America Amphibious Ready Group Completes Exercise Iron Fist

OKINAWA, Japan (Mar. 17, 2024) From left to right: Commanding Officer of the forward-deployed amphibious assault carrier, USS America (LHA 6), Capt. Manny Pardo; Commodore of Amphibious Squadron 11, Capt. Kelly Fletcher; Commanding Officer, 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit, Col. Matthew Danner; Commander, Task Force 76/3, Rear Adm. Christopher Stone; and Commanding General of 3rd Marine Expeditionary Brigade, Brig. Gen. Trevor Hall salute during the closing ceremony of Exercise Iron Fist, aboard the Ōsumi-class tank landing ship JS Kunisaki (LST-4003), in Okinawa, Japan, Mar. 17. 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. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Cole Pursley)