Forest Light-21 Japan-US bilateral training exercise

 

U.S. Marines with 3d Battalion, 8th Marine Regiment, in a snow storm during exercise Forest Light 21 in the Niigata Prefecture, Japan, on Dec. 16, 2020. Forest Light is an annual bilateral training exercise that strengthens the interoperability and readiness of the U.S. Marine Corps and Japan Ground Self-Defense Force to deter aggression and defeat any threat. This iteration is focused on seizing and defending key maritime terrain as an integrated force in support of naval operations in the defense of Japan. 3/8 is forward-deployed in the Indo-Pacific under 3d Marine Division.

U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Jonathan Willcox and Lance Cpl. Scott Aubuchon.