Photos

Airmen assigned to the 412th Test Wing perform a free-fall demonstration during the Japanese-American Friendship Festival 2025 at Yokota Air Base, Japan, May 18, 2025. The two-day festival allows the public to learn about the U.S.-Japan alliance and strengthens community bonds.

Fireworks light up the sky behind an Air Force F-16 Fighting Falcon during the Japanese-American Friendship Festival 2025 at Yokota Air Base, Japan, May 18, 2025. The two-day festival allows the public to learn about the U.S.-Japan alliance and strengthens community bonds.

Marine Corps Lance Cpl. Jonathan Dumadaug aims at simulated enemy combatants with an M27 infantry automatic rifle during a training exercise at Ie Shima, Okinawa, Japan, May 7, 2025.

An airman completes a decontamination process during a readiness exercise at Kadena Air Base, Japan, May 5, 2025.

A Navy E-2D Hawkeye flies over Iwakuni, Japan, during Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni's 46th Friendship Day, May 4, 2025. The open house on Friendship Day fosters positive relationships between the air station and its Japanese hosts and displays the mutual support between the U.S. and Japan.

Marine Corps Lance Cpl. Kendall Conwell crawls through mud during a basic jungle skills course at the Jungle Warfare Training Center at Camp Gonsalves, Okinawa, Japan, March 7, 2025. The course prepares Marines to operate in harsh, unfamiliar terrain, while remaining agile and combat-ready in the face of evolving threats.

Airmen assigned to the 374th Medical Group prepare to engage in a simulated aeromedical evacuation during exercise Beverly Morning 25-2 at Yokota Air Base, Japan, March 3, 2025. Beverly Morning is a biannual exercise designed to sharpen participants' warfighting mindset and fortify readiness at Yokota.

U.S. Marines and Japanese service members conduct bilateral flight operations in an MV-22B Osprey and a V-22 Osprey above Nagasaki, Japan, during Iron Fist 25, an annual bilateral exercise, Feb. 21, 2025.

U.S. and French naval aircraft fly in formation with ships assigned to the U.S. Navy's Carl Vinson Carrier Strike Group, the U.S. Military Sealift Command, the French Carrier Strike Group and the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force in the Philippine Sea during Pacific Stellar 2025, Feb. 12, 2025. The exercise was designed to advance coordination and cooperation between French, Japanese and U.S. maritime forces and foster maritime security in support of a free and open Indo-Pacific.

Army Staff Sgt. Donavan Burns explains the functions of the M4 rifle to Japanese soldiers during Exercise North Wind 25 at Camp Makomanai, Hokkaido, Japan, Jan. 31, 2025. The bilateral cold-weather exercise strengthens the U.S.-Japan defense cooperation through combined training.

A Royal Australian Air Force E-7A Wedgetail, center front, is flanked from left to right by a U.S. Air Force F-16C Fighting Falcon, an RAAF F-35A Lightning II, a U.S. Air Force F-35A, a Japan Air Self-Defense Force F-35A, a U.S. Marine Corps F-35B Lightning II and a U.S. Marine Corps F/A-18C Hornet, with a U.S Navy EA-18G Growler behind it while participating in a formation flight over the U.S. Indo-Pacific Command area of responsibility during Cope North, Feb. 7, 2025. The exercise is designed to enhance interoperability and regional security in the Indo-Pacific.

Marine Corps Col. Richard Rusnok, center, and Japanese Rear Adm. Ichiro Ishikawa, right, hammer rice during a traditional Mochitsuki mochi pounding event at Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, Japan, Dec. 13, 2024. The event is designed to learn more about Japanese New Year’s traditions and culture.

Army Malek James observes a hydraulics systems check during Keen Sword at Misawa Air Base, Japan, Oct. 29, 2024. The exercise is designed to increase readiness and interoperability while strengthening the ironclad U.S.-Japan alliance.

Marine Corps Cpl. Jonathan F. Mikita, left, and Sgt. Michael J. Tatay assemble a lightweight counter-mortar radar system during Exercise Keen Sword 25 at the Marine Corps Training Facility Ie Shima, Okinawa, Japan, Oct. 27, 2024. Keen Sword is a biennial, joint and bilateral field training exercise involving U.S. and Japanese forces designed to increase readiness and interoperability while strengthening the ironclad U.S.-Japan alliance.

Marine Corps Pfc. Erick Reyes walks in the Iwakuni Matsuri parade in Iwakuni City, Japan, Oct. 20, 2024. The Iwakuni Matsuri Festival and parade is celebrated annually and allows the city and local organizations to come together to promote community relations and regional development.

Air Force F-16 Fighting Falcons, a Navy P-8 Poseidon, a Navy C-12 Huron, Japanese F-35A Lightning II Joint Strike Fighters, Japanese F-2s, a Japanese E-2D Hawkeye and a Japanese RQ-4B Global Hawk perform a wing capabilities demonstration during Keen Sword at Misawa Air Base, Japan, Nov. 1, 2024. The exercise is designed to increase readiness and interoperability while strengthening the ironclad U.S.-Japan alliance.

Marine Corps Capt. Coby Fisher fires an M240B machine gun during a live-fire exercise at Camp Schwab, Okinawa, Japan, Sept. 30, 2024. The training helped Marines improve their proficiency with multiple weapon systems to maintain readiness for expeditionary operations in contested environments.

Marines fire an M777 Howitzer while executing night operations during training in Hokkaido, Japan, Sept. 14, 2024.

Navy Petty Officer 2nd Class Antonio Coss prepares an IV catheter needle during Artillery Relocation Program 24.2 at the Yausubetsu Maneuver Area in Hokkaido, Japan, Sept. 9, 2024. The program relocates live-fire artillery training from Okinawa to mainland Japan to maintain readiness and enhance regional security across Japan and the Indo-Pacific.

Royal Canadian Navy, Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force, South Korean Navy and U.S. Navy warships sail in formation in the Philippine Sea as Navy EA-18G Growler aircraft fly above during exercise Pacific Vanguard, Aug. 26, 2024. Pacific Vanguard strengthens skills in maritime operations and advanced maneuvering scenarios.