U.S. Marine Corps Maj. Gen. Lawrence Nicholson, left, the commanding general of the 1st Marine Division, speaks with Japan Ground Self-Defense Force officers after a splash demonstration by AAV-7 assault amphibious vehicles Feb. 16, 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.