NEWS

A U.S. Marine Corps F-35B Lightning II aircraft with Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 121, Marine Aircraft Group 12, 1st Marine Aircraft Wing, conducted a training flight from Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni to Kadena Air Force Base, Okinawa, Japan, June 26, 2017. The Marines with VMFA- 121 worked alongside Airmen with the 18th Wing. This event marked the first time an F-35B Lightning II landed in Okinawa. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Charles Plouffe) - A U.S. Marine Corps F-35B Lightning II aircraft with Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 121, Marine Aircraft Group 12, 1st Marine Aircraft Wing, conducted a training flight from Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni to Kadena Air Force Base, Okinawa, Japan, June 26, 2017. The Marines with VMFA- 121 worked alongside Airmen with the 18th Wing. This event marked the first time an F-35B Lightning II landed in Okinawa. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Charles Plouffe)

Sgt. Maj. Mario A. Marquez speaks with a member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars during the 2017 Okinawa Memorial Day services June 23 at Peace Memorial Park, Itoman, Japan. The ceremony brought together service members and Okinawan residents to honor all who lost their lives in the Battle of Okinawa. The memorial walls are inscribed with over 240,000 names of people who died, regardless of nationality, civilian or military status in the battle. During the ceremony all who attended stood for a moment of silence honoring those who gave the ultimate sacrifice for their country. Marquez, a Lakewood, California native, is the III Marine Expeditionary Force sergeant major. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Charles Plouffe) - Sgt. Maj. Mario A. Marquez speaks with a member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars during the 2017 Okinawa Memorial Day services June 23 at Peace Memorial Park, Itoman, Japan. The ceremony brought together service members and Okinawan residents to honor all who lost their lives in the Battle of Okinawa. The memorial walls are inscribed with over 240,000 names of people who died, regardless of nationality, civilian or military status in the battle. During the ceremony all who attended stood for a moment of silence honoring those who gave the ultimate sacrifice for their country. Marquez, a Lakewood, California native, is the III Marine Expeditionary Force sergeant major. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Charles Plouffe)

Japanese students from Nikkei Business School in Okinawa City, Okinawa, Japan teach Marines with III Marine Expeditionary Force how to play traditional Okinawan music, at the House of Pain Fitness Center, on Camp Hansen, Okinawa, during the Okinawan-American Cultural Exchange Day, May 19, 2017. The Marines with III MEF Headquarters Group hosted the cultural exchange day to strengthen bonds between local nationals and service members, providing the two communities with the opportunity to converse and learn about each other’s culture. (U.S. Marine Corp photo by Lance Cpl. Charles Plouffe) - Japanese students from Nikkei Business School in Okinawa City, Okinawa, Japan teach Marines with III Marine Expeditionary Force how to play traditional Okinawan music, at the House of Pain Fitness Center, on Camp Hansen, Okinawa, during the Okinawan-American Cultural Exchange Day, May 19, 2017. The Marines with III MEF Headquarters Group hosted the cultural exchange day to strengthen bonds between local nationals and service members, providing the two communities with the opportunity to converse and learn about each other’s culture. (U.S. Marine Corp photo by Lance Cpl. Charles Plouffe)

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)

Sgt. Maj. Michael J. Pritchard, addresses attendees during a relief and appointment ceremony on Camp Foster, Okinawa, Japan, April 21, 2017. Relief and appointment ceremonies are part of the Marine Corps’ tradition in passing leadership from one to another. During the ceremony, Pritchard, from Keene, New Hampshire, was appointed sergeant major of 1st Marine Aircraft Wing, III Marine Expeditionary Force. Sgt. Maj. Mario A. Marquez, from Lakewood, California, was the previous sergeant major of 1st MAW. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Jonah Baase) - Sgt. Maj. Michael J. Pritchard, addresses attendees during a relief and appointment ceremony on Camp Foster, Okinawa, Japan, April 21, 2017. Relief and appointment ceremonies are part of the Marine Corps’ tradition in passing leadership from one to another. During the ceremony, Pritchard, from Keene, New Hampshire, was appointed sergeant major of 1st Marine Aircraft Wing, III Marine Expeditionary Force. Sgt. Maj. Mario A. Marquez, from Lakewood, California, was the previous sergeant major of 1st MAW. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Jonah Baase)

Lt. Gen. Lawrence D. Nicholson visits Kadena Air Force Base, Okinawa, Japan, Feb. 14, 2017, to thank various Airmen, including Capt. John Krzyminski, who assisted in the search and rescue of an MV-22 Osprey, in Okinawa, Japan, December 2016. Nicholson is the commanding general of III Marine Expeditionary Force and Krzyminski is a combat rescue officer with the 31st Rescue Squadron. The aircraft had five crew members onboard, but thanks to the quick thinking of the pilot and the efforts of the airmen who responded to the incident, all were recovered. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Sgt. Laura Gauna) - Lt. Gen. Lawrence D. Nicholson visits Kadena Air Force Base, Okinawa, Japan, Feb. 14, 2017, to thank various Airmen, including Capt. John Krzyminski, who assisted in the search and rescue of an MV-22 Osprey, in Okinawa, Japan, December 2016. Nicholson is the commanding general of III Marine Expeditionary Force and Krzyminski is a combat rescue officer with the 31st Rescue Squadron. The aircraft had five crew members onboard, but thanks to the quick thinking of the pilot and the efforts of the airmen who responded to the incident, all were recovered. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Sgt. Laura Gauna)

Sgt. Leonard S. Yost inspects vehicles repaired during a reservist training period, Jan. 24, 2017, at Camp Kinser, Okinawa, Japan. The training period was used to integrate reserve and active duty Marines to share knowledge and ideas to improve work productivity. Yost, a native of Hubert, North Carolina, is an intermediate automotive mechanic with Transportation Services Company, Combat Logistics Battalion 25, Combat Logistics Regiment 45, 4th Marine Logistics Group, currently working with 3rd Maintenance Battalion, Combat Logistics Regiment 35, 3rd Marine Logistics Group, III Marine Expeditionary Force. (U.S. Marine Corps Photo by Lance Cpl. Jonah Baase) - Sgt. Leonard S. Yost inspects vehicles repaired during a reservist training period, Jan. 24, 2017, at Camp Kinser, Okinawa, Japan. The training period was used to integrate reserve and active duty Marines to share knowledge and ideas to improve work productivity. Yost, a native of Hubert, North Carolina, is an intermediate automotive mechanic with Transportation Services Company, Combat Logistics Battalion 25, Combat Logistics Regiment 45, 4th Marine Logistics Group, currently working with 3rd Maintenance Battalion, Combat Logistics Regiment 35, 3rd Marine Logistics Group, III Marine Expeditionary Force. (U.S. Marine Corps Photo by Lance Cpl. Jonah Baase)

MV-22B Osprey flights set to continue for III Marine Expeditionary Force on Dec. 19, 2016. - MV-22B Osprey flights set to continue for III Marine Expeditionary Force on Dec. 19, 2016.

Lt. Gen. Lawrence D. Nicholson address Japanese reporters on Marine Corps Base Camp Foster, Okinawa, Japan, Dec. 14, 2016. An MV-22B Osprey landed in shallow waters off the Okinawa coastline of Camp Schwab on Dec. 13, 2016. All five crewmembers were airlifted via HH-60G to the United States Naval Hospital aboard Camp Foster where they are being treated for injuries. The MV-22B Osprey is with Marine Aircraft Group 36, 1st Marine Aircraft Wing, III Marine Expeditionary Force. The HH-60G is with the US Air Force's 33rd Rescue Squadron, 18th Operations Group, 18th Wing. Nicholson, from Toronto, Canada, is the Okinawa Area Coordinator and commanding general of III MEF. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Douglas Simons/Released) - Lt. Gen. Lawrence D. Nicholson address Japanese reporters on Marine Corps Base Camp Foster, Okinawa, Japan, Dec. 14, 2016. An MV-22B Osprey landed in shallow waters off the Okinawa coastline of Camp Schwab on Dec. 13, 2016. All five crewmembers were airlifted via HH-60G to the United States Naval Hospital aboard Camp Foster where they are being treated for injuries. The MV-22B Osprey is with Marine Aircraft Group 36, 1st Marine Aircraft Wing, III Marine Expeditionary Force. The HH-60G is with the US Air Force's 33rd Rescue Squadron, 18th Operations Group, 18th Wing. Nicholson, from Toronto, Canada, is the Okinawa Area Coordinator and commanding general of III MEF. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Douglas Simons/Released)