ExIron Fist

by Capt G Smith RM, 539 Raiding Sqn

It’s not every day you get yanked from your usual duties and told, ‘Pack your bags, you’re off to Japan’. But that’s exactly what happened to me when I was unexpectedly chosen to represent 47 Cdo to embed within one of 30 Commando’s Maritime Liaison and Assessment Teams and observe Ex Iron Fist. This exercise would see the Japanese Amphibious Rapid Deployment Brigade (ARDB) working alongside their close partners, the United States Marine Corps (USMC).

The Command Planning Team

Now, when one hears ‘Iron Fist’ it conjures images of brutal, no-nonsense warfare, an all-out action-packed military spectacle. While there was certainly plenty of that, what I didn’t quite expect was how much there was to learn about Japanese culture and etiquette, eating raw fish and, somewhat predictably, finding the best places to sample the local Okinawan beer.

The trip began with the usual high-level introductions and briefings, the kind where you nod sagely while senior officers discuss strategy and diplomacy. I sat through a command planning exercise, where the USMC and ARDB mapped out their approach to an amphibious assault. As an experienced Boat Operator, my job was to observe and absorb, while resisting the urge to point out that, despite all the high-tech planning and preparation, the sea will always do whatever it pleases.

Between the military spectacles, we ventured on some cultural excursions. From ancient shrines to World War Two battle sites, the history was humbling. Walking through these places, I couldn’t help but think of the Marines who came before, on both sides of history. Of course, no trip to Japan is complete without sampling the local cuisine. I humbly tackled sashimi, ramen and things that still had their eyes staring back at me. I like to think that my cultural immersion was successful, though I may have embarrassed myself trying to use chopsticks…