NEWS

U.S. and Philippine senior military leaders furl the exercise flag at the closing ceremony to conclude Balikatan 23 at Camp Aguinaldo, Manila, Philippines, April 28, 2023. Over the last three weeks, more than 17,600 personnel trained shoulder-to-shoulder across the Philippines’ northern Luzon and Palawan, increasing proficiency in maritime security, amphibious operations, live-fire training, urban operation, aviation operations, counterterrorism, and humanitarian assistance and disaster relief. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Tyler Andrews) - U.S. and Philippine senior military leaders furl the exercise flag at the closing ceremony to conclude Balikatan 23 at Camp Aguinaldo, Manila, Philippines, April 28, 2023. Over the last three weeks, more than 17,600 personnel trained shoulder-to-shoulder across the Philippines’ northern Luzon and Palawan, increasing proficiency in maritime security, amphibious operations, live-fire training, urban operation, aviation operations, counterterrorism, and humanitarian assistance and disaster relief. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Tyler Andrews)

Col. Brian M. Howlett (right), commanding officer, III Marine Expeditionary Force Information Group, and Sgt. Maj. Mario P. Fields, sergeant major of III MIG, case the III MEF Headquarters Group colors during the III MIG re-designation ceremony on Camp Courtney, Okinawa, Japan Sept. 8, 2017. - Col. Brian M. Howlett (right), commanding officer, III Marine Expeditionary Force Information Group, and Sgt. Maj. Mario P. Fields, sergeant major of III MIG, case the III MEF Headquarters Group colors during the III MIG re-designation ceremony on Camp Courtney, Okinawa, Japan Sept. 8, 2017. III MHG was re-designated in a ceremony as III MIG, highlighting the beginning of a new era of modern Marine Corps information warfare. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Sgt. Tiffany Edwards)

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)

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. 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.