Range Company, Camp Fuji, Japan

• Origins and Mission: Range Company, located at Camp Fuji, Japan, is a unique unit within the United States Marine Corps responsible for managing and operating the extensive live-fire training ranges at the camp. • Strategic Location: Camp Fuji is situated at the base of Mount Fuji, providing a dramatic and challenging training environment for US and allied forces, with Range Company ensuring safe and effective use of the area. • Legacy of Training: Since the 1950s, Camp Fuji has been a vital site for training Marines and other branches, with Range Company playing a pivotal role since its formation in the 1980s. • Allied Partnerships: Range Company regularly supports joint training exercises with the Japan Self-Defense Forces and other allied militaries, fostering interoperability and alliance cohesion. • Challenging Terrain: The ranges managed by Range Company include rugged forests, volcanic ash, and steep slopes, simulating diverse combat environments for realistic training. • Exercise Fuji Viper: Range Company is integral to Exercise Fuji Viper, a recurring large-scale training event that prepares Marine units for combat readiness and expeditionary operations. • Disaster Relief Role: In addition to combat training, Range Company personnel have supported humanitarian and disaster relief efforts in Japan, leveraging their expertise in logistics and coordination. • Historic Moments: In 2011, following the Tōhoku earthquake and tsunami, Range Company assisted in Operation Tomodachi, supporting US-Japan disaster response operations. • Unique Traditions: Marines assigned to Range Company often participate in local Japanese festivals and community outreach, building strong US-Japan cultural ties. • Mount Fuji Symbolism: The proximity to Mount Fuji is a source of pride for Range Company, and the mountain often features in unit insignia and morale patches, symbolizing endurance and the partnership between US and Japanese forces.