NEWS

U.S. Marine Corps Gunnery Sgt. Clinton John DuClos receives the James Maguire Exceptional achievement award at Marine Corps Air Station Futenma, Okinawa, Japan, April 21, 2017. The Marine Corps Aviation Association awarded Duclos for leading, mentoring, and training Marines to become subject matter experts and be fully qualified in the airframes job field. “I’m just doing my job to the best of my ability,” said DuClos. “I’m very humbled and appreciative of it.” DuClos, a native of St. Louis, is a MV-22 Osprey airframes division chief with Marine Medium Tilt Rotor Squadron 262, Marine Aircraft Group 36, 1st Marine Aircraft Wing, III Marine Expeditionary Force. - U.S. Marine Corps Gunnery Sgt. Clinton John DuClos receives the James Maguire Exceptional achievement award at Marine Corps Air Station Futenma, Okinawa, Japan, April 21, 2017. The Marine Corps Aviation Association awarded Duclos for leading, mentoring, and training Marines to become subject matter experts and be fully qualified in the airframes job field. “I’m just doing my job to the best of my ability,” said DuClos. “I’m very humbled and appreciative of it.” DuClos, a native of St. Louis, is a MV-22 Osprey airframes division chief with Marine Medium Tilt Rotor Squadron 262, Marine Aircraft Group 36, 1st Marine Aircraft Wing, III Marine Expeditionary Force.

Marines with the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit hike up a hill at Hacksaw Ridge, Okinawa, Japan, May 4, 2017. The Marines, non-commissioned officers with the MEU, visited World War II battle sites throughout Okinawa as part of a Marine Corps Community Services tour that was intended to boost morale throughout the NCO corps of the 31st MEU and sharpen the Marines’ mental readiness. As the Marine Corps’ only continuously forward deployed unit, the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit’s air-ground-logistics team provides a flexible force, ready to perform a wide range of military operations, from limited combat to humanitarian assistance operations, throughout the Asia-Pacific region. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Sgt. Tiffany Edwards) - Marines with the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit hike up a hill at Hacksaw Ridge, Okinawa, Japan, May 4, 2017. The Marines, non-commissioned officers with the MEU, visited World War II battle sites throughout Okinawa as part of a Marine Corps Community Services tour that was intended to boost morale throughout the NCO corps of the 31st MEU and sharpen the Marines’ mental readiness. As the Marine Corps’ only continuously forward deployed unit, the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit’s air-ground-logistics team provides a flexible force, ready to perform a wide range of military operations, from limited combat to humanitarian assistance operations, throughout the Asia-Pacific region. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Sgt. Tiffany Edwards)

Local Okinawan children cheer as a military working dog is brought out for a demonstration during the Young Marine Battalion Field Meet on Camp Hansen, Okinawa, Japan, May 13, 2017. The field meet allowed local Okinawan children and children of the Young Marines program to work together as a team to overcome obstacles and build camaraderie. (U.S. Marine Corps Photo by Lance Cpl. Deseree Kamm) - Local Okinawan children cheer as a military working dog is brought out for a demonstration during the Young Marine Battalion Field Meet on Camp Hansen, Okinawa, Japan, May 13, 2017. The field meet allowed local Okinawan children and children of the Young Marines program to work together as a team to overcome obstacles and build camaraderie. (U.S. Marine Corps Photo by Lance Cpl. Deseree Kamm)

Capt. Erin Demchko portrays a convoy commander engaged in a firefight during the filming of "Battle Up," a new commercial published by the Marine Corps Recruiting Command May 12, 2017. "Battle Up," like the other work in the recently-launched campaign, is aimed at the recruitable population and their influencers – parents, teachers, coaches and community leaders. (Courtesy Screen Shot) - Capt. Erin Demchko portrays a convoy commander engaged in a firefight during the filming of "Battle Up," a new commercial published by the Marine Corps Recruiting Command May 12, 2017. "Battle Up," like the other work in the recently-launched campaign, is aimed at the recruitable population and their influencers – parents, teachers, coaches and community leaders. (Courtesy Screen Shot)

Sgt. Maj. Lee D. Bonar Jr. says farewell during his relief, appointment, and retirement ceremony at Camp Hansen, Okinawa, Japan, May 12, 2017. Sgt. Maj. Mario A. Marquez, a native of Lakewood, California, took his place as the III Marine Expeditionary Force sergeant major. Bonar, who enlisted out of Wheeling, West Virginia, retired after 32 years of honorable and faithful service. - Sgt. Maj. Lee D. Bonar Jr. says farewell during his relief, appointment, and retirement ceremony at Camp Hansen, Okinawa, Japan, May 12, 2017. Sgt. Maj. Mario A. Marquez, a native of Lakewood, California, took his place as the III Marine Expeditionary Force sergeant major. Bonar, who enlisted out of Wheeling, West Virginia, retired after 32 years of honorable and faithful service.

Maj. Christopher A. Denver was honored as the 1st Marine Aircraft Wing Aviator of the Year Award recipient last month at Marine Corps Air Station Futenma, Okinawa, Japan. The Alfred A. Cunningham Award (Marine Aviator of the Year) first recognizes the top aviator in each MAW, and then identifies an overall winner from those finalists. The Marine Corps Aviation Association announced Capt. Hugh E. Anderson, assigned to Marine All Weather Fighter Attack Squadron 533, Marine Aircraft Group 31, 2nd MAW, as the winner of the Marine Corps wide Aviator of the Year. Denver, from San Antonio, Texas, is the executive officer of Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron 265, MAG 36, 1st MAW. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Bernadette Wildes) - Maj. Christopher A. Denver was honored as the 1st Marine Aircraft Wing Aviator of the Year Award recipient last month at Marine Corps Air Station Futenma, Okinawa, Japan. The Alfred A. Cunningham Award (Marine Aviator of the Year) first recognizes the top aviator in each MAW, and then identifies an overall winner from those finalists. The Marine Corps Aviation Association announced Capt. Hugh E. Anderson, assigned to Marine All Weather Fighter Attack Squadron 533, Marine Aircraft Group 31, 2nd MAW, as the winner of the Marine Corps wide Aviator of the Year. Denver, from San Antonio, Texas, is the executive officer of Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron 265, MAG 36, 1st MAW. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Bernadette Wildes)

A U.S. Marine with III Marine Expeditionary Force, Alert Contingency Marine Air Ground Task Force (ACM) prepares to palletize equipment during an ACM drill at Kadena Air Base, Okinawa, Japan, May 5, 2017. The ACM must be prepared to respond within 24 hours to crises throughout the Asian pacific region to mitigate crises, protect U.S. citizens, and territories, or counter threats to U.S. national interests as needed. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by MCIPAC Combat Camera Lance Cpl. Juan C. Bustos) - A U.S. Marine with III Marine Expeditionary Force, Alert Contingency Marine Air Ground Task Force (ACM) prepares to palletize equipment during an ACM drill at Kadena Air Base, Okinawa, Japan, May 5, 2017. The ACM must be prepared to respond within 24 hours to crises throughout the Asian pacific region to mitigate crises, protect U.S. citizens, and territories, or counter threats to U.S. national interests as needed. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by MCIPAC Combat Camera Lance Cpl. Juan C. Bustos)

U.S. Marines with 4th Marine Regiment pose for a photo with the Honorable Sung Y. Kim, U.S. Ambassador to the Philippines, after a ceremony to mark the 75th anniversary of the fall of Corregidor to the Japanese during World War II on Corregidor, Cavite, May 6, 2017. The ceremony was held to commemorate the Marines, Soldiers, Sailors and Filipinos who fought and sacrificed to defend the Philippines during World War II. - U.S. Marines with 4th Marine Regiment pose for a photo with the Honorable Sung Y. Kim, U.S. Ambassador to the Philippines, after a ceremony to mark the 75th anniversary of the fall of Corregidor to the Japanese during World War II on Corregidor, Cavite, May 6, 2017. The ceremony was held to commemorate the Marines, Soldiers, Sailors and Filipinos who fought and sacrificed to defend the Philippines during World War II.

United States Marine Corps satellite communication operators with Company A, 7th Communication Battalion, III Marine Expeditionary Force Headquarters Group set up camp at Camp Hansen, Okinawa, Japan, April 21, 2017, during Marine Expeditionary Force Exercise 17. The command and control exercise prepares III MEF commanders and staff to integrate with international allies and partner nations in a combined joint task force, charged with accomplishing a wide range of military operations. (U.S. Marine Corps Photo By Lance Cpl. Austyn Krecicki/Released) - United States Marine Corps satellite communication operators with Company A, 7th Communication Battalion, III Marine Expeditionary Force Headquarters Group set up camp at Camp Hansen, Okinawa, Japan, April 21, 2017, during Marine Expeditionary Force Exercise 17. The command and control exercise prepares III MEF commanders and staff to integrate with international allies and partner nations in a combined joint task force, charged with accomplishing a wide range of military operations. (U.S. Marine Corps Photo By Lance Cpl. Austyn Krecicki/Released)

U.S. Marine Staff Sgt. Alexander Davis adjusts a satellite communication antenna during Balikatan 2017 at Camp Lapulapu, Cebu, April 25, 2017. Balikatan is an annual U.S.-Philippine military bilateral exercise focused on a variety of missions, including humanitarian assistance and disaster relief, and counterterrorism. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Corey Pettis) - U.S. Marine Staff Sgt. Alexander Davis adjusts a satellite communication antenna during Balikatan 2017 at Camp Lapulapu, Cebu, April 25, 2017. Balikatan is an annual U.S.-Philippine military bilateral exercise focused on a variety of missions, including humanitarian assistance and disaster relief, and counterterrorism. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Corey Pettis)