NEWS

Lt. Gen. Lawrence D. Nicholson, the Okinawa area coordinator and commanding general of III Marine Expeditionary Force, announces the planned resumption of normal off-duty liberty policy for U.S. service members on Okinawa, June 24, 2016, with slight modifications. - Lt. Gen. Lawrence D. Nicholson, the Okinawa area coordinator and commanding general of III Marine Expeditionary Force, announces the planned resumption of normal off-duty liberty policy for U.S. service members on Okinawa, June 24, 2016, with slight modifications.

Cpl. Jacob M. Pikey cleans a faulty circuit card on Camp Courtney June 2, 2016. In order for him to repair the card, he must clean it before he begins soldering. Pikey, a Cedar Hill, Missouri, native, is the assistant chief of the miniature/ micro-miniature section for Maintenance Platoon, Communications Company, Headquarters Battalion, 3rd Marine Division, III Marine Expeditionary Force. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Tyler Ngiraswei/ Released) - Cpl. Jacob M. Pikey cleans a faulty circuit card on Camp Courtney June 2, 2016. In order for him to repair the card, he must clean it before he begins soldering. Pikey, a Cedar Hill, Missouri, native, is the assistant chief of the miniature/ micro-miniature section for Maintenance Platoon, Communications Company, Headquarters Battalion, 3rd Marine Division, III Marine Expeditionary Force. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Tyler Ngiraswei/ Released)

SOUTH CHINA SEA (June 13, 2016) – U.S. Marine Corps Cpl. Ryan Albanese, an infantry squad leader with Easy Company, 2nd Battalion, 2nd Marines, poses for a photo onboard the USS Ashland (LSD 48) while underway in the South China Sea in support of exercise Cooperation Afloat Readiness and Training. CARAT is a series of annual, bilateral maritime exercises between the U.S. Navy, U.S. Marine Corps and the armed forces of nine partner nations to include Bangladesh, Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, the Philippines, Thailand and Timor-Leste. The Ashland is assigned to U.S. 7th Fleet. (U.S. Navy photo by Lance Cpl. Carl King Jr/. Released) - SOUTH CHINA SEA (June 13, 2016) – U.S. Marine Corps Cpl. Ryan Albanese, an infantry squad leader with Easy Company, 2nd Battalion, 2nd Marines, poses for a photo onboard the USS Ashland (LSD 48) while underway in the South China Sea in support of exercise Cooperation Afloat Readiness and Training. CARAT is a series of annual, bilateral maritime exercises between the U.S. Navy, U.S. Marine Corps and the armed forces of nine partner nations to include Bangladesh, Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, the Philippines, Thailand and Timor-Leste. The Ashland is assigned to U.S. 7th Fleet. (U.S. Navy photo by Lance Cpl. Carl King Jr/. Released)

An award ceremony was held June 13, 2016, at Camp Courtney, Okinawa, Japan. U.S. Marine Col. Eric M. Mellinger received an award from Japanese Ground Self-Defense Force Col. Shusei Hotta for significantly contributing to increasing training opportunities for the JGSDF by advancing co-use of Marine Corps training facilities on Okinawa and expanding III Marine Expeditionary Force efforts to participate in alliance/bilateral exercises. Hotta, the deputy chief of Policy and Programs Division, Ground Staff Office, JGSDF, presented the award on behalf of Gen. Kiyofumi Iwata, the JGSDF chief of staff. Mellinger is the III MEF chief of staff. - An award ceremony was held June 13, 2016, at Camp Courtney, Okinawa, Japan. U.S. Marine Col. Eric M. Mellinger received an award from Japanese Ground Self-Defense Force Col. Shusei Hotta for significantly contributing to increasing training opportunities for the JGSDF by advancing co-use of Marine Corps training facilities on Okinawa and expanding III Marine Expeditionary Force efforts to participate in alliance/bilateral exercises. Hotta, the deputy chief of Policy and Programs Division, Ground Staff Office, JGSDF, presented the award on behalf of Gen. Kiyofumi Iwata, the JGSDF chief of staff. Mellinger is the III MEF chief of staff.

Cpl. Anthony Felicetti watches a movie after a training day, May 13, 2016, at Camp Rodriguez Live Fire Complex, South Korea. Felicetti is an engineer equipment operator and participated in the range construction in order to efficiently transport personnel and demolition during Korea Explosive Ordnance Disposal Exercise. Felicetti is from Upper Darby, Pa., and is attached to Support Company, 9th Engineer Support Battalion, 3rd Marine Logistics Group, III Marine Expeditionary Force. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Isaac Ibarra/Released) - Cpl. Anthony Felicetti watches a movie after a training day, May 13, 2016, at Camp Rodriguez Live Fire Complex, South Korea. Felicetti is an engineer equipment operator and participated in the range construction in order to efficiently transport personnel and demolition during Korea Explosive Ordnance Disposal Exercise. Felicetti is from Upper Darby, Pa., and is attached to Support Company, 9th Engineer Support Battalion, 3rd Marine Logistics Group, III Marine Expeditionary Force. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Isaac Ibarra/Released)

TANDUO BEACH, MALAYSIA (May 30, 2016) – U.S. Marines assigned to Easy Company, Battalion Landing Team, 2nd Battalion, 2nd Marines post security after an amphibious transition from ship to shore. The Marines are embarked aboard the USS Ashland (LSD 48) in support of exercise Cooperation Afloat Readiness and Training. CARAT is a series of annual, bilateral maritime exercises between the U.S. Navy, U.S. Marine Corps and the armed forces of nine partner nations to include Bangladesh, Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, the Philippines, Thailand and Timor-Leste.The Ashland is assigned to U.S. 7th Fleet. (U.S. Navy photo by Lance Cpl. Carl King Jr/. Released) - TANDUO BEACH, MALAYSIA (May 30, 2016) – U.S. Marines assigned to Easy Company, Battalion Landing Team, 2nd Battalion, 2nd Marines post security after an amphibious transition from ship to shore. The Marines are embarked aboard the USS Ashland (LSD 48) in support of exercise Cooperation Afloat Readiness and Training. CARAT is a series of annual, bilateral maritime exercises between the U.S. Navy, U.S. Marine Corps and the armed forces of nine partner nations to include Bangladesh, Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, the Philippines, Thailand and Timor-Leste.The Ashland is assigned to U.S. 7th Fleet. (U.S. Navy photo by Lance Cpl. Carl King Jr/. Released)

Lt. Gen. Lawrence D. Nicholson announces a 30-day period of unity and mourning for all U.S. military and Status of Forces Agreement personnel on Okinawa, at a press conference on Camp Foster, Okinawa, Japan, May 28, 2016. Out of respect for the people of Okinawa, Nicholson chose to demonstrate the solidarity of the U.S. service members here and the people of Okinawa by honoring the recent loss of an Okinawan female. The period of unity and mourning was directed to all U.S. military, and Nicholson also highly encouraged all SOFA-status members to partake, as this period will serve as a time to reflect on personal conduct, to consider their roles as ambassadors to Japan, and demonstrate the deepest sympathies for the victim and her family. Nicholson, from Toronto, Canada, is the Okinawa Area Coordinator and commanding general for III Marine Expeditionary Force. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Jessica N. Etheridge/Released) - Lt. Gen. Lawrence D. Nicholson announces a 30-day period of unity and mourning for all U.S. military and Status of Forces Agreement personnel on Okinawa, at a press conference on Camp Foster, Okinawa, Japan, May 28, 2016. Out of respect for the people of Okinawa, Nicholson chose to demonstrate the solidarity of the U.S. service members here and the people of Okinawa by honoring the recent loss of an Okinawan female. The period of unity and mourning was directed to all U.S. military, and Nicholson also highly encouraged all SOFA-status members to partake, as this period will serve as a time to reflect on personal conduct, to consider their roles as ambassadors to Japan, and demonstrate the deepest sympathies for the victim and her family. Nicholson, from Toronto, Canada, is the Okinawa Area Coordinator and commanding general for III Marine Expeditionary Force. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Jessica N. Etheridge/Released)

U.S. Marine Pfc. Henry D. Yandell lands in the creek after rappelling off a mountain May 19, 2016 at the Jungle Warfare Training Center, Camp Gonsalves, Okinawa, Japan. Yandell is a combat engineer with 9th Engineer Support Battalion, 3rd Marine Logistics Group, III Marine Expeditionary Force. Yandell and his platoon attended the 5-day Course at JWTC. The course gives Marines the skills to shoot, move and communicate within a jungle environment. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Amaia Unanue/ Released) - U.S. Marine Pfc. Henry D. Yandell lands in the creek after rappelling off a mountain May 19, 2016 at the Jungle Warfare Training Center, Camp Gonsalves, Okinawa, Japan. Yandell is a combat engineer with 9th Engineer Support Battalion, 3rd Marine Logistics Group, III Marine Expeditionary Force. Yandell and his platoon attended the 5-day Course at JWTC. The course gives Marines the skills to shoot, move and communicate within a jungle environment. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Amaia Unanue/ Released)

Master Sgt. Leroy A. Forbes reads off names for accountability for Task Force Koa Moana at Tengan Pier, Okinawa, Japan on May 18, 2016. The task force is responsible for conducting a series of bilateral, multi-national exercises involving a company-sized element of Marines and Sailors from different units within III Marine Expeditionary Force. They will be traveling to countries in the Asia-Pacific region aboard the USNS Sacagawea (T-AKE 2), a Marine Prepositioning Force ship. The ship is normally a mobile warehouse for Marines’ supplies; however, during this exercise, it will serve to transport personnel to multiple nations, where they will conduct basic military training and cultural exchange to increase relations and interoperability between participating nations. Forbes, from Hartford, Conn., is a combat engineer with 9th Engineer Support Battalion, 3rd Marine Logistics Group, III Marine Expeditionary Force, and is the task force’s senior enlisted in charge for the series of exercises. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. William Hester/ Released) - Master Sgt. Leroy A. Forbes reads off names for accountability for Task Force Koa Moana at Tengan Pier, Okinawa, Japan on May 18, 2016. The task force is responsible for conducting a series of bilateral, multi-national exercises involving a company-sized element of Marines and Sailors from different units within III Marine Expeditionary Force. They will be traveling to countries in the Asia-Pacific region aboard the USNS Sacagawea (T-AKE 2), a Marine Prepositioning Force ship. The ship is normally a mobile warehouse for Marines’ supplies; however, during this exercise, it will serve to transport personnel to multiple nations, where they will conduct basic military training and cultural exchange to increase relations and interoperability between participating nations. Forbes, from Hartford, Conn., is a combat engineer with 9th Engineer Support Battalion, 3rd Marine Logistics Group, III Marine Expeditionary Force, and is the task force’s senior enlisted in charge for the series of exercises. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. William Hester/ Released)

CAMP HANSEN, Okinawa, Japan – The III Marine Expeditionary Force Band performed their Spring Concert for the Okinawan community and distinguished guests May 7, 2016 at Tedako Hall, Okinawa, Japan. III MEF Commander Lt. Gen. Lawrence Nicholson, Ginowan City Mayor Atsushi Sakima, Ministry of Foreign Affairs Ambassador Masashi Mizukami and many other distinguished visitors attended the concert. The III MEF Band is the only expeditionary force band in the Marine Corps, exhibiting diverse musical capabilities and proficiency in a wide variety of settings. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Tiffany Edwards) - CAMP HANSEN, Okinawa, Japan – The III Marine Expeditionary Force Band performed their Spring Concert for the Okinawan community and distinguished guests May 7, 2016 at Tedako Hall, Okinawa, Japan. III MEF Commander Lt. Gen. Lawrence Nicholson, Ginowan City Mayor Atsushi Sakima, Ministry of Foreign Affairs Ambassador Masashi Mizukami and many other distinguished visitors attended the concert. The III MEF Band is the only expeditionary force band in the Marine Corps, exhibiting diverse musical capabilities and proficiency in a wide variety of settings. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Tiffany Edwards)