>"Marines, airmen and soldiers recently practiced seizing a small Japanese island
Yeah, well we used to seize LARGE Japanese islands. It's not like the old days going over the side on cargo nets with your Garand across your back, a ruck full of c rats, two grenades, two canteens and a gauze bandage strapped to your helmet (unbuckled in case you fell into the water so it won't rip your head off).
Pro tips: grasp the vertical ropes so your hands won't get stepped on and drop into the boat as it comes up to greet you on the swell. If you jump when it starts down, it can be a looong drop and a hard landing.
t. jarhead