American and Japanese forces are training in the jungles of northern Okinawa in a series of joint air-land-sea operations, the U.S. Marine Corps announced in a press release. Jungle Warfare Exercise 22 (JWX) includes more than 7,500 U.S. Marines and the Navy’s USS Abraham Lincoln Carrier Strike Group.

The U.S. Air Force and Japan Air Self-Defense Force also participated in the exercise. Aircraft included in the drills included American and Japanese F-15 Eagles along with Navy and Marine Corps F/A-18 Super Hornets, F-35Bs, F-35Cs, MV-22B Ospreys, and CH-53E Super Stallions. Aircraft provided close air support, provided a naval strike presence, and protected air movement during the exercise.

“Each mission focused on the refinement of new tactics, techniques, procedures, and technologies such as rapid dispersion and utilization of a digitally interoperable kill chain,” Col. Cristopher Murray, commanding officer of Marine Aircraft Group 36, said in the press release. 

The Marine press release said the exercise refined interoperability of air, land, and sea forces by tying together sensors to achieve greater integration between ground-based Marines and other assets.

The exercise also featured forward arming and refueling points. Operations during the exercise took place in six different areas, requiring logistics connections from sea to shore and through the air. Small boats, helicopters, and surface connectors all participated in logistics operations.

“One of the new ways we are experimenting is utilizing the Navy’s small boat squadrons to retrieve re-supply bundles intentionally delivered by both Air Force and Marine Corps aircraft into pre-determined water drop zones,” said Lt. Col. Brett Bohne in the press release. “This exercise showcased the ability of joint forces to rapidly mobilize, integrate, and provide flexible logistics solutions to sustain combat momentum.”

The exercise was part of the Marine Corps’ emphasis on Expeditionary Advanced Basing Operations (EABO). The Marine Corps has worked to enhance its ability to fight in austere and difficult environments in recent years as part of a new strategy that places a priority on operating in the Pacific theater.

Kris Osborn is the Defense Editor for the National Interest. Osborn previously served at the Pentagon as a Highly Qualified Expert with the Office of the Assistant Secretary of the Army—Acquisition, Logistics & Technology. Osborn has also worked as an anchor and on-air military specialist at national TV networks. He has appeared as a guest military expert on Fox News, MSNBC, The Military Channel, and The History Channel. He also has a Master's Degree in Comparative Literature from Columbia University.

Image: Reuters.