NEWS

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)

IE SHIMA, OKINAWA, Japan — Marines static line jump out of a KC-130J Super Hercules aircraft Nov. 20, 2014 over Ie Shima Training Facility, off the northwest coast of Okinawa, Japan. While performing a low level static line jump, the jumper is released from the aircraft at a low altitude and their chute is pulled open by the aircraft as they exit. The Marines did their static line jumps from an altitude of 1,500 feet for this training. The Marines are with 3rd Reconnaissance Battalion, 3rd Marine Division, III Marine Expeditionary Force. - IE SHIMA, OKINAWA, Japan — Marines static line jump out of a KC-130J Super Hercules aircraft Nov. 20, 2014 over Ie Shima Training Facility, off the northwest coast of Okinawa, Japan. While performing a low level static line jump, the jumper is released from the aircraft at a low altitude and their chute is pulled open by the aircraft as they exit. The Marines did their static line jumps from an altitude of 1,500 feet for this training. The Marines are with 3rd Reconnaissance Battalion, 3rd Marine Division, III Marine Expeditionary Force.

Japanese security guards, left, hand out day passes to a Kin Town community members Jan. 17 at the front gate of Camp Hansen. Marines and civilians on Camp Hansen put together the first Friendship Saturday event last October for the community members. They visited various facilities including the Exchange, The Palms and bowling alley. - Japanese security guards, left, hand out day passes to a Kin Town community members Jan. 17 at the front gate of Camp Hansen. Marines and civilians on Camp Hansen put together the first Friendship Saturday event last October for the community members. They visited various facilities including the Exchange, The Palms and bowling alley.

Japan Ground Self-Defense Force Maj. Tomohito Urakawa yells commands to his troops Dec. 9 during Forest Light 15-1 at the Oyanohara Training Area in Yamato, Kumamoto prefecture, Japan. Forest Light is a routine, semi-annual exercise designed to enhance the U.S. and Japan military partnership, solidify regional security agreements and improve individual and unit-level skills. Urakawa is the company commander of 3rd Company, 42nd Regiment, 8th Division, Western Army, JGSDF. - Japan Ground Self-Defense Force Maj. Tomohito Urakawa yells commands to his troops Dec. 9 during Forest Light 15-1 at the Oyanohara Training Area in Yamato, Kumamoto prefecture, Japan. Forest Light is a routine, semi-annual exercise designed to enhance the U.S. and Japan military partnership, solidify regional security agreements and improve individual and unit-level skills. Urakawa is the company commander of 3rd Company, 42nd Regiment, 8th Division, Western Army, JGSDF.

U.S. Marine Staff Sgt. Ryan T. Watson, right, receives a bouquet of flowers from a student Dec. 5 at Chinzei High School in Kumamoto prefecture, Japan. Marines participating in Forest Light 15-1 took a day off from training to visit local high schools to exchange culture lessons with the student. Forest Light is a routine, semi-annual exercise designed to enhance the U.S. and Japan military partnership, solidify regional security agreements, and improve individual and unit-level skills in a bilateral training environment. Watson, from Tulsa, Oklahoma, is an infantry unit leader with 2nd Battalion, 9th Marine Regiment, currently assigned to 4th Marine Regiment, 3rd Marine Division, III Marine Expeditionary Force, under the unit deployment program. - U.S. Marine Staff Sgt. Ryan T. Watson, right, receives a bouquet of flowers from a student Dec. 5 at Chinzei High School in Kumamoto prefecture, Japan. Marines participating in Forest Light 15-1 took a day off from training to visit local high schools to exchange culture lessons with the student. Forest Light is a routine, semi-annual exercise designed to enhance the U.S. and Japan military partnership, solidify regional security agreements, and improve individual and unit-level skills in a bilateral training environment. Watson, from Tulsa, Oklahoma, is an infantry unit leader with 2nd Battalion, 9th Marine Regiment, currently assigned to 4th Marine Regiment, 3rd Marine Division, III Marine Expeditionary Force, under the unit deployment program.

U.S. Marine Lance Cpl. Jonas G. Dewald works with a fellow Marine to don his ghillie suit Dec. 2 in the Oyanohara Training Area in Yamato, Kumamoto prefecture, Japan. The concealment training is part of Forest Light 15-1, a semi-annual, bilateral exercise consisting of a command post exercise and field training events conducted by elements of III Marine Expeditionary Force and the Japan Ground Self-Defense Force to enhance the U.S. and Japan military partnership, solidify regional security agreements and improve individual and unit-level skills. Dewald, from Wilson, North Carolina, is a machine gunner with Weapons Company, 2nd Battalion, 9th Marine Regiment, currently attached to 4th Marine Regiment, 3rd Marine Division, III MEF, under the unit deployment program. - U.S. Marine Lance Cpl. Jonas G. Dewald works with a fellow Marine to don his ghillie suit Dec. 2 in the Oyanohara Training Area in Yamato, Kumamoto prefecture, Japan. The concealment training is part of Forest Light 15-1, a semi-annual, bilateral exercise consisting of a command post exercise and field training events conducted by elements of III Marine Expeditionary Force and the Japan Ground Self-Defense Force to enhance the U.S. and Japan military partnership, solidify regional security agreements and improve individual and unit-level skills. Dewald, from Wilson, North Carolina, is a machine gunner with Weapons Company, 2nd Battalion, 9th Marine Regiment, currently attached to 4th Marine Regiment, 3rd Marine Division, III MEF, under the unit deployment program.