WEBVTT

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^- Marines and members of the Japanese Defense Force

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^are once again training together here at Camp Pendleton.

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Exercise Iron Fist aimed at sharpening war fighting skills

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and strengthening partnerships.

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This year, 500 marines

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from the 1st Marine Expeditionary Force

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trained with soldiers from the Japan Ground Self-Defense.

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Exercise Iron Fist aims to train Japanese soldiers

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and marines in strategic operations on air, land and sea.

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^- As the United States Marine Corps,

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^we operate all around the world,

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^and we frequently work with our partner nations,

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^and this is just one more opportunity

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to enhance our skills with working with our partners.

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- [PO Hansel Pintos] The exercise began

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with a simulated invasion involving live fire,

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an amphibious assault, explosive ordnance and arms training.

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On this, the 12th annual Iron Fist exercise,

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marines will focus on training Japanese soldiers

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in the use of amphibious assault vehicles,

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as Japan plans to establish their own amphibious brigade.

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Marines will teach Japanese soldiers

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how to drive amphibious assault vehicles

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and how to conduct beach assaults.

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The US and Japan have been allies

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in the Pacific Rim since 1952,

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and continue to work together to build capabilities.

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- At the beginning, we both have a language barrier,

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and we have slight differences

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in what our tactics, techniques and procedures are.

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We start off slow,

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and we take advantage of our interpreters.

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And, over the course of the week,

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we become familiar with each others' procedures

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and streamline our approach to how we war fight.

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- Reporting from Camp Pendleton,

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I'm Petty Officer Hansel Pintos.