A U.S. Marine, foreground, with the 1st Reconnaissance Battalion, 1st Marine Division provides cover fire while conducting raid training with Japan Ground Self-Defense Force (JGSDF) soldiers during exercise Iron Fist 2014 at Camp Pendleton, Calif., Feb. 7, 2014. Iron Fist is a three-week bilateral training event held annually between the U.S. Marine Corps and the JGSDF designed to increase interoperability between the two services while aiding the Japanese in their continued development of amphibious capabilities.