NEWS

Lance Cpl. Tony McCandless, right, hands out cake to kids Dec. 19 at the Kin Town Social Welfare Center, Okinawa, Japan. Marines organized a toy drive through the Kin Town Single Parent Association to give back to their community by handing out gifts and cake to the children. McCandless is a radio maintainer with 3rd Intelligence Battalion, III Marine Headquarters Group, III Marine Expeditionary Force. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Isaac Ibarra/Released) - Lance Cpl. Tony McCandless, right, hands out cake to kids Dec. 19 at the Kin Town Social Welfare Center, Okinawa, Japan. Marines organized a toy drive through the Kin Town Single Parent Association to give back to their community by handing out gifts and cake to the children. McCandless is a radio maintainer with 3rd Intelligence Battalion, III Marine Headquarters Group, III Marine Expeditionary Force. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Isaac Ibarra/Released)

Junko Kurata, right, serves salad to Cpl. Jonathan Koren during a Christmas Party thrown by the Hikariga Oka Nursing Home in Kin Town, Okinawa, Japan, Dec. 18, 2015. The nursing home hosts the Christmas party annually to pay thanks for 7th Communication Battalion continuous contributions and community outreach projects. Since 1994, Marines with the battalion have regularly volunteered regularly by organizing routine cleanups and maintenance for the home and its surrounding area. Kurata is from Kin town and is a nurse at the nursing home. Koren is from Allentown, Pennsylvania and is a digital wideband repairer with 7th Comm. Bn., III Marine Expeditionary Force Headquarters Group, III MEF. (U.S. Marine Corps Photo by Cpl. Devon Tindle/Released) - Junko Kurata, right, serves salad to Cpl. Jonathan Koren during a Christmas Party thrown by the Hikariga Oka Nursing Home in Kin Town, Okinawa, Japan, Dec. 18, 2015. The nursing home hosts the Christmas party annually to pay thanks for 7th Communication Battalion continuous contributions and community outreach projects. Since 1994, Marines with the battalion have regularly volunteered regularly by organizing routine cleanups and maintenance for the home and its surrounding area. Kurata is from Kin town and is a nurse at the nursing home. Koren is from Allentown, Pennsylvania and is a digital wideband repairer with 7th Comm. Bn., III Marine Expeditionary Force Headquarters Group, III MEF. (U.S. Marine Corps Photo by Cpl. Devon Tindle/Released)

U.S. Navy Lt. Todd A. Trumble speaks to Marines and sailors about Elevate and the upcoming plans Dec. 11 on Camp Foster, Okinawa, Japan. Elevate is a program created for service members to come together and enjoy an alcohol-free night, as well as to promote healthy behavioral choices. Trumble from Lynchburg, Virginia is a chaplain with Marine Wing Support Squadron 172, 1st Marine Aircraft Wing, III Marine Expeditionary Force. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Jessica N. Etheridge/Released) - U.S. Navy Lt. Todd A. Trumble speaks to Marines and sailors about Elevate and the upcoming plans Dec. 11 on Camp Foster, Okinawa, Japan. Elevate is a program created for service members to come together and enjoy an alcohol-free night, as well as to promote healthy behavioral choices. Trumble from Lynchburg, Virginia is a chaplain with Marine Wing Support Squadron 172, 1st Marine Aircraft Wing, III Marine Expeditionary Force. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Jessica N. Etheridge/Released)

Brigadier Gen. Russell A. Sanborn speaks to the 1st Marine Aircraft Wing as their commanding general for the first time after a change of command ceremony at Marine Corps Air Station Futenma, Okinawa, Japan, July 30, 2015. Sanborn recently served as the director of Marine and Family Programs in Quantico, Virginia. Sanborn assumed command of the wing from Maj. Gen. Steven R. Rudder who will become the director of J5 Strategic Planning and Policy Directorate, Pacific Command. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Devon Tindle/Released) - Brigadier Gen. Russell A. Sanborn speaks to the 1st Marine Aircraft Wing as their commanding general for the first time after a change of command ceremony at Marine Corps Air Station Futenma, Okinawa, Japan, July 30, 2015. Sanborn recently served as the director of Marine and Family Programs in Quantico, Virginia. Sanborn assumed command of the wing from Maj. Gen. Steven R. Rudder who will become the director of J5 Strategic Planning and Policy Directorate, Pacific Command. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Devon Tindle/Released)

A Mongolian soldier with the Mongolian Armed Forces takes charge of a formation during the opening ceremonies of Exercise Khaan Quest 2015 at Five Hills Training Area in Tavantolgoi, Mongolia, June 15, 2015. Khaan Quest is a regularly scheduled, multinational exercise hosted annually by Mongolian Armed Forces and co-sponsored by U.S. Army, Pacific, and U.S. Marine Corps Forces, Pacific. KQ15 is the latest in a continuing series of exercises designed to promote regional peace and security. This year marks the 13th iteration of this training event. - A Mongolian soldier with the Mongolian Armed Forces takes charge of a formation during the opening ceremonies of Exercise Khaan Quest 2015 at Five Hills Training Area in Tavantolgoi, Mongolia, June 15, 2015. Khaan Quest is a regularly scheduled, multinational exercise hosted annually by Mongolian Armed Forces and co-sponsored by U.S. Army, Pacific, and U.S. Marine Corps Forces, Pacific. KQ15 is the latest in a continuing series of exercises designed to promote regional peace and security. This year marks the 13th iteration of this training event.

Master Sgt. Patricio Mora directs a segment of the 101 critical days of summer brief June 5 at the base theater on Camp Foster, Okinawa. The “101 critical days of summer”, traditionally observed Memorial Day through Labor Day, is the span of time where statistics show the most accidents and incidents among service members occur. Service members are encouraged to be aware of their own safety while participating in summer activities as well as watching out for the safety of others, according to Mora, the operations training chief with Headquarters & Service Battalion S-3, Marine Corps Installations Pacific-Marine Corps Base Camp Butler, Japan. (U.S. Marine Corps Photo by Cpl. Brittany A. James/Released) - Master Sgt. Patricio Mora directs a segment of the 101 critical days of summer brief June 5 at the base theater on Camp Foster, Okinawa. The “101 critical days of summer”, traditionally observed Memorial Day through Labor Day, is the span of time where statistics show the most accidents and incidents among service members occur. Service members are encouraged to be aware of their own safety while participating in summer activities as well as watching out for the safety of others, according to Mora, the operations training chief with Headquarters & Service Battalion S-3, Marine Corps Installations Pacific-Marine Corps Base Camp Butler, Japan. (U.S. Marine Corps Photo by Cpl. Brittany A. James/Released)

Sergeant Major of the Marine Corps Sgt. Maj. Ronald L. Green speaks to Marines March 26 during a visit to Okinawa. The commandant, Gen. Joseph F. Dunford, and the sergeant major traveled to the Marine bases on Okinawa from March 24-26 to talk with Marines about their expectations for the Marines and the Corps. “My priorities are to make sure we have the warfighting capabilities we need, to address the maturity of our leaders and to make sure they have the training, education and the experience that they need to be successful on the battlefield,” said Dunford. - Sergeant Major of the Marine Corps Sgt. Maj. Ronald L. Green speaks to Marines March 26 during a visit to Okinawa. The commandant, Gen. Joseph F. Dunford, and the sergeant major traveled to the Marine bases on Okinawa from March 24-26 to talk with Marines about their expectations for the Marines and the Corps. “My priorities are to make sure we have the warfighting capabilities we need, to address the maturity of our leaders and to make sure they have the training, education and the experience that they need to be successful on the battlefield,” said Dunford.

Gunnery Sgt. Matthew Bateman peers out the rear of a KC-130J Super Hercules aircraft Nov. 20, 2014 over Ie Shima Training Facility, off the northwest coast of Okinawa, Japan. Marines with 3rd Reconnaissance Battalion took part in parachute training, keeping them proficient and current with their jump qualifications. Bateman, from Gaithersburg, Maryland, is a reconnaissance man and jumpmaster with 3rd Recon Bn., 3rd Marine Division, III Marine Expeditionary Force. - Gunnery Sgt. Matthew Bateman peers out the rear of a KC-130J Super Hercules aircraft Nov. 20, 2014 over Ie Shima Training Facility, off the northwest coast of Okinawa, Japan. Marines with 3rd Reconnaissance Battalion took part in parachute training, keeping them proficient and current with their jump qualifications. Bateman, from Gaithersburg, Maryland, is a reconnaissance man and jumpmaster with 3rd Recon Bn., 3rd Marine Division, III Marine Expeditionary Force.

Kin Town residents leave the bases exchange Jan. 17 during Camp Hansen’s Friendship Saturday. Friendship Saturday is an event where community members are allowed on the base, unescorted but with passes, and enjoy some of the facilities on the camp. They visited various facilities including the Exchange, The Palms and bowling alley. Free balloons were handed out for children to enjoy during the event. - Kin Town residents leave the bases exchange Jan. 17 during Camp Hansen’s Friendship Saturday. Friendship Saturday is an event where community members are allowed on the base, unescorted but with passes, and enjoy some of the facilities on the camp. They visited various facilities including the Exchange, The Palms and bowling alley. Free balloons were handed out for children to enjoy during the event.