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Marines

EXPLORE PHOTOS

III MARINE EXPEDITIONARY FORCE

Okinawa, Japan

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U.S. Marine Corps Brig. Gen. Thomas D. Weidley (left), the incoming 1st Marine Aircraft Wing commanding general takes the unit colors from Maj. Gen. Russell A. Sanborn (right), outgoing commanding general, representing the passing of command during a change of command ceremony at Marine Corps Air Station Futenma, Okinawa, Japan, June 29, 2017. Sanborn will assume command of Marine Forces Europe and Africa. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Isabella Ortega)

U.S. Marine Corps Brig. Gen. Thomas D. Weidley (left), the incoming 1st Marine Aircraft Wing commanding general takes the unit colors from Maj. Gen. Russell A. Sanborn (right), outgoing commanding general, representing the passing of command during a change of command ceremony at Marine Corps Air Station Futenma, Okinawa, Japan, June 29, 2017. Sanborn will assume command of Marine Forces Europe and Africa. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Isabella Ortega)

Photo by Lance Cpl. Isabella Ortega

U.S. Marine Corps Maj. Gen. Russell A. Sanborn and his wife Linda Sanborn listen as Lt. Gen. Lawrence D. Nicholson speaks to the audience during a change of command ceremony at Marine Corps Air Station Futenma, Okinawa, Japan, June 29, 2017. Sanborn is the outgoing 1st Marine Aircraft Wing commanding general and Nicholson is the III Marine Expeditionary Force commanding general. Sanborn relinquished command to Brig. Gen. Thomas D. Weidley and will assume command of Marine Forces Europe and Africa. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Isabella Ortega)

U.S. Marine Corps Maj. Gen. Russell A. Sanborn and his wife Linda Sanborn listen as Lt. Gen. Lawrence D. Nicholson speaks to the audience during a change of command ceremony at Marine Corps Air Station Futenma, Okinawa, Japan, June 29, 2017. Sanborn is the outgoing 1st Marine Aircraft Wing commanding general and Nicholson is the III Marine Expeditionary Force commanding general. Sanborn relinquished command to Brig. Gen. Thomas D. Weidley and will assume command of Marine Forces Europe and Africa. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Isabella Ortega)

Photo by Lance Cpl. Isabella Ortega

U.S. Marine Corps Maj. Gen. Russell A. Sanborn (left), outgoing 1st Marine Aircraft Wing commanding general, stands at attention with Brig. Gen. Thomas D. Weidley (right), the incoming commanding general, during a change of command ceremony at Marine Corps Air Station Futenma, Okinawa, Japan, June 29, 2017. Sanborn relinquished command to Weidley and will assume command at Marine Forces Europe and Africa. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Isabella Ortega)

U.S. Marine Corps Maj. Gen. Russell A. Sanborn (left), outgoing 1st Marine Aircraft Wing commanding general, stands at attention with Brig. Gen. Thomas D. Weidley (right), the incoming commanding general, during a change of command ceremony at Marine Corps Air Station Futenma, Okinawa, Japan, June 29, 2017. Sanborn relinquished command to Weidley and will assume command at Marine Forces Europe and Africa. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Isabella Ortega)

Photo by Lance Cpl. Isabella Ortega

A U.S. Marine Corps F-35B Lightning II aircraft with Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 121, Marine Aircraft Group 12, 1st Marine Aircraft Wing, conducted a training flight from Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni to Kadena Air Force Base, Okinawa, Japan, June 26, 2017. The Marines with VMFA- 121 worked alongside Airmen with the 18th Wing. This event marked the first time an F-35B Lightning II landed in Okinawa. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Charles Plouffe)

A U.S. Marine Corps F-35B Lightning II aircraft with Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 121, Marine Aircraft Group 12, 1st Marine Aircraft Wing, conducted a training flight from Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni to Kadena Air Force Base, Okinawa, Japan, June 26, 2017. The Marines with VMFA- 121 worked alongside Airmen with the 18th Wing. This event marked the first time an F-35B Lightning II landed in Okinawa. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Charles Plouffe)

Photo by Lance Cpl. Charles Plouffe

A U.S. Marine Corps F-35B Lightning II aircraft with Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 121, Marine Aircraft Group 12, 1st Marine Aircraft Wing, conducted a training flight from Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni to Kadena Air Force Base, Okinawa, Japan, June 26, 2017. The Marines with VMFA- 121 worked alongside Airmen with the 18th Wing. This event marked the first time an F-35B Lightning II landed in Okinawa. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Charles Plouffe)

A U.S. Marine Corps F-35B Lightning II aircraft with Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 121, Marine Aircraft Group 12, 1st Marine Aircraft Wing, conducted a training flight from Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni to Kadena Air Force Base, Okinawa, Japan, June 26, 2017. The Marines with VMFA- 121 worked alongside Airmen with the 18th Wing. This event marked the first time an F-35B Lightning II landed in Okinawa. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Charles Plouffe)

Photo by Lance Cpl. Charles Plouffe

A U.S. Marine Corps F-35B Lightning II aircraft with Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 121, Marine Aircraft Group 12, 1st Marine Aircraft Wing, conducted a training flight from Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni to Kadena Air Force Base, Okinawa, Japan, June 26, 2017. The Marines with VMFA- 121 worked alongside Airmen with the 18th Wing. This event marked the first time an F-35B Lightning II landed in Okinawa. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Charles Plouffe)

A U.S. Marine Corps F-35B Lightning II aircraft with Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 121, Marine Aircraft Group 12, 1st Marine Aircraft Wing, conducted a training flight from Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni to Kadena Air Force Base, Okinawa, Japan, June 26, 2017. The Marines with VMFA- 121 worked alongside Airmen with the 18th Wing. This event marked the first time an F-35B Lightning II landed in Okinawa. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Charles Plouffe)

Photo by Lance Cpl. Charles Plouffe

Okinawan residents place flowers and pray at the Cornerstone of Peace memorial wall during the 2017 Okinawa Memorial Day service June 23, 2017 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. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Charles Plouffe)

Okinawan residents place flowers and pray at the Cornerstone of Peace memorial wall during the 2017 Okinawa Memorial Day service June 23, 2017 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. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Charles Plouffe)

Photo by Lance Cpl. Charles Plouffe

U.S. Marines stand by to place wreaths on the Cornerstone of Peace during the 2017 Okinawa Memorial Day services June 23, 2017 at Peace Memorial Park, Itoman, Japan. Service members and Okinawan residents came together to place wreaths as a tribute to all who lost their lives in the Battle of Okinawa. During the ceremony all who attended stood for a moment of silence honoring those that gave the ultimate sacrifice for their country. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Charles Plouffe)

U.S. Marines stand by to place wreaths on the Cornerstone of Peace during the 2017 Okinawa Memorial Day services June 23, 2017 at Peace Memorial Park, Itoman, Japan. Service members and Okinawan residents came together to place wreaths as a tribute to all who lost their lives in the Battle of Okinawa. During the ceremony all who attended stood for a moment of silence honoring those that gave the ultimate sacrifice for their country. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Charles Plouffe)

Photo by Lance Cpl. Charles Plouffe

Lt. Gen. Lawrence D. Nicholson speaks with a Okinawan resident at the Cornerstone of Peace during the 2017 Okinawa Memorial Day services June 23, 2017 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 that gave the ultimate sacrifice for their country. Nicholson is the Marine Forces Pacific commanding general and the Okinawa Area Coordinator. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Charles Plouffe)

Lt. Gen. Lawrence D. Nicholson speaks with a Okinawan resident at the Cornerstone of Peace during the 2017 Okinawa Memorial Day services June 23, 2017 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 that gave the ultimate sacrifice for their country. Nicholson is the Marine Forces Pacific commanding general and the Okinawa Area Coordinator. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Charles Plouffe)

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. 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)

Photo by Lance Cpl. Charles Plouffe

A wreath leans up against the Cornerstone of Peace memorial wall during the 2017 Okinawa Memorial Day services June 23, 2017 at Peace Memorial Park, Itoman, Japan. Service members and Okinawan residents came together to place wreaths as a tribute to all who lost their lives in the Battle of Okinawa. During the ceremony all who attended stood for a moment of silence honoring those who gave the ultimate sacrifice for their country. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Charles Plouffe)

A wreath leans up against the Cornerstone of Peace memorial wall during the 2017 Okinawa Memorial Day services June 23, 2017 at Peace Memorial Park, Itoman, Japan. Service members and Okinawan residents came together to place wreaths as a tribute to all who lost their lives in the Battle of Okinawa. During the ceremony all who attended stood for a moment of silence honoring those who gave the ultimate sacrifice for their country. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Charles Plouffe)

Photo by Lance Cpl. Charles Plouffe

Lt. Gen. Lawrence D. Nicholson addresses attendees of the 2017 Okinawa Memorial Day services June 23, 2017, at Peace Memorial Park, Itoman, Japan. The ceremony brought together service members and Okinawan residents to honor those 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. Nicholson is the Marine Forces Pacific commanding general and the Okinawa Area Coordinator. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Charles Plouffe)

Lt. Gen. Lawrence D. Nicholson addresses attendees of the 2017 Okinawa Memorial Day services June 23, 2017, at Peace Memorial Park, Itoman, Japan. The ceremony brought together service members and Okinawan residents to honor those 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. Nicholson is the Marine Forces Pacific commanding general and the Okinawa Area Coordinator. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Charles Plouffe)

Photo by Lance Cpl. Charles Plouffe

Sgt. Krista Marshik waits to call the next command at the Combat Pistol Program tower, on Camp Hansen, Okinawa, Japan, June, 5, 2017. Marshik voices the CPP tower to ensure all guidelines and saftey rules on the range are met. Marshik, a native of Arden Hills, Minnesota, is an ammunition technician with the Formal Marksmanship Training Unit, III Marine Expeditionary Force. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Charles Plouffe)

Sgt. Krista Marshik waits to call the next command at the Combat Pistol Program tower, on Camp Hansen, Okinawa, Japan, June, 5, 2017. Marshik voices the CPP tower to ensure all guidelines and saftey rules on the range are met. Marshik, a native of Arden Hills, Minnesota, is an ammunition technician with the Formal Marksmanship Training Unit, III Marine Expeditionary Force. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Charles Plouffe)

Photo by Lance Cpl. Bernadette Wildes

Sgt. Krista Marshik talks about her experience as the Combat Pistol Program tower voice on Camp Hansen, Okinawa, Japan. Marshik, an Arden Hills, Minnesota native, explains how working as the voice of the tower gave her a chance to open up and find more confidence in herself. Marshik is an ammunition technician with the Formal Marksmanship Training Unit, III Marine Expeditionary Force. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Charles Plouffe)

Sgt. Krista Marshik talks about her experience as the Combat Pistol Program tower voice on Camp Hansen, Okinawa, Japan. Marshik, an Arden Hills, Minnesota native, explains how working as the voice of the tower gave her a chance to open up and find more confidence in herself. Marshik is an ammunition technician with the Formal Marksmanship Training Unit, III Marine Expeditionary Force. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Charles Plouffe)

Photo by Lance Cpl. Charles Plouffe

Lt. Col. James Dorlon (right center) slams his opponent to the ground, June 10, 2017, during the annual Henoko Okinawa-Style Sumo Tournament, at Mae-No-Hama Field, in Henoko, Okinawa, Japan. During a bout, competitors try to earn points by making their opponent fall into the dohyo, or sandy pit, without striking or letting go of each other’s belts. The first to gain two points is the victor. Dorlon is a native of Beaverton, Oregon, and the commanding officer of Jungle Warfare Training Center, 3rd Marine Division, III Marine Expeditionary Force. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Andy Martinez)

Lt. Col. James Dorlon (right center) slams his opponent to the ground, June 10, 2017, during the annual Henoko Okinawa-Style Sumo Tournament, at Mae-No-Hama Field, in Henoko, Okinawa, Japan. During a bout, competitors try to earn points by making their opponent fall into the dohyo, or sandy pit, without striking or letting go of each other’s belts. The first to gain two points is the victor. Dorlon is a native of Beaverton, Oregon, and the commanding officer of Jungle Warfare Training Center, 3rd Marine Division, III Marine Expeditionary Force. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Andy Martinez)

Photo by Lance Cpl. Andy Martinez

Lt. Col. James Dorlon (left) holds his ground, June 10, 2017, during the annual Henoko Okinawa-Style Sumo Tournament, at Mae-No-Hama Field, in Henoko, Okinawa, Japan. During a bout, competitors try to earn points by making their opponent fall into the dohyo, or sandy pit, without striking each other or letting go of each other’s belts. The first to gain two points is the victor. Dorlon is a native of Beaverton, Oregon, and the commanding officer of Jungle Warfare Training Center, 3rd Marine Division, III Marine Expeditionary Force. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Andy Martinez)

Lt. Col. James Dorlon (left) holds his ground, June 10, 2017, during the annual Henoko Okinawa-Style Sumo Tournament, at Mae-No-Hama Field, in Henoko, Okinawa, Japan. During a bout, competitors try to earn points by making their opponent fall into the dohyo, or sandy pit, without striking each other or letting go of each other’s belts. The first to gain two points is the victor. Dorlon is a native of Beaverton, Oregon, and the commanding officer of Jungle Warfare Training Center, 3rd Marine Division, III Marine Expeditionary Force. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Andy Martinez)

Photo by Lance Cpl. Andy Martinez

Lance Cpl. Giovanni L. Ramires (right center) leg sweeps his opponent, June 10, 2017, during the annual Henoko Okinawa-Style Sumo Tournament at Mae-No-Hama Field in Henoko, Okinawa, Japan. During a bout, competitors try to earn points by making their opponent fall into the “dohyo,” or sandy pit, without striking or letting go of each other’s belts. The first to gain two points is the victor. Okinawa-style sumo wrestling, also known as kakuriki, is a combination of western wrestling and traditional Japanese sumo and judo, according to Fumio Iha, Camp Schwab’s community relations specialist. Ramires is a native of Johnstown, Pennsylvania, and an intelligence specialist with 3rd Intelligence Battalion, III Marine Expeditionary Force Headquarters Group. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Andy Martinez)

Lance Cpl. Giovanni L. Ramires (right center) leg sweeps his opponent, June 10, 2017, during the annual Henoko Okinawa-Style Sumo Tournament at Mae-No-Hama Field in Henoko, Okinawa, Japan. During a bout, competitors try to earn points by making their opponent fall into the “dohyo,” or sandy pit, without striking or letting go of each other’s belts. The first to gain two points is the victor. Okinawa-style sumo wrestling, also known as kakuriki, is a combination of western wrestling and traditional Japanese sumo and judo, according to Fumio Iha, Camp Schwab’s community relations specialist. Ramires is a native of Johnstown, Pennsylvania, and an intelligence specialist with 3rd Intelligence Battalion, III Marine Expeditionary Force Headquarters Group. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Andy Martinez)

Photo by Lance Cpl. Andy Martinez

Private First Class Jose Berries (right) attempts to take down his opponent, June 10, 2017, during the annual Henoko Okinawa-Style Sumo Tournament, at Mae-No-Hama Field, in Henoko, Okinawa, Japan. During a bout, competitors try to earn points by making their opponent fall into the “dohyo,” or sandy pit, without striking each other or letting go of each other’s belts. The first to gain two points is the victor. Berries is a native of Holyoke, Massachusetts, and a motor vehicle operator with Headquarters Battalion, 3rd Marine Division, III Marine Expeditionary Force. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Andy Martinez)

Private First Class Jose Berries (right) attempts to take down his opponent, June 10, 2017, during the annual Henoko Okinawa-Style Sumo Tournament, at Mae-No-Hama Field, in Henoko, Okinawa, Japan. During a bout, competitors try to earn points by making their opponent fall into the “dohyo,” or sandy pit, without striking each other or letting go of each other’s belts. The first to gain two points is the victor. Berries is a native of Holyoke, Massachusetts, and a motor vehicle operator with Headquarters Battalion, 3rd Marine Division, III Marine Expeditionary Force. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Andy Martinez)

Photo by Lance Cpl. Andy Martinez

Two competitors embrace each other after their bout, June 10, 2017, during the annual Henoko Okinawa-Style Sumo Tournament, at Mae-No-Hama Field, in Henoko, Okinawa, Japan. During a bout, competitors try to earn points by making their opponent fall into the dohyo, or sandy pit, without striking or letting go of each other’s belts. The first to gain two points is the victor. Okinawa-style sumo wrestling, also known as kakuriki, is a combination of western wrestling and traditional Japanese sumo and judo, according to Fumio Iha, Camp Schwab’s community relations specialist. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Andy Martinez)

Two competitors embrace each other after their bout, June 10, 2017, during the annual Henoko Okinawa-Style Sumo Tournament, at Mae-No-Hama Field, in Henoko, Okinawa, Japan. During a bout, competitors try to earn points by making their opponent fall into the dohyo, or sandy pit, without striking or letting go of each other’s belts. The first to gain two points is the victor. Okinawa-style sumo wrestling, also known as kakuriki, is a combination of western wrestling and traditional Japanese sumo and judo, according to Fumio Iha, Camp Schwab’s community relations specialist. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Andy Martinez)

Photo by Lance Cpl. Andy Martinez

Sgt. Daniel Reilly, the fire direction chief with 3rd Battalion, 4th Marine Regiment, competed in the Australian Army Skills at Arms Meeting in Puckapunyal, Australia, May 14-26, 2017, alongside Cpl. John Brody, a Marine he trained during his time on Parris Island as a Primary Marksmanship Instructor. Reilly is a Jenkintown, Pennsylvania native. The battalion is forward deployed from 29 Palms, California to Marine Rotational Force Darwin.

Sgt. Daniel Reilly, the fire direction chief with 3rd Battalion, 4th Marine Regiment, competed in the Australian Army Skills at Arms Meeting in Puckapunyal, Australia, May 14-26, 2017, alongside Cpl. John Brody, a Marine he trained during his time on Parris Island as a Primary Marksmanship Instructor. Reilly is a Jenkintown, Pennsylvania native. The battalion is forward deployed from 29 Palms, California to Marine Rotational Force Darwin.

Photo by Lance Cpl. Bernadette Wildes

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III Marine Expeditionary Force