NEWS

Members of the Japanese Air Self Defense Force pose with U.S. Marines for a photo at a farewell luncheon for the professional military exchange program February 23 at the Habu Pit Officers’ Club on Marine Corps Air Station Futenma, The professional military exchange program benefits JASDF and Marines by providing first-hand insight to the daily routines and responsibilities of each service, according to Staff Sgt. Shinya Nishida, second from left. The experience and knowledge gained through the program establishes better understanding and communication. After Nishida’s exposure to the Marine Corps, the JASDF will return the favor by taking in a Marine in March to experience day-to-day routines of the JASDF. Nishida was a participant of the program and is a flight plan dispatcher with the JASDF. (U.S. Marine Corps Photo by Cpl. Brittany A. James/Released) - Members of the Japanese Air Self Defense Force pose with U.S. Marines for a photo at a farewell luncheon for the professional military exchange program February 23 at the Habu Pit Officers’ Club on Marine Corps Air Station Futenma, The professional military exchange program benefits JASDF and Marines by providing first-hand insight to the daily routines and responsibilities of each service, according to Staff Sgt. Shinya Nishida, second from left. The experience and knowledge gained through the program establishes better understanding and communication. After Nishida’s exposure to the Marine Corps, the JASDF will return the favor by taking in a Marine in March to experience day-to-day routines of the JASDF. Nishida was a participant of the program and is a flight plan dispatcher with the JASDF. (U.S. Marine Corps Photo by Cpl. Brittany A. James/Released)

The Marine Corps can confirm there is an active search and rescue operation ongoing for two CH-53E helicopters off the coast of Oahu. - The Marine Corps can confirm there is an active search and rescue operation ongoing for two CH-53E helicopters off the coast of Oahu.

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)

Petty Officer 1st Class Zachary Silveus, right, evaluates students after a casualty evacuation drill on Marine Corps Air Station Futenma, Dec. 8, 2015. The casevac course is two weeks long and gives the students a better understanding of what it means to be a corpsman. The corpsmen are with various units with III Marine Expeditionary Force. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Ryan C. Mains/ Released) - Petty Officer 1st Class Zachary Silveus, right, evaluates students after a casualty evacuation drill on Marine Corps Air Station Futenma, Dec. 8, 2015. The casevac course is two weeks long and gives the students a better understanding of what it means to be a corpsman. The corpsmen are with various units with III Marine Expeditionary Force. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Ryan C. Mains/ Released)

The 37th Commandant of the Marine Corps, Gen. Robert B. Neller, speaks with Cpl. Isaac Ibarra during a Nov. 23 visit to Marine Corps Air Station Futenma. The CMC and Sgt. Maj. of the Marine Corps Ronald L. Green visited III Marine Expeditionary Force, the “tip of the spear,” in the Asia-Pacific region by traveling around and speaking with forward deployed Marines across the installations that comprise Marine Corps Base Camp Smedley D. Butler, Okinawa, Japan. The Marine Corps must be maintained as a crisis response force and a force in readiness, to include the ability for Marines to remain forward deployed and ready to fight and win. Ibarra is a combat correspondent with III MEF. - The 37th Commandant of the Marine Corps, Gen. Robert B. Neller, speaks with Cpl. Isaac Ibarra during a Nov. 23 visit to Marine Corps Air Station Futenma. The CMC and Sgt. Maj. of the Marine Corps Ronald L. Green visited III Marine Expeditionary Force, the “tip of the spear,” in the Asia-Pacific region by traveling around and speaking with forward deployed Marines across the installations that comprise Marine Corps Base Camp Smedley D. Butler, Okinawa, Japan. The Marine Corps must be maintained as a crisis response force and a force in readiness, to include the ability for Marines to remain forward deployed and ready to fight and win. Ibarra is a combat correspondent with III MEF.