U.S. Marines with the 1st Reconnaissance Battalion, 1st Marine Division and members of the Japan Ground Self-Defense Force load a combat rubber raiding craft aboard a U.S. Marine Corps CH-46E Sea Knight helicopter while conducting reconnaissance training Feb. 15, 2014, at Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, Calif., during exercise Iron Fist 2014. Iron Fist is a three-week bilateral training event held annually between the U.S. Marine Corps and the Japan Ground Self-Defense Force designed to increase interoperability between the two services while aiding the Japanese in their continued development of amphibious capabilities.