NEWS

U.S. Marines with 1st Battalion, 7th Marines were enjoying recreational skiing and snowboarding before providing first aide to an injured Japanese teen in Nagano, Japan Feb. 11, 2023. (Courtesy Photo) - U.S. Marines with 1st Battalion, 7th Marines were enjoying recreational skiing and snowboarding before providing first aide to an injured Japanese teen in Nagano, Japan Feb. 11, 2023. (Courtesy Photo)

Marines with the Marine Aerial Refueler Transport Squadron 152, Marine Aircraft Group 12, 1st Marine Aircraft Wing, III Marine Expeditionary Force board a KC-130J Super Hercules at Kadena Air Base to begin preparing for a training exercise Friday, April 15. The training included picking up supplies and Marines from 3rd Reconnaissance Battalion, 3rd Marine Division, III MEF from Ie Shima. Then the reconnaissance Marines practiced low-level static line training with the support of VMGR-152. (U.S. Marine photo by LCpl Amaia Unanue/Released) - Marines with the Marine Aerial Refueler Transport Squadron 152, Marine Aircraft Group 12, 1st Marine Aircraft Wing, III Marine Expeditionary Force board a KC-130J Super Hercules at Kadena Air Base to begin preparing for a training exercise Friday, April 15. The training included picking up supplies and Marines from 3rd Reconnaissance Battalion, 3rd Marine Division, III MEF from Ie Shima. Then the reconnaissance Marines practiced low-level static line training with the support of VMGR-152. (U.S. Marine photo by LCpl Amaia Unanue/Released)

U.S. sailor Hospital Corpsman 1st Class Jose G. Esguerra poses for a photo with Philippine families from Maruglo Elementary School, at Crow Valley, Philippines, April 7, 2016. Esguerra is a dental technician with 3rd Dental Battalion, 11th Dental Regiment, currently attached to 3rd Medical Battalion, 3rd Marine Division, III Marine Expeditionary Force. Esguerra has been in the Navy for 17 years and for the first time, returned home to give back to his country. (U.S. Photo by Lance Cpl. Jessica N. Etheridge/Released) - U.S. sailor Hospital Corpsman 1st Class Jose G. Esguerra poses for a photo with Philippine families from Maruglo Elementary School, at Crow Valley, Philippines, April 7, 2016. Esguerra is a dental technician with 3rd Dental Battalion, 11th Dental Regiment, currently attached to 3rd Medical Battalion, 3rd Marine Division, III Marine Expeditionary Force. Esguerra has been in the Navy for 17 years and for the first time, returned home to give back to his country. (U.S. Photo by Lance Cpl. Jessica N. Etheridge/Released)

Republic of Korea Marine ranger instructors act as belay men during a company competition among integrated teams of ROK and U.S. Marines during Korean Marine Exchange Program at Yooghuk Dae, Munseu San Mountain, Republic of Korea, Sept. 11, 2015. The U.S. and ROK Marines competed for the fastest company in rappelling, rocking climbing and rope climbing before a sprint to the finish line. KMEP 15-12 is a bilateral training exercise that enhances the ROK and U.S. alliance, promotes stability on the Korean Peninsula and strengthens ROK and U.S. military capabilities and interoperability. The ROK Marines are with 11th Battalion, 1st Regiment, 2nd Marine Division, ROK Headquarters Marine Corps. - Republic of Korea Marine ranger instructors act as belay men during a company competition among integrated teams of ROK and U.S. Marines during Korean Marine Exchange Program at Yooghuk Dae, Munseu San Mountain, Republic of Korea, Sept. 11, 2015. The U.S. and ROK Marines competed for the fastest company in rappelling, rocking climbing and rope climbing before a sprint to the finish line. KMEP 15-12 is a bilateral training exercise that enhances the ROK and U.S. alliance, promotes stability on the Korean Peninsula and strengthens ROK and U.S. military capabilities and interoperability. The ROK Marines are with 11th Battalion, 1st Regiment, 2nd Marine Division, ROK Headquarters Marine Corps.

A Philippine Marine learns fast roping under the supervision of U.S. Marines with 2nd Battalion, 3rd Marines during Air Assault Support Exercise 2015-2 at Basa Air Base in Pampanga, Philippines, July 15, 2015. The exercise is a bilateral training event focused on strengthening the alliance between the Philippines and the U.S. The Philippine Marines are with Marine Battalion Landing Team 1, 1st Battalion, Philippine Marine Corps. - A Philippine Marine learns fast roping under the supervision of U.S. Marines with 2nd Battalion, 3rd Marines during Air Assault Support Exercise 2015-2 at Basa Air Base in Pampanga, Philippines, July 15, 2015. The exercise is a bilateral training event focused on strengthening the alliance between the Philippines and the U.S. The Philippine Marines are with Marine Battalion Landing Team 1, 1st Battalion, Philippine Marine Corps.

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.

Cpl. Jude Exantus, right smiles with a service member's daughter on top of an Assault Amphibious Vehicle April 4 during a United Service Organization Easter celebration on Camp Schwab, Okinawa, Japan. Okinawa children and service members’ children came together to participate in Easter activities, such as egg dyeing, making rabbit masks and an egg hunt. The Camp Schwab USO plans to organize this Easter celebration annually. Exantus is a native of Ft. Lauderdale, Florida, and AAV crew chief with Combat Assault Battalion, 3rd Marine Division, III Marine Expeditionary Force. - Cpl. Jude Exantus, right smiles with a service member's daughter on top of an Assault Amphibious Vehicle April 4 during a United Service Organization Easter celebration on Camp Schwab, Okinawa, Japan. Okinawa children and service members’ children came together to participate in Easter activities, such as egg dyeing, making rabbit masks and an egg hunt. The Camp Schwab USO plans to organize this Easter celebration annually. Exantus is a native of Ft. Lauderdale, Florida, and AAV crew chief with Combat Assault Battalion, 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. - 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.

U.S. Marines lead a foot patrol 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. The Marines are with 2nd Battalion, 9th Marine Regiment, currently attached to 4th Marine Regiment, 3rd Marine Division, III Marine Expeditionary Force, under the unit deployment program. - U.S. Marines lead a foot patrol 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. The Marines are with 2nd Battalion, 9th Marine Regiment, currently attached 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 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.