NEWS

Marine Master Sgt. Travis A. Williams receives the 2015 Navy and Marine Association Leadership Award November 18, 2015 in Okinawa, Japan. This award is an annual award given to the most outstanding company grade officers and enlisted Marines and Sailors at each regiment/group or headquarters-level unit within the operating forces. Williams, an East Orange, New Jersey native, is a communications chief with 3d Marine Expeditionary Brigade, III Marine Expeditionary Force. Master Sgt. Williams (second from the left) received the award from Lt. Gen. Lawrence D. Nicholson (far left), Commanding General, III Marine Expeditionary Force. They are accompanied here by Sgt. Maj. Mario P. Fields (second from the right), Sergeant Major, III MEF Headquarters Group, and Brig. Gen. John M. Jansen (far right), Commanding General, 3d Marine Expeditionary Brigade/Deputy Commanding General, III Marine Expeditionary Force. (Courtesy Photo) - Marine Master Sgt. Travis A. Williams receives the 2015 Navy and Marine Association Leadership Award November 18, 2015 in Okinawa, Japan. This award is an annual award given to the most outstanding company grade officers and enlisted Marines and Sailors at each regiment/group or headquarters-level unit within the operating forces. Williams, an East Orange, New Jersey native, is a communications chief with 3d Marine Expeditionary Brigade, III Marine Expeditionary Force. Master Sgt. Williams (second from the left) received the award from Lt. Gen. Lawrence D. Nicholson (far left), Commanding General, III Marine Expeditionary Force. They are accompanied here by Sgt. Maj. Mario P. Fields (second from the right), Sergeant Major, III MEF Headquarters Group, and Brig. Gen. John M. Jansen (far right), Commanding General, 3d Marine Expeditionary Brigade/Deputy Commanding General, III Marine Expeditionary Force. (Courtesy Photo)

Marines from 3d Reconnaissance Battalion, 3d Marine Division, III Marine Expeditionary Force, wrap a victim's arm during the “medical” station on Camp Schwab, Okinawa, Japan, Nov. 23, 2016, during their annual Warrior Challenge. This event honors fallen Marines in the battalion and consists of nine stations to challenge the Marines mentally and physically. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Andrew Neumann/Released) - Marines from 3d Reconnaissance Battalion, 3d Marine Division, III Marine Expeditionary Force, wrap a victim's arm during the “medical” station on Camp Schwab, Okinawa, Japan, Nov. 23, 2016, during their annual Warrior Challenge. This event honors fallen Marines in the battalion and consists of nine stations to challenge the Marines mentally and physically. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Andrew Neumann/Released)

CAMP GONZALVES, OKINAWA, Japan -- Staff Sgt. David Rogers with India Company, 3rd Battalion, 3rd Marine Regiment poses Aug. 3 at the Jungle Warfare Training Center on Okinawa, Japan. He and his Marines were in Okinawa testing new uniforms by putting them through two weeks of real-world trials. The set includes the new Marine Corps combat utility uniforms, two different boots and the boot drying towel. Rogers, from Brockport, New York, is a platoon sergeant with India Company.(U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Tyler Ngiraswei/ Released) - CAMP GONZALVES, OKINAWA, Japan -- Staff Sgt. David Rogers with India Company, 3rd Battalion, 3rd Marine Regiment poses Aug. 3 at the Jungle Warfare Training Center on Okinawa, Japan. He and his Marines were in Okinawa testing new uniforms by putting them through two weeks of real-world trials. The set includes the new Marine Corps combat utility uniforms, two different boots and the boot drying towel. Rogers, from Brockport, New York, is a platoon sergeant with India Company.(U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Tyler Ngiraswei/ Released)

Representatives of the Guntenkyo observe an Okinawa Orientation Overview aboard Camp Foster, Okinawa, Japan. This marked the first time the Guntenkyo sat in on an official OOO brief. “We are at our best when we openly communicate, share ideas, and work with local leaders to prepare our Marines, sailors, airmen and soldiers to be ambassadors and respectful members of the communities we share in Okinawa,” said Nicholson. “We have worked hard to create an improved presentation that all the branches of the military can use to be more effective at building understanding within our shared communities.” Nicholson is the Okinawa Area Coordinator for U.S. Forces, Japan. - Representatives of the Guntenkyo observe an Okinawa Orientation Overview aboard Camp Foster, Okinawa, Japan. This marked the first time the Guntenkyo sat in on an official OOO brief. “We are at our best when we openly communicate, share ideas, and work with local leaders to prepare our Marines, sailors, airmen and soldiers to be ambassadors and respectful members of the communities we share in Okinawa,” said Nicholson. “We have worked hard to create an improved presentation that all the branches of the military can use to be more effective at building understanding within our shared communities.” Nicholson is the Okinawa Area Coordinator for U.S. Forces, Japan.

U.S. Marine Maj. Gen. Richard L. Simcock II, Commanding Officer, 3rd Marine Division, speaks to the Marines and Sailors aboard the amphibious transportation dock ship USS Green Bay (LPD 20) during Blue Chromite 2017 in Okinawa, Japan, October 29, 2016. Blue Chromite is a U.S. –only exercise which strengthens the Navy-Marine Corps expeditionary, amphibious rapid-response capabilities based in Okinawa and the greater Indo-Asia-Pacific region. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Sgt. Isaac Ibarra) - U.S. Marine Maj. Gen. Richard L. Simcock II, Commanding Officer, 3rd Marine Division, speaks to the Marines and Sailors aboard the amphibious transportation dock ship USS Green Bay (LPD 20) during Blue Chromite 2017 in Okinawa, Japan, October 29, 2016. Blue Chromite is a U.S. –only exercise which strengthens the Navy-Marine Corps expeditionary, amphibious rapid-response capabilities based in Okinawa and the greater Indo-Asia-Pacific region. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Sgt. Isaac Ibarra)

A U.S. Marine Corps AH-1Z Viper attack helicopter flys over a live fire range during final exercise as part of Exercise Valiant Mark 2016 at Marine Corps Air-Ground Combat Center Twentynine Palms, Calif. Oct. 11, 2016. Valiant Mark is an annual exercise conducted by U.S. Marines and the Singapore Armed Forces in order to maintain a high level of interoperability, enhanced military to military relations and to enrich mutual combat capabilities through combined training. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Akeel Austin/Released) - A U.S. Marine Corps AH-1Z Viper attack helicopter flys over a live fire range during final exercise as part of Exercise Valiant Mark 2016 at Marine Corps Air-Ground Combat Center Twentynine Palms, Calif. Oct. 11, 2016. Valiant Mark is an annual exercise conducted by U.S. Marines and the Singapore Armed Forces in order to maintain a high level of interoperability, enhanced military to military relations and to enrich mutual combat capabilities through combined training. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Akeel Austin/Released)

III MEF LOGO - III MEF LOGO

Markel Powell participates in the 6th Annual Okinawa Zombie Walk at American Village, Okinawa, Japan, on October 30, 2016. The event was an opportunity for locals and service members to come out and display their zombie costumes. Service members and civilians also volunteered to guide the zombies as they had their pictures taken. Powell’s father, Chief Warrant Officer Three Fitzroy Powell, is a personnel officer with 12th Marine Regiment, 3rd Marine Division, III Marine Expeditionary Force. Powell and his son are from New York. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Nelson Duenas/ Released) - Markel Powell participates in the 6th Annual Okinawa Zombie Walk at American Village, Okinawa, Japan, on October 30, 2016. The event was an opportunity for locals and service members to come out and display their zombie costumes. Service members and civilians also volunteered to guide the zombies as they had their pictures taken. Powell’s father, Chief Warrant Officer Three Fitzroy Powell, is a personnel officer with 12th Marine Regiment, 3rd Marine Division, III Marine Expeditionary Force. Powell and his son are from New York. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Nelson Duenas/ Released)

Lt. Col. Robert C. Sellers, 3rd Marine Expeditionary Brigade Assistant Chief of Staff G-4, addresses friends and family at his Purple Heart award ceremony in front of Secher Hall on Camp Hansen, Okinawa, Japan, October 28, 2016. The ceremony was held in front of Secher Hall to remind those in attendance to remember the fallen. Sellers is from Belvidere, Illinois. - Lt. Col. Robert C. Sellers, 3rd Marine Expeditionary Brigade Assistant Chief of Staff G-4, addresses friends and family at his Purple Heart award ceremony in front of Secher Hall on Camp Hansen, Okinawa, Japan, October 28, 2016. The ceremony was held in front of Secher Hall to remind those in attendance to remember the fallen. Sellers is from Belvidere, Illinois.

U.S. Marine Corps Maj. Timothy C. Fretwell, right, the commanding general for III MEF, receives a coin from Lt. Gen. Lawrence D. Nicholson (left) for being selected as a winner of the Marine Corps wide logistical innovation competition on Camp Kinser, Okinawa, Japan, Oct. 20, 2016. The competition was designed to implement ideas designed by Marines to increase the capabilities of the Marine Corps. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Sgt. William Hester) - U.S. Marine Corps Maj. Timothy C. Fretwell, right, the commanding general for III MEF, receives a coin from Lt. Gen. Lawrence D. Nicholson (left) for being selected as a winner of the Marine Corps wide logistical innovation competition on Camp Kinser, Okinawa, Japan, Oct. 20, 2016. The competition was designed to implement ideas designed by Marines to increase the capabilities of the Marine Corps. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Sgt. William Hester)