NEWS

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)

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)

U.S. Navy Lt. Melissa Thomas, left, administers dental care to a Mongolian resident as part of the health services support engagement during Khaan Quest 2015 at the 79th High School in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia, June 21. Khaan Quest is a regularly scheduled, multinational exercise hosted annually by the Mongolian Armed Forces and co-sponsored by U.S. Army, Pacific, and U.S. Marine Corps Forces, Pacific. Thomas is a dental officer with 3rd Dental Battalion, 3rd Marine Logistics Group, III Marine Expeditionary Force. - U.S. Navy Lt. Melissa Thomas, left, administers dental care to a Mongolian resident as part of the health services support engagement during Khaan Quest 2015 at the 79th High School in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia, June 21. Khaan Quest is a regularly scheduled, multinational exercise hosted annually by the Mongolian Armed Forces and co-sponsored by U.S. Army, Pacific, and U.S. Marine Corps Forces, Pacific. Thomas is a dental officer with 3rd Dental Battalion, 3rd Marine Logistics Group, III Marine Expeditionary Force.

A Marine with the Provost Marshal’s Office on Camp Courtney, Okinawa, Japan, places handcuffs on an Uruma City Police officer posing as an on-base intruder, June 11, during bilateral training between service members and the UCPD. The event ensured Marines with Camp Guard and the Provost Marshal’s Office are proficient in communicating with the UCPD to mitigate threats involving service members and Okinawa residents. During the training event, Camp Guard Marines patrolling the base perimeter apprehended a simulated armed intruder. PMO Marines received a notification over a radio signal and responded to rehearse turnover procedures of the intruder and escort him to the proper detainment authorities. (Marine Corps Photo by Cpl. Janessa K. Pon/ Released) - A Marine with the Provost Marshal’s Office on Camp Courtney, Okinawa, Japan, places handcuffs on an Uruma City Police officer posing as an on-base intruder, June 11, during bilateral training between service members and the UCPD. The event ensured Marines with Camp Guard and the Provost Marshal’s Office are proficient in communicating with the UCPD to mitigate threats involving service members and Okinawa residents. During the training event, Camp Guard Marines patrolling the base perimeter apprehended a simulated armed intruder. PMO Marines received a notification over a radio signal and responded to rehearse turnover procedures of the intruder and escort him to the proper detainment authorities. (Marine Corps Photo by Cpl. Janessa K. Pon/ Released)

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.

Kin Town residents leave the bases exchange Jan. 17 during Camp Hansen’s Friendship Saturday. Friendship Saturday is an event where community members are allowed on the base, unescorted but with passes, and enjoy some of the facilities on the camp. They visited various facilities including the Exchange, The Palms and bowling alley. Free balloons were handed out for children to enjoy during the event. - Kin Town residents leave the bases exchange Jan. 17 during Camp Hansen’s Friendship Saturday. Friendship Saturday is an event where community members are allowed on the base, unescorted but with passes, and enjoy some of the facilities on the camp. They visited various facilities including the Exchange, The Palms and bowling alley. Free balloons were handed out for children to enjoy during the event.

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.

A quick reference guide for the new liberty policy changes affecting Marines and sailors serving under Marine commands within Japan. The service members must comply with the III Marine Expeditionary Force/Marine Corps Installations Pacific Liberty Regulations in Japan, published on Nov. 26, 2014. This policy also includes personnel in a temporary duty, temporary additional duty, deployed, leave, or pass status within the country of Japan, according to the policy. - A quick reference guide for the new liberty policy changes affecting Marines and sailors serving under Marine commands within Japan. The service members must comply with the III Marine Expeditionary Force/Marine Corps Installations Pacific Liberty Regulations in Japan, published on Nov. 26, 2014. This policy also includes personnel in a temporary duty, temporary additional duty, deployed, leave, or pass status within the country of Japan, according to the policy.

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.