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Col. Robert Brodie, left, commanding officer of the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit, stands with Japan Ground Self-Defense Force Col. Kouki Watanabe, commanding officer of the JGSDF 12th Infantry Regiment after the opening ceremony for Exercise Forest Light Western Army at Camp Oyanohara, Kyushu, Japan, Jan. 18, 2020. The exercise will consist of field training events including basic infantry skills, vertical assaults integrated with MV-22B Osprey flight operations, and combined–arms, and enhances the collective defense capabilities of the U.S.-Japanese alliance. The 31st MEU, the Marine Corps’ only continuously forward deployed MEU, provides a flexible and lethal force ready to perform a wide range of military operations as the premier crisis response force in the Indo-Pacific region. (Official Marine Corps photo by Sgt. Audrey M. C. Rampton) - Col. Robert Brodie, left, commanding officer of the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit, stands with Japan Ground Self-Defense Force Col. Kouki Watanabe, commanding officer of the JGSDF 12th Infantry Regiment after the opening ceremony for Exercise Forest Light Western Army at Camp Oyanohara, Kyushu, Japan, Jan. 18, 2020. The exercise will consist of field training events including basic infantry skills, vertical assaults integrated with MV-22B Osprey flight operations, and combined–arms, and enhances the collective defense capabilities of the U.S.-Japanese alliance. The 31st MEU, the Marine Corps’ only continuously forward deployed MEU, provides a flexible and lethal force ready to perform a wide range of military operations as the premier crisis response force in the Indo-Pacific region. (Official Marine Corps photo by Sgt. Audrey M. C. Rampton)

Sgt. Maj. Troy E. Black, center, the 19th Sergeant Major of the Marine Corps, stands for a photo with fellow sergeants major during the Force Level Summit 2020 held in Okinawa, Japan, Jan. 15, 2020. The summit is a yearly event held to bring Force Level Sergeants Major together with the Sergeant Major of the Marine Corps to discuss ideas, lessons learned and address current and future concerns of the Marine Corps in order to improve lethality and readiness. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Hannah Hall) - Sgt. Maj. Troy E. Black, center, the 19th Sergeant Major of the Marine Corps, stands for a photo with fellow sergeants major during the Force Level Summit 2020 held in Okinawa, Japan, Jan. 15, 2020. The summit is a yearly event held to bring Force Level Sergeants Major together with the Sergeant Major of the Marine Corps to discuss ideas, lessons learned and address current and future concerns of the Marine Corps in order to improve lethality and readiness. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Hannah Hall)

Retired Sgt. Maj. John Canley, Medal of Honor Recipient, speaks to Marines of the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit and 3rd Marine Expeditionary Force on Camp Hansen, Okinawa, Japan, Dec. 11, 2019. Sgt. Maj. Canley received the Medal of Honor for his valor in combat during the Vietnam War. The 31st MEU, the Marine Corps' only continuously forward-deployed MEU, provides a flexible and lethal force ready to perform a wide range of military operations as the premier crisis response force in the Indo-Pacific region. (Official U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Joshua Sechser) - Retired Sgt. Maj. John Canley, Medal of Honor Recipient, speaks to Marines of the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit and 3rd Marine Expeditionary Force on Camp Hansen, Okinawa, Japan, Dec. 11, 2019. Sgt. Maj. Canley received the Medal of Honor for his valor in combat during the Vietnam War. The 31st MEU, the Marine Corps' only continuously forward-deployed MEU, provides a flexible and lethal force ready to perform a wide range of military operations as the premier crisis response force in the Indo-Pacific region. (Official U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Joshua Sechser)

U.S. Marine Lt. Col. Clinton Cummings, commanding officer of 1st Battalion, 25th Marine Regiment, currently assigned to 4th Marine Regiment, 3rd Marine Division, under the Unit Deployment Program, shakes hands with Col. Akamai Kazuo, commanding officer of 8th Infantry Regiment, Japan Ground Self-Defense Force, at an opening ceremony during Forest Light Middle Army in Aibano Training Area, Shiga, Japan, Dec. 1, 2019. Forest Light Middle Army is an annual training exercise that is designed to enhance the collective defense capabilities of the United States and Japan Alliance by allowing infantry units to maintain their lethality and proficiency in infantry and combined arms tactics. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. D’Angelo Yanez) - U.S. Marine Lt. Col. Clinton Cummings, commanding officer of 1st Battalion, 25th Marine Regiment, currently assigned to 4th Marine Regiment, 3rd Marine Division, under the Unit Deployment Program, shakes hands with Col. Akamai Kazuo, commanding officer of 8th Infantry Regiment, Japan Ground Self-Defense Force, at an opening ceremony during Forest Light Middle Army in Aibano Training Area, Shiga, Japan, Dec. 1, 2019. Forest Light Middle Army is an annual training exercise that is designed to enhance the collective defense capabilities of the United States and Japan Alliance by allowing infantry units to maintain their lethality and proficiency in infantry and combined arms tactics. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. D’Angelo Yanez)

U.S. Marines with 12th Marine Regiment, 3rd Marine Division, and U.S. Soldiers with 97th Transportation Company, 10th Support Group, work together to quickly embark transportation vehicles and a High Mobility Artillery Rocket System on the U.S. Army Vessel Harpers Ferry (LCU-2022) during a joint service HIMARS embarkation training exercise in Kin, Okinawa, Japan, Oct. 31, 2019. - U.S. Marines with 12th Marine Regiment, 3rd Marine Division, and U.S. Soldiers with 97th Transportation Company, 10th Support Group, work together to quickly embark transportation vehicles and a High Mobility Artillery Rocket System on the U.S. Army Vessel Harpers Ferry (LCU-2022) during a joint service HIMARS embarkation training exercise in Kin, Okinawa, Japan, Oct. 31, 2019. This event marks the first time a Marine HIMARS was loaded on to an Army landing craft in the Indo-Pacific. Strategic mobility is key in the Indo-Pacific and the ability to transport the HIMARS over water is a vital capability that the 3rd Marine Division is now able to expand upon by partnering with the 10th Support Group. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. D’Angelo Yanez)

U.S. Marine Corps Cpl. William Testorff with Headquarters Battalion, 3rd Marine Division, performs a radio check while on patrol during Samurai 20-1 on Camp Hansen, Okinawa, Japan, Oct. 22, 2019. - U.S. Marine Corps Cpl. William Testorff with Headquarters Battalion, 3rd Marine Division, performs a radio check while on patrol during Samurai 20-1 on Camp Hansen, Okinawa, Japan, Oct. 22, 2019. The purpose of this exercise is to conduct battle drills that validate the 3rd Marine Division’s movement, setup of a combat operations center, force protection, and passage of command and control between supporting elements. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Sgt. David Staten)

U.S. Marine Corps UH-1Y Huey helicopters with Marine Light Attack Helicopter Squadron 169 currently attached to 1st Marine Aircraft Wing, III Marine Expeditionary Force, fly in a formation during a rapid deployment exercise conducted by 1st MAW, Oct. 24 in Okinawa, Japan. - U.S. Marine Corps UH-1Y Huey helicopters with Marine Light Attack Helicopter Squadron 169 currently attached to 1st Marine Aircraft Wing, III Marine Expeditionary Force, fly in a formation during a rapid deployment exercise conducted by 1st MAW, Oct. 24 in Okinawa, Japan. Marines with the 1st MAW conduct rapid deployment training to increase the confidence of III MEF’s ability to rapidly deploy and maintain a secure Indo-Pacific region while showcasing the lethality and operational flexibility of 1st MAW. As the only forward-deployed MEF, III MEF is strategically postured to quickly and effectively respond to any crisis within the Indo-Pacific region. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Sgt. Amaia Unanue)

U.S. Marine Corps 1st Lt. Zachary Scalzo participates in a combat marksmanship range during exercise Fuji Viper 20.1 in Camp Fuji, Japan, Oct. 16, 2019. - U.S. Marine Corps 1st Lt. Zachary Scalzo participates in a combat marksmanship range during exercise Fuji Viper 20.1 in Camp Fuji, Japan, Oct. 16, 2019. Fuji Viper is a regularly scheduled training evolution for infantry units assigned to 3rd Marine Division as part of the unit deployment program. The training allows units to maintain their lethality and proficiency in infantry and combined arms tactics. Scalzo is assigned to 4th Marine Regiment, 3rd Marine Division. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Timothy Hernandez)

Gunnery Sgt. Jared McManus, company first sergeant for Maneuver Company, salutes 1st Lt. Sean Gunn, company commander of Maneuver Company, during the company activation ceremony at Camp Hansen, Okinawa, Japan, Aug. 30, 2019. - Gunnery Sgt. Jared McManus, company first sergeant for Maneuver Company, salutes 1st Lt. Sean Gunn, company commander of Maneuver Company, during the company activation ceremony at Camp Hansen, Okinawa, Japan, Aug. 30, 2019. Composed of engineers, motor transport and landing support, Maneuver Company was activated to optimize training while in garrison and to excel in distributed operations when deployed with the 31st MEU. The 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit, the Marine Corps' only continuously forward-deployed MEU, provides a flexible and lethal force ready to perform a wide range of military operations as the premier crisis response force in the Indo-Pacific region. (U.S Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Dylan Hess)

U.S. Marine Lance Cpl. Gabriel Marrero, a fire directional control specialist with Headquarters Battery, 12th Marine Regiment, 3rd Marine Division, stands security during Thunder Field Training Exercise on Camp Hansen, Okinawa, Japan, Sept. 18, 2019. The purpose of the exercise is to rehearse setting up an expeditionary combat operations center and refine procedures for doing so. Marrero is a native of Atlantic City, N.J. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Pfc. Jamal Norris) - U.S. Marine Lance Cpl. Gabriel Marrero, a fire directional control specialist with Headquarters Battery, 12th Marine Regiment, 3rd Marine Division, stands security during Thunder Field Training Exercise on Camp Hansen, Okinawa, Japan, Sept. 18, 2019. The purpose of the exercise is to rehearse setting up an expeditionary combat operations center and refine procedures for doing so. Marrero is a native of Atlantic City, N.J. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Pfc. Jamal Norris)