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. Marine Corps Lance Cpl. Kamerin Hervey, an administrative law clerk with the Legal Services Support Section, Headquarters and Support Battalion, conducts a stationary bike exercise during his physical therapy appointment in the U.S. Naval Hospital Okinawa on Camp Foster, Okinawa, Japan, March 26, 2021. Hervey was a wheelchair-bound, active-duty Marine due to his bilateral, tibia-stress fractures in both shins. However, his shins have completely healed bilaterally, and with direction from his doctor, he no longer needs to utilize a wheelchair. Hervey is a Longmont, Colorado, native. - U.S. Marine Corps Lance Cpl. Kamerin Hervey, an administrative law clerk with the Legal Services Support Section, Headquarters and Support Battalion, conducts a stationary bike exercise during his physical therapy appointment in the U.S. Naval Hospital Okinawa on Camp Foster, Okinawa, Japan, March 26, 2021. Hervey was a wheelchair-bound, active-duty Marine due to his bilateral, tibia-stress fractures in both shins. However, his shins have completely healed bilaterally, and with direction from his doctor, he no longer needs to utilize a wheelchair. Hervey is a Longmont, Colorado, native.

U.S. Marines with 9th Engineer Support Battalion and Navy Seabees with Naval Mobile Construction Battalion 4 load a Joint Light Tactical Vehicle onto an improved ribbon bridge during exercise Pacific Pioneer, Naha Port, April 21, 2021. Pacific Pioneer serves as 9th ESB’s Marine Corps Combat Readiness Evaluation as well as an opportunity to demonstrate the ability to sustain expeditionary advanced bases with survivable force protection, practice naval integration, and position long range precision fires and tactical logistics nodes across littoral regions in support of naval operations. - U.S. Marines with 9th Engineer Support Battalion and Navy Seabees with Naval Mobile Construction Battalion 4 load a Joint Light Tactical Vehicle onto an improved ribbon bridge during exercise Pacific Pioneer, Naha Port, April 21, 2021. Pacific Pioneer serves as 9th ESB’s Marine Corps Combat Readiness Evaluation as well as an opportunity to demonstrate the ability to sustain expeditionary advanced bases with survivable force protection, practice naval integration, and position long range precision fires and tactical logistics nodes across littoral regions in support of naval operations.

U.S. Marine Corps AH-1Z Viper attack helicopters assigned to Marine Light Attack Helicopter Squadron 267 fly during a mission rehearsal exercise over Okinawa, Japan, April 16, 2021. The MRX served as a culminating event for HMLA-267 as they near the end of their time in Okinawa as part of the Unit Deployment Program. - U.S. Marine Corps AH-1Z Viper attack helicopters assigned to Marine Light Attack Helicopter Squadron 267 fly during a mission rehearsal exercise over Okinawa, Japan, April 16, 2021. The MRX served as a culminating event for HMLA-267 as they near the end of their time in Okinawa as part of the Unit Deployment Program.

U.S. Marines with Marine Wing Support Squadron 172 prepare to refuel a UH-1Y Venom helicopter assigned to Marine Light Helicopter Squadron 267 during a forward arming and refueling point training event as part of a Marine Corps combat readiness evaluation held by MWSS-172 at the Ie Shima training facility, Okinawa, Japan, April 15, 2021. The MCCRE creates a challenging, realistic training environment that produces combat-ready forces capable of operating as a deployed unit at any time. - U.S. Marines with Marine Wing Support Squadron 172 prepare to refuel a UH-1Y Venom helicopter assigned to Marine Light Helicopter Squadron 267 during a forward arming and refueling point training event as part of a Marine Corps combat readiness evaluation held by MWSS-172 at the Ie Shima training facility, Okinawa, Japan, April 15, 2021. The MCCRE creates a challenging, realistic training environment that produces combat-ready forces capable of operating as a deployed unit at any time.

Col. Perry makes closing remarks in Japanese to the people from the local communities at the 38th Camp Schwab/USO Christmas Children’s Day in Camp Schwab USO Dec. 7, 2019. - Col. Perry makes closing remarks in Japanese to the people from the local communities at the 38th Camp Schwab/USO Christmas Children’s Day in Camp Schwab USO Dec. 7, 2019.

U.S. Marines with Echo Battery, Battalion Landing Team 3/4, 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit, advance during a force on force exercise at Combined Arms Training Center Camp Fuji, Japan, March 4, 2021. The Marines from both platoons in Echo Battery competed against each other to enhance their capabilities as provisional infantry. The 31st MEU, the Marine Corps’ only continuously forward-deployed MEU, provides a flexible and lethal force ready to perform a wide range of military operations as the premier crisis response force in the Indo-Pacific region. - U.S. Marines with Echo Battery, Battalion Landing Team 3/4, 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit, advance during a force on force exercise at Combined Arms Training Center Camp Fuji, Japan, March 4, 2021. The Marines from both platoons in Echo Battery competed against each other to enhance their capabilities as provisional infantry. The 31st MEU, the Marine Corps’ only continuously forward-deployed MEU, provides a flexible and lethal force ready to perform a wide range of military operations as the premier crisis response force in the Indo-Pacific region.

Kata Tanaka, the lead guitarist with Mattalica, a Metallica tribute band, performs during the 2021 Hansen Festival on Camp Hansen, Okinawa, Japan, March 13, 2021. - Kata Tanaka, the lead guitarist with Mattalica, a Metallica tribute band, performs during the 2021 Hansen Festival on Camp Hansen, Okinawa, Japan, March 13, 2021.

Contestants participating in the Okinawa Spartan Race motivate each other before beginning the race on Chura Sun Beach, Okinawa, Japan, Feb. 27. - Contestants participating in the Okinawa Spartan Race motivate each other before beginning the race on Chura Sun Beach, Okinawa, Japan, Feb. 27.

A U.S. Marine gets her arm disinfected to receive her second dose of the COVID-19 vaccine at the U.S. Naval Hospital Okinawa, on Camp Foster, Mar. 2. - A U.S. Marine gets her arm disinfected to receive her second dose of the COVID-19 vaccine at the U.S. Naval Hospital Okinawa, on Camp Foster, Mar. 2.

U.S. Marines and Navy Sailors conduct external lifts for a vertical replenishment of the aircraft carrier USS Theodore Roosevelt, Naval Base Guam, Feb. 25. - U.S. Marines and Navy Sailors conduct external lifts for a vertical replenishment of the aircraft carrier USS Theodore Roosevelt, Naval Base Guam, Feb. 25.

U.S. Marine Corps Lt. Gen. H. Stacy Clardy, III Marine Expeditionary Force commanding general, arrives at Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni during MEFEX 21. - U.S. Marine Corps Lt. Gen. H. Stacy Clardy, III Marine Expeditionary Force commanding general, arrives at Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni during MEFEX 21.

A U.S. Marine grooms MWD Shiva, on Camp Hansen, Okinawa, Japan, Feb. 3. - A U.S. Marine grooms MWD Shiva, on Camp Hansen, Okinawa, Japan, Feb. 3.