Japanese government officials and U.S. Marines come together for discussions during the Artillery Relocation Training Program Annual Planning Conference on Camp Hansen, Okinawa, Japan, June 22, 2021. The ARTP Annual Conference allows Japanese and U.S. officials to develop a better understanding of the goals of the program, as well as solidify bilateral objectives related to the training, the continued usage of training areas and the modernization of both forces. - Japanese government officials and U.S. Marines come together for discussions during the Artillery Relocation Training Program Annual Planning Conference on Camp Hansen, Okinawa, Japan, June 22, 2021. The ARTP Annual Conference allows Japanese and U.S. officials to develop a better understanding of the goals of the program, as well as solidify bilateral objectives related to the training, the continued usage of training areas and the modernization of both forces.
A U.S. Marine with 2nd Battalion, 1st Marine Regiment, assigned to Special Purpose Marine Air-Ground Task Force – Crisis Response – Central Command, provides security with his M240B medium machine gun during Crisis Response Exercise II in Kuwait, June 19, 2021. CRX II is a long range assault in which Marines simulate taking over and occupying a forward operations base in a hostile environment. The SPMAGTF-CR-CC is a crisis response force, prepared to deploy a variety of capabilities across the region. - A U.S. Marine with 2nd Battalion, 1st Marine Regiment, assigned to Special Purpose Marine Air-Ground Task Force – Crisis Response – Central Command, provides security with his M240B medium machine gun during Crisis Response Exercise II in Kuwait, June 19, 2021. CRX II is a long range assault in which Marines simulate taking over and occupying a forward operations base in a hostile environment. The SPMAGTF-CR-CC is a crisis response force, prepared to deploy a variety of capabilities across the region.
U.S. Marine Corps Sgt. Jonathan Fico, a fire support Marine with 5th Air Naval Gunfire Liaison Company, III Marine Expeditionary Force Information Group, assists in establishing an observation post during an exercise near Camp Hansen, Okinawa, Japan, April 21, 2021. The training allowed 15th Brigade forces to study tactical communication, maneuver and fires increasing interoperability between the two countries. - U.S. Marine Corps Sgt. Jonathan Fico, a fire support Marine with 5th Air Naval Gunfire Liaison Company, III Marine Expeditionary Force Information Group, assists in establishing an observation post during an exercise near Camp Hansen, Okinawa, Japan, April 21, 2021. The training allowed 15th Brigade forces to study tactical communication, maneuver and fires increasing interoperability between the two countries.
A U.S. Marine with 1st Marine Division provides suppressive fire during Marine Air Ground Task Force Warfighting Exercise 3-21 on Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center, Twentynine Palms, California, May 7, 2021. MWX is the culminating event of the Service Level Training Exercise, challenging the MAGTF to fight against a free thinking adversary with similar capabilities in a force on force environment. - A U.S. Marine with 1st Marine Division provides suppressive fire during Marine Air Ground Task Force Warfighting Exercise 3-21 on Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center, Twentynine Palms, California, May 7, 2021. MWX is the culminating event of the Service Level Training Exercise, challenging the MAGTF to fight against a free thinking adversary with similar capabilities in a force on force environment.
A U.S. Marine Corps CH-53E Super Stallion Helicopter assigned to Marine Heavy Helicopter Squadron 462, prepares for takeoff during an Alert Contingency Marine Air Ground Task Force drill at Marine Corps Air Station Futenma, Okinawa, Japan, May 20, 2021. The ACM exercise is a simulated crisis response drill that must be executed within 24 hours to prepare the Marines of 1st MAW to mitigate emergencies, provide humanitarian aid, and/ or counter threats to U.S. national interests within the Indo-Pacific region. - A U.S. Marine Corps CH-53E Super Stallion Helicopter assigned to Marine Heavy Helicopter Squadron 462, prepares for takeoff during an Alert Contingency Marine Air Ground Task Force drill at Marine Corps Air Station Futenma, Okinawa, Japan, May 20, 2021. The ACM exercise is a simulated crisis response drill that must be executed within 24 hours to prepare the Marines of 1st MAW to mitigate emergencies, provide humanitarian aid, and/ or counter threats to U.S. national interests within the Indo-Pacific region.
U.S. Marines with the III Marine Expeditionary Force and members of the Japan Ground-Self Defense Force 15th Brigade bands pose for a photo at Tedako Hall in Urasoe, Okinawa, Japan, April 16, 2021. The bands' harmonious performance was a display of the III MEF and 15th Brigade bands' alliance and unity within the musical arts. The annual concert was performed virtually and the recording will debut on social media platforms within the coming weeks. - U.S. Marines with the III Marine Expeditionary Force and members of the Japan Ground-Self Defense Force 15th Brigade bands pose for a photo at Tedako Hall in Urasoe, Okinawa, Japan, April 16, 2021. The bands' harmonious performance was a display of the III MEF and 15th Brigade bands' alliance and unity within the musical arts. The annual concert was performed virtually and the recording will debut on social media platforms within the coming weeks.
(From left) U.S. Marine Corps Lance Cpl. Thomas Diffley, Pfc. Elijah Stewart and Lance Cpl. Nicklas Martin, expeditionary firefighting and rescue specialists with Headquarters and Headquarters Squadron, Marine Corps Installations Pacific, pose for an environmental photo on Marine Corps Air Station Futenma, Okinawa, Japan, April 7, 2021. EFR specialist Marines with H&HS provide aircraft rescue and firefighting services in support of airfield operations and respond to any fire-related emergencies and situations with a maximum response time of five minutes. Stewart is a native of Independence, Missouri, Diffley is a native of Dallas, Texas and Corkern is a native of Seattle, Washington. - (From left) U.S. Marine Corps Lance Cpl. Thomas Diffley, Pfc. Elijah Stewart and Lance Cpl. Nicklas Martin, expeditionary firefighting and rescue specialists with Headquarters and Headquarters Squadron, Marine Corps Installations Pacific, pose for an environmental photo on Marine Corps Air Station Futenma, Okinawa, Japan, April 7, 2021. EFR specialist Marines with H&HS provide aircraft rescue and firefighting services in support of airfield operations and respond to any fire-related emergencies and situations with a maximum response time of five minutes. Stewart is a native of Independence, Missouri, Diffley is a native of Dallas, Texas and Corkern is a native of Seattle, Washington.
Lt. Col. Sally Ann Falco holds photos of two of her female Marine mentors, retired Sgt. Maj. Tammy Fodey and retired Sgt. Maj. Sarah Thornton, the first woman Marine to retire after 30 consecutive years of active service. Falco served as an enlisted Marine for 14 years before her acceptance to the Meritorious Commissioning Program. She commissioned in August 2001 and will soon retire after 34 fruitful years in the Marine Corps. “I’ve just been privileged to be allowed to be a Marine,” Falco said. “I still love it as much as the day I came in, and I would stay in forever, but I want to make room for others to climb the ladder and at the same time, contribute to society in another capacity.” - Lt. Col. Sally Ann Falco holds photos of two of her female Marine mentors, retired Sgt. Maj. Tammy Fodey and retired Sgt. Maj. Sarah Thornton, the first woman Marine to retire after 30 consecutive years of active service. Falco served as an enlisted Marine for 14 years before her acceptance to the Meritorious Commissioning Program. She commissioned in August 2001 and will soon retire after 34 fruitful years in the Marine Corps. “I’ve just been privileged to be allowed to be a Marine,” Falco said. “I still love it as much as the day I came in, and I would stay in forever, but I want to make room for others to climb the ladder and at the same time, contribute to society in another capacity.”
U.S. Marines with 3d Reconnaissance Battalion, 3d Marine Division conduct a military freefall infiltration as a part of exercise Castaway 21.1 on Ie Shima, Okinawa, Japan, March 9, 2021. The exercise demonstrated the Marine Corps’ ability to integrate with the joint force to seize and defend key maritime terrain, provide low-signature sustainment, and execute long-range precision fires in support of naval operations from an expeditionary advanced base. - U.S. Marines with 3d Reconnaissance Battalion, 3d Marine Division conduct a military freefall infiltration as a part of exercise Castaway 21.1 on Ie Shima, Okinawa, Japan, March 9, 2021. The exercise demonstrated the Marine Corps’ ability to integrate with the joint force to seize and defend key maritime terrain, provide low-signature sustainment, and execute long-range precision fires in support of naval operations from an expeditionary advanced base.
On March 7, Marines from the U.S. Embassy Tokyo and 3D Marine Expeditionary Brigade attended the Oshima Island 10-year anniversary of the 3-11 Great East Japan Earthquake, tsunami and nuclear disaster and subsequent US response Operation Tomodachi. The people of the island unveiled a memorial inscribed with “Friendship Forever,” honoring the strong relationship between themselves and Okinawa Marines. Attendees included city officials and citizens who survived the disaster and worked with the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit which conducted extensive humanitarian assistance and disaster relief in the area. The work underscored the importance of interoperability with our Japan Self-Defense Force partners in support of the Japan/US alliance. 3D MEB also responded to the disaster, working in Sendai area, and remains resilient, ready and relevant to work with our Japanese friends to respond to crisis in the future. - On March 7, Marines from the U.S. Embassy Tokyo and 3D Marine Expeditionary Brigade attended the Oshima Island 10-year anniversary of the 3-11 Great East Japan Earthquake, tsunami and nuclear disaster and subsequent US response Operation Tomodachi. The people of the island unveiled a memorial inscribed with “Friendship Forever,” honoring the strong relationship between themselves and Okinawa Marines. Attendees included city officials and citizens who survived the disaster and worked with the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit which conducted extensive humanitarian assistance and disaster relief in the area. The work underscored the importance of interoperability with our Japan Self-Defense Force partners in support of the Japan/US alliance. 3D MEB also responded to the disaster, working in Sendai area, and remains resilient, ready and relevant to work with our Japanese friends to respond to crisis in the future.
U.S. Marines rehearse distributed operations in mainland Japan, Jan. 31. - U.S. Marines rehearse distributed operations in mainland Japan, Jan. 31.
U.S. Marine Corps and Navy medical personnel and first responders complete an initial screening to receive the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine at the U.S. Naval Hospital Okinawa on Camp Foster, Okinawa, Japan, Dec. 29, 2020. The Department of Defense’s (DOD) COVID-19 vaccination plan is phase driven and designed to protect members within the DOD fromCOVID-19 as quickly and safely as possible in order to bolster mission readiness and enhance capabilities of DOD members worldwide. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Alex Fairchild) - U.S. Marine Corps and Navy medical personnel and first responders complete an initial screening to receive the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine at the U.S. Naval Hospital Okinawa on Camp Foster, Okinawa, Japan, Dec. 29, 2020. The Department of Defense’s (DOD) COVID-19 vaccination plan is phase driven and designed to protect members within the DOD fromCOVID-19 as quickly and safely as possible in order to bolster mission readiness and enhance capabilities of DOD members worldwide. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Alex Fairchild)
Combined Arms Training Center Camp Fuji Marines and Sailors clean up trash and ocean debris from Numazu Beach Training Area, Shizuoka, Japan, Dec. 30, 2020. Service members cleared over 2700 liters of trash and other ocean debris from the beach, which is used by joint U.S. forces and the Japan Maritime Self Defense Force for air ground and amphibious training. - Lance Cpl. Christopher Mauney, a Combined Arms Training Center Camp Fuji range control operator, cleans ocean debris from Numazu Beach Training Area, Shizuoka, Japan, Dec. 30, 2020. Service members cleared over 2700 liters of trash and other ocean debris from the beach, which is used by joint U.S. forces and the Japan Maritime Self Defense Force for air ground and amphibious training.
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