The Japan Self Defense Force (JSDF), French Armed Forces, Australian Defence Force (ADF), and the US military participated in a multilateral exercise called ‘Jeanne d’Arc 21’, or ARC-21 in short.
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U.S. Marines with III Marine Expeditionary Force, and Japanese soldiers with Amphibious Rapid Deployment Brigade, Japan Self Defense Force, exit a JSDF CH-47 Chinook helicopter at Kirishima Maneuver Area, Japan, May 15, 2021. (Picture source : U.S. Marine Corps/Lance Cpl. Brienna Tuck)

The exercise took place in Camp Ainoura, Sasebo, Japan, and lasted until 16 May. It aimed at enhancing interoperable warfighting capability. Jeanne d’Arc 21 exercise (ARC-21) was an opportunity for U.S., French, Japanese and Australian forces to share experiences, tactics, and best practices.

During the exercise, soldiers of U.S. reconnaissance Marines (Maine Recon) and Japan Ground Self-Defense Forces Special Forces, the maritime warfare branch of the JSDF, closely monitored the objective in preparation for follow-on forces. After that, USMC MV-22 Ospreys ‘inserted’ French infantry forces from the FS Tonnerre, and JGSDF CH-47 Chinooks transported JSDF forces ‘with embedded marines from Air Naval Gunfire Liaison Company’ (ANGLICO) to provide fire support for the multilateral raid force.