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America Amphibious Ready Group Completes Exercise Iron Fist

14 March 2023

From Lt.j.g. Beau Nickerson, USS America

OKINAWA, Japan - Sailors assigned to the America Amphibious Ready Group (ARG) and Marines from the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU), along with members of the Japan Ground Self-Defense Force (JGSDF) and Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force (JMSDF), celebrated the completion of the 17th iteration of Exercise Iron Fist in a ceremony held on the flight deck of JMSDF landing ship tank JS Ohsumi (LST 4001), March 12.

USS America (LHA 6) transits the East China Sea.
EAST CHINA SEA (Mar. 1, 2023) The amphibious assault ship USS America (LHA 6), left, sails in formation with the amphibious dock landing ship USS Green Bay (LPD 20), middle, and the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force landing ship tank JS Osumi (LST 4001) during a mine counter-measure exercise as part of Exercise Iron Fist in the East China Sea, Mar. 1. Iron Fist is an annual bilateral exercise designed to increase interoperability and strengthen 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. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Sade’ Anita Wallace)
USS America (LHA 6) transits the East China Sea.
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EAST CHINA SEA (Mar. 1, 2023) The amphibious assault ship USS America (LHA 6), left, sails in formation with the amphibious dock landing ship USS Green Bay (LPD 20), middle, and the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force landing ship tank JS Osumi (LST 4001) during a mine counter-measure exercise as part of Exercise Iron Fist in the East China Sea, Mar. 1. Iron Fist is an annual bilateral exercise designed to increase interoperability and strengthen 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. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Sade’ Anita Wallace)
Photo By: Petty Officer 2nd Class Sade Wallace
VIRIN: 220301-N-SW005-1476


Iron Fist is an annual bilateral exercise designed to increase interoperability and strengthen relationships between the U.S. Marine Corps, U.S. Navy, JGSDF, and JMSDF. This iteration marked the first time the exercise was held in Japan and featured the additional integration of the JMSDF.
Marines assigned to the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU) and members of the Japan Ground Self-Defense Force parade the colors to open the closing ceremony for Exercise Iron Fist aboard Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force landing ship tank JS Osumi (LST-4001) while moored in Okinawa, Japan, Mar. 12.
OKINAWA, JAPAN (Mar. 12, 2023) Marines assigned to the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU) and members of the Japan Ground Self-Defense Force parade the colors to open the closing ceremony for Exercise Iron Fist aboard 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 strengthen 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. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class Shelby M. Tucker)
Marines assigned to the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU) and members of the Japan Ground Self-Defense Force parade the colors to open the closing ceremony for Exercise Iron Fist aboard Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force landing ship tank JS Osumi (LST-4001) while moored in Okinawa, Japan, Mar. 12.
230312-N-QM905-1020
OKINAWA, JAPAN (Mar. 12, 2023) Marines assigned to the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU) and members of the Japan Ground Self-Defense Force parade the colors to open the closing ceremony for Exercise Iron Fist aboard 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 strengthen 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. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class Shelby M. Tucker)
Photo By: Petty Officer 1st Class Shelby Tucker
VIRIN: 230312-N-QM905-1020


“Our allies are one of our greatest assets,” said Capt. Kelly Fletcher, commodore, Amphibious Squadron 11. “Exercises like this are how we invest in strengthening those relationships at the tactical level and collectively sharpen our swords to ensure we have the required skill-sets needed to ensure a free and open Indo-Pacific.”
The America Amphibious Ready Group conducts underway operations in the Philippine Sea.
U.S. Marines with the maritime raid force, 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit conduct a search during a visit, board, search, and seizure exercise aboard the tank landing ship JS Osumi (LST-4001) during Iron Fist 23 in the Pacific Ocean, Mar. 4, 2023. Iron Fist 23 provided an opportunity for the USS America Amphibious Ready Group and the JMSDF to work together in coordinating combined counter-piracy operations at sea. Iron Fist is an annual bilateral exercise designed to increase interoperability and strengthen the relationships between the U.S. Marine Corps, the U.S. Navy, the Japan Ground Self-Defense Force, and the JMSDF. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Sgt. Marcos A. Alvarado)
The America Amphibious Ready Group conducts underway operations in the Philippine Sea.
230304-M-CZ543-2239
U.S. Marines with the maritime raid force, 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit conduct a search during a visit, board, search, and seizure exercise aboard the tank landing ship JS Osumi (LST-4001) during Iron Fist 23 in the Pacific Ocean, Mar. 4, 2023. Iron Fist 23 provided an opportunity for the USS America Amphibious Ready Group and the JMSDF to work together in coordinating combined counter-piracy operations at sea. Iron Fist is an annual bilateral exercise designed to increase interoperability and strengthen the relationships between the U.S. Marine Corps, the U.S. Navy, the Japan Ground Self-Defense Force, and the JMSDF. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Sgt. Marcos A. Alvarado)
Photo By: Sgt. Marcos Alvarado
VIRIN: 230304-M-CZ543-2239


Over the course of the exercise, ships assigned to the ARG coordinated and executed operations with the JMSDF to include formation sailing with Ohsumi and other JMSDF ships, visit, board, search and seizure (VBSS) exercises, and joint flight operations with JGSDF aircraft.
The America Amphibious Ready Group transits the East China Sea with the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force.
EAST CHINA SEA (March 1, 2023) The Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force (JMSDF) landing ship tank JS Osumi (LST 4001), left, the minesweeper JS Hirashima (MSC 601), the U.S. Navy forward deployed amphibious assault ship USS America (LHA 6), JS Yakushima (MSC 602), and the amphibious dock landing ship USS Green Bay (LPD 20) sail in formation as part of Exercise Iron Fist while underway in the East China Sea, March 1, 2023. Iron Fist is an annual bilateral exercise designed to increase interoperability and strengthen 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. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Sade’ Anita Wallace)
The America Amphibious Ready Group transits the East China Sea with the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force.
220301-N-SW005-2765
EAST CHINA SEA (March 1, 2023) The Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force (JMSDF) landing ship tank JS Osumi (LST 4001), left, the minesweeper JS Hirashima (MSC 601), the U.S. Navy forward deployed amphibious assault ship USS America (LHA 6), JS Yakushima (MSC 602), and the amphibious dock landing ship USS Green Bay (LPD 20) sail in formation as part of Exercise Iron Fist while underway in the East China Sea, March 1, 2023. Iron Fist is an annual bilateral exercise designed to increase interoperability and strengthen 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. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Sade’ Anita Wallace)
Photo By: Petty Officer 2nd Class Sade Wallace
VIRIN: 220301-N-SW005-2765


The America ARG, comprised of amphibious assault ship USS America (LHA 6), amphibious transport dock ship USS Green Bay (LPD 20), amphibious dock landing ship USS Ashland (LSD 48), under the operational command of Amphibious Squadron 11 are underway conducting routine integrated operations in U.S. 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.

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