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4th Marine Regiment and its subordinate battalions’ colors have not been unified since 1977. While 4th Marines is headquartered in Okinawa, its subordinate battalions are stationed in the continental U.S. and participate in rotational deployments under the Unit Deployment Program and with Marine Expeditionary Units. Rivera, a native of Florida, is the sergeant major of 4th Marine Regiment, 3d Marine Division. Cleveland, a native of Georgia, Young, a native of Pennsylvania, and Aja, a native of Texas, are the sergeant majors of 1st, 2nd, and 3rd Battalions, 4th Marine Regiment. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Noah Masog) - U.S. Marine Corps Sgt. Maj. Christopher Rivera, left, Sgt. Maj. Marshall Cleveland, center left, Sgt. Maj. James Young, center right, and Sgt. Maj. Nathan Aja, stand with their regimental and battalion colors on Camp Schwab, Okinawa, Japan, Nov. 21, 2024.

4th Marine Regiment Colors Reunification

U.S. Marines from 4th Marine Regiment, 3d Marine Division, and three of its subordinate battalions gathered for a reunion of units’ colors, commanders, and staff for the first time in over 45 years, Nov. 21, 2024.

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At the ceremony, 3d MLR officially received the Navy/Marine Expeditionary Ship Interdiction System from Marine Corps Systems Command, becoming the first U.S. Marine Corps unit to field the system. The NMESIS provides 3d MLR with enhanced sea denial capabilities and maritime lethality. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Sgt. Jacqueline C. Parsons) - U.S. Marines with 3d Littoral Combat Team, 3d Marine Littoral Regiment, 3d Marine Division, participate in a ceremony on Marine Corps Base Hawaii, Nov. 26, 2024.

3d Marine Littoral Regiment Receives NMESIS

MARINE CORPS BASE HAWAII – U.S. Marines with 3d Marine Littoral Regiment, 3d Marine Division, formally received the Navy-Marine Expeditionary Ship Interdiction System – a mountable, ground-based anti-ship missile launcher – on November 26, 2024. In order to commemorate the intra-service hand-off and acknowledge the months of initial operational testing and evaluation that went into fielding the new weapon system, 3d MLR held a receiving ceremony and NMESIS static display at Dewey Square on Marine Corps Base Hawaii and invited distinguished visitors from across both U.S. and partnered militaries to take part.

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Marines with the 31st MEU were paired with instructors from Deploying Group Systems Integration Testing to ensure that the Marines are efficient in functioning Command, Control, Communications and Computer equipment and are prepared for real-world contingencies. The 31st MEU, the Marine Corps’ only continuously forward-deployed MEU, provides a flexible and lethal force, ready to perform a wide range of military operations as the premiere crisis response force in the Indo-Pacific region. Rios is a native of Nevada. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Raul Sotovilla) - U.S. Marine Corps Cpl. Sergio Rios, a system repairer with the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit, sets up a radio system during a communication exercise at Camp Hansen, Okinawa, Japan, Nov. 19, 2024.

31st MEU Conducts Communication Exercise

OKINAWA, Japan – U.S. Marines with the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit participate in a communication exercise to sustain and develop Command, Control, Communications, and Computer (C4) skills of Marine Corps radio operators at Camp Hansen, Okinawa from Nov.18-22, 2024.

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On October 12, 2024, the Marines assisted in saving the life of a local woman who had been swept away by strong currents near Cape Zanpa, Okinawa, Japan. The decisive actions carried out by the Marines that day not only saved a life, but demonstrated the Marines’ commitment to the local community, even when off-duty. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Angel Diaz Montes De Oca) - U.S. Marines with Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron 262 (Rein.), 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit, pose for a photo next to an UH-1Y Venom helicopter during an award ceremony on Marine Corps Air Station Futenma, Okinawa, Japan, Nov. 6, 2024.

31st MEU | Marines awarded for heroic actions

OKINAWA, JAPAN – The beaches of Okinawa are a peaceful escape for both locals and service members stationed on the island. The high temperatures, clear skies and gentle breezes create the perfect conditions to enjoy a day off work swimming in the clear, turquoise waters surrounding the island.

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U.S. Marine Corps Lt. Gen. James Glynn, left, commanding general of Marine Forces Pacific, and Lt. Gen. Roger B. Turner, middle-right, commanding general of III Marine Expeditionary Force, pose for a photo with Japan Ground Self-Defense Force members during exercise Keen Sword 25 at JGSDF Camp Ishigaki, Okinawa, Japan, Oct. 23, 2024. KS25 is a biennial, joint and bilateral field-training exercise involving U.S. military and Japan Self-Defense Force personnel, designed to increase readiness and interoperability while strengthening the ironclad U.S.-Japan alliance. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Staff Sgt. JVonnta Taylor) - U.S. Marine Corps Lt. Gen. James Glynn, left, commanding general of Marine Forces Pacific, and Lt. Gen. Roger B. Turner, middle-right, commanding general of III Marine Expeditionary Force, pose for a photo with Japan Ground Self-Defense Force members during exercise Keen Sword 25 at JGSDF Camp Ishigaki, Okinawa, Japan, Oct. 23, 2024

Senior U.S. Marines Visit Ishigaki

MARINE CORPS BASE CAMP S. D. BUTLER, Okinawa, Japan – Lt. Gen. James Glynn, commander U.S Marine Corps Forces Pacific, joined Lt. Gen. Roger Turner, III Marine Expeditionary Force commanding general, during a recent trip to Japan Ground Self-Defense Force Camp Ishigaki, Okinawa, Japan October 23, 2024.

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KS25 is a biennial, joint and bilateral field-training exercise involving U.S. military and Japan Self-Defense Force personnel, designed to increase readiness and interoperability while strengthening the ironclad U.S.-Japan alliance. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Rodney Frye) - U.S. Marines with 3rd Battalion, 12th Marine Littoral Regiment, 3d Marine Division and Marine Aerial Refueler Transport Squadron (VMGR) 152, Marine Aircraft Group 12, 1st Marine Aircraft Wing, transport an M142 High Mobility Artillery Rocket System in a KC-130J Super Hercules in preparation for Keen Sword 25 at Japan Air Self –Defense Force Kenebetsu Air Base, Hokkaido, Japan, Oct. 18, 2024.

U.S. Marines Participate in Keen Sword 25

MARINE CORPS BASE CAMP S. D. BUTLER, Okinawa, Japan - III Marine Expeditionary Force Marines and Sailors will participate in exercise Keen Sword 25, a joint-bilateral biennial exercise, alongside the Japan Self-Defense Force from October 23 through November 1, 2024, throughout Japan.

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They are forward deployed in the Indo-Pacific with 4th Marine Regiment, 3d Marine Division as part of the Unit Deployment Program. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Nevaeh Segura) - From left, U.S. Marine Corps Lance Cpl. Stephen Estrada, Lance Cpl. Samuel Calhoun, U.S. Navy Petty Officer 3rd Class Jett Garcia, and Cpl. Austin Potter responded and rendered first aid to a Japanese resident following a car crash on the Okinawa Expressway, Okinawa, Japan on Oct. 6, 2024.

U.S. Service Members Provide Lifesaving Aid to Okinawa Resident 

CAMP COURTNEY, OKINAWA, JAPAN – On Oct. 6, 2024, three U.S Marines and one U.S Navy Sailor were in a taxi northbound on the Okinawa Expressway heading back to Camp Schwab, when their driver suddenly stopped due to a vehicle blocking the road. The vehicle was involved in a crash and inside was a local resident. Without hesitation, the group of four rushed to assist. 

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The U.S. Department of Defense is supporting the Republic of the Philippines at the request of the Government of the Philippines during humanitarian assistance and disaster relief operations in the aftermath of Typhoon Krathon (Julian) in Northern Luzon. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Sgt. Gabriel Antwiler) - U.S. Marines with III Marine Expeditionary Force load cargo onto a KC-130J Super Hercules aircraft with Marine Aerial Refueler Transport Squadron 152, Marine Aircraft Group 12, 1st Marine Aircraft Wing at Kadena Air Base, Okinawa, Japan, Oct. 5, 2024.

U.S. Marines Deliver Emergency Relief to Philippines

CAMP COURTNEY, OKINAWA, Japan - At the request of the Government of the Republic of the Philippines, Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin directed U.S. Indo-Pacific Command to support the U.S. Agency for International Development's efforts in foreign disaster relief operations in the Philippines following Typhoon Krathon (locally known as Julian), which made landfall on the Province of Cagayan, Philippines Sep. 30.

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The ceremony marks the redesignation of Combat Logistics Battalion 12 to 12th Littoral Logistics Battalion. 12th LLB’s redesignation is the next milestone in 12th Marine Littoral Regiment’s continued evolution in support of the Marine Corps’ Force Design initiative. 12th LLB’s redesignation is vital for sustaining 12th MLR by providing forward-deployed logistics support to ensure the regiment is prepared to effectively respond to a wide variety of operations, from humanitarian assistance and disaster relief to full-spectrum military operations. Brogan, a native of Virginia, is a logistics officer and Spaeder, a native of Pennsylvania, is the commanding officer, of 12th LLB, 12th Marine Littoral Regiment, 3d Marine Division. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Evelyn Doherty) - U.S. Marine Corps Maj. Ryan Brogan salutes Lt. Col. Leo Spaeder during a redesignation ceremony on Oct. 3, 2024, Camp Hansen, Okinawa, Japan.