A servicemember with Task Force 76/3 prepares to pass a rugby ball to Japan Ground Self Defense Force Lt. Keiichiro Maeda, while Maj. James McGeady, an exercise planner with the 3d Marine Expeditionary Brigade, coaches at a rugby practice during Exercise Iron Fist 24 aboard Camp Courtney, Okinawa, Japan, Mar. 6, 2024.
“The last time I played rugby was in university,” said Maeda, an air planner with the 1st Helicopter Brigade, JGSDF. “Playing alongside the Marines tonight and working with them for the last few weeks has brought us closer together and has created many personal and professional relationships.”
“Both Japanese and American militaries have deep-set traditions in rugby,” said McGeady. “Having our Japan Self-Defense Force counterparts join us tonight in a muddy and wet, high-tempo training session provided a unique opportunity to continue that tradition and strengthen our friendship and trust through sport.”
The rugby practice built camaraderie between the participating units and provided an opportunity for all service members to work together in a challenging and competitive environment. Iron Fist is an annual bilateral exercise designed to increase interoperability and strengthen the relationships between the U.S. Marine Corps, the U.S. Navy, the Japanese Ground Self-Defense Force, and the Japanese Maritime Self-Defense Force. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Gunnery Sgt. Andrew Ochoa)
| Date Taken: | 03.06.2024 |
| Date Posted: | 03.20.2024 19:43 |
| Photo ID: | 8289763 |
| VIRIN: | 240306-M-QT322-1083 |
| Resolution: | 5393x4314 |
| Size: | 3.91 MB |
| Location: | CAMP COURTNEY, OKINAWA, JP |
| Web Views: | 22 |
| Downloads: | 3 |
This work, Task Force 76/3 and Japanese Self-Defense Force Rugby [Image 8 of 8], by GySgt Andrew Ochoa, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
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