to provide commanders with capable, ready assets across the spectrum of military operations in the Indo-Pacific.

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