3/8 and JGSDF conclude exercise Forest Light 21

Credit: Lance Cpl. Jonathan Willcox | Date Taken: 12/18/2020
U.S. Marines with 3d Battalion, 8th Marine Regiment and troops from the 30th Infantry Regiment, 12th Brigade, Japan Ground Self-Defense Force, conduct a closing ceremony to exercise Forest Light 21 in the Niigata Prefecture, Japan, on Dec. 18, 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 with 4th Marines, 3d Marine Division. (U.S. Marines Corps video by Lance Cpl. Jonathan Willcox)