 Naval Beach Unit 7 supports a variety of missions, including working with and training their counterparts in the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force. Landing craft Air Cushion 21 and the Japanese LCAC Unit 1 came together for the first time for contingency operation exercises. We have to connect with the US, US country for protecting Japanese land. So it's shown the brand of ship with the US, US and Japanese. Both units conducted formation runs and eventually landed in the well-deck of the Japanese defense ship Shimokita to cross-deck crafts. Being able to integrate with the Japanese Navy just gets to a point where we'll be able to move more Marines ashore and their equipment and have the Japanese there to back us up and vice versa. Petty Officer Sara Villegas fleet activities, Sausable, Japan.