U.S. Marines with 3rd Littoral Combat Team, 3rd Marine Littoral Regiment, 3rd Marine Division, conduct Range 400, a company-level combined arms training event, during Marine Littoral Regiment Training Exercise at Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center Twentynine Palms, California, Feb. 9, 2023. MLR-TE is a large-scale, service-level exercise designed to train, develop, and experiment with the 3rd MLR as part of a Marine Air-Ground Task Force, led by 3rd Marine Division, operating as a Stand-in Force across a contested and distributed maritime environment. - U.S. Marines with 3rd Littoral Combat Team, 3rd Marine Littoral Regiment, 3rd Marine Division, conduct Range 400, a company-level combined arms training event, during Marine Littoral Regiment Training Exercise at Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center Twentynine Palms, California, Feb. 9, 2023. MLR-TE is a large-scale, service-level exercise designed to train, develop, and experiment with the 3rd MLR as part of a Marine Air-Ground Task Force, led by 3rd Marine Division, operating as a Stand-in Force across a contested and distributed maritime environment.

U.S. Marines with 3rd Marine Division board a KC-130J Super Hercules during an Alert Contingency Marine Air-Ground Task Force drill on Okinawa, Japan, initiating the deployment of the division’s Forward Command Element participating in KAMANDAG 6 in the Philippines, Sept. 27, 2022. KAMANDAG is an annual bilateral exercise between the Armed Forces of the Philippines and U.S. military designed to strengthen interoperability, capabilities, trust, and cooperation built over decades of shared experiences. - U.S. Marines with 3rd Marine Division board a KC-130J Super Hercules during an Alert Contingency Marine Air-Ground Task Force drill on Okinawa, Japan, initiating the deployment of the division’s Forward Command Element participating in KAMANDAG 6 in the Philippines, Sept. 27, 2022. KAMANDAG is an annual bilateral exercise between the Armed Forces of the Philippines and U.S. military designed to strengthen interoperability, capabilities, trust, and cooperation built over decades of shared experiences.

U.S. Marines with 3d Marine Division pass in review during a battle colors rededication ceremony rehearsal on Camp Hansen, Okinawa, Japan, Sept. 13, 2022. - U.S. Marines with 3d Marine Division pass in review during a battle colors rededication ceremony rehearsal on Camp Hansen, Okinawa, Japan, Sept. 13, 2022. The ceremony will commemorate the Division’s 80th Anniversary and its legacy of valor, honor, and fidelity. The 3d Marine Division was activated at Camp Elliot, San Diego, Sept. 16, 1942 and has taken part in combat operations from World War II and Vietnam through Iraq and Afghanistan. The current Marines of 3d Marine Division continue to build on this legacy today as a critical part of the stand-in force within the first island chain of the Indo-Pacific. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Michael Taggart)

U.S. Marines with 3rd Marine Expeditionary Brigade Alert Contingency Marine Air Ground Task Force, secure gear and equipment to pallets during an ACM drill on Marine Corps Air Station Futenma, Okinawa, Japan, June 8, 2022. 3RD MEB is III Marine Expeditionary Force’s Fire Brigade, ready to respond to a wide range of crisis events throughout the Indo-Pacific region as a command-and-control node or as the nucleus of a Joint Task Force, from delivering humanitarian assistance during natural disasters to combat operations. This ACM drill showcased the 3RD MEB’s readiness and validated its ability to rapidly activate and deploy a Forward Command Element. - U.S. Marines with 3rd Marine Expeditionary Brigade Alert Contingency Marine Air Ground Task Force, secure gear and equipment to pallets during an ACM drill on Marine Corps Air Station Futenma, Okinawa, Japan, June 8, 2022. 3RD MEB is III Marine Expeditionary Force’s Fire Brigade, ready to respond to a wide range of crisis events throughout the Indo-Pacific region as a command-and-control node or as the nucleus of a Joint Task Force, from delivering humanitarian assistance during natural disasters to combat operations. This ACM drill showcased the 3RD MEB’s readiness and validated its ability to rapidly activate and deploy a Forward Command Element.

Philippine Marines with Marine Battalion Landing Team 10 and U.S Marines with 1st Battalion, 3d Marines, 3d Marine Division conduct a bilateral beach defense exercise during Balikatan 22, at Aparri Beach, Cagayan, Philippines, March 31. Balikatan is an annual exercise between the Armed Forces of the Philippines and U.S. military designed to strengthen bilateral interoperability, capabilities, trust, and cooperation built over decades of shared experiences. Balikatan, Tagalog for ‘shoulder-to-shoulder,’ is a long-standing bilateral exercise between the Philippines and the United States highlighting the deep-rooted partnership between both countries. BK22 is the 37th iteration of the exercise and coincides with the 75th anniversary of U.S.-Philippine security cooperation. - Philippine Marines with Marine Battalion Landing Team 10 and U.S Marines with 1st Battalion, 3d Marines, 3d Marine Division conduct a bilateral beach defense exercise during Balikatan 22, at Aparri Beach, Cagayan, Philippines, March 31. Balikatan is an annual exercise between the Armed Forces of the Philippines and U.S. military designed to strengthen bilateral interoperability, capabilities, trust, and cooperation built over decades of shared experiences. Balikatan, Tagalog for ‘shoulder-to-shoulder,’ is a long-standing bilateral exercise between the Philippines and the United States highlighting the deep-rooted partnership between both countries. BK22 is the 37th iteration of the exercise and coincides with the 75th anniversary of U.S.-Philippine security cooperation.

PHILIPPINE SEA - The ordnance department of Marine Wing Fighter Attack Squadron 314, works diligently to refuel and load their F-35C Lightning II with the AIM-120 advanced medium-range air-to-air missile as VMFA-314 performs simulated offensive and defensive air operations, as well as close air support training missions in support of Jungle Warfare Exercise 22 across Okinawa, Japan. JWX 22 is large-scale field training exercise focused on leveraging the integrated capabilities of joint and allied partners to strengthen all-domain awareness, maneuver, and fires across a distributed maritime environment. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Capt. Charles Allen/Released) - PHILIPPINE SEA - The ordnance department of Marine Wing Fighter Attack Squadron 314, works diligently to refuel and load their F-35C Lightning II with the AIM-120 advanced medium-range air-to-air missile as VMFA-314 performs simulated offensive and defensive air operations, as well as close air support training missions in support of Jungle Warfare Exercise 22 across Okinawa, Japan. JWX 22 is large-scale field training exercise focused on leveraging the integrated capabilities of joint and allied partners to strengthen all-domain awareness, maneuver, and fires across a distributed maritime environment. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Capt. Charles Allen/Released)

U.S. Marine Corps Lance Cpl. Kyle Cook, a rifleman with 3rd Battalion, 3rd Marines, prepares for an ambush during Jungle Warfare Exercise in the Northern Training Area on Okinawa, Japan, May 25, 2021. This unscripted force-on-force exercise tested and strengthened the Marines’ ability to operate within distributed jungle and littoral environments, while adapting to a thinking peer-level adversary. 3/3 is forward-deployed in the Indo-Pacific under 4th Marines, 3rd Marine Division, as a part of the Unit Deployment Program. Cook is a native of Arlington, Texas. - U.S. Marine Corps Lance Cpl. Kyle Cook, a rifleman with 3rd Battalion, 3rd Marines, prepares for an ambush during Jungle Warfare Exercise in the Northern Training Area on Okinawa, Japan, May 25, 2021. This unscripted force-on-force exercise tested and strengthened the Marines’ ability to operate within distributed jungle and littoral environments, while adapting to a thinking peer-level adversary. 3/3 is forward-deployed in the Indo-Pacific under 4th Marines, 3rd Marine Division, as a part of the Unit Deployment Program. Cook is a native of Arlington, Texas.

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.

A U.S. Marine takes the final practical application exam during Tactical Combat Casualty Care training at Camp Hansen, Okinawa, Japan, Jan. 20. - A U.S. Marine takes the final practical application exam during Tactical Combat Casualty Care training at Camp Hansen, Okinawa, Japan, Jan. 20.

U.S. Marines conduct a simulated High Mobility Artillery Rocket System fire mission while demonstrating expeditionary advanced basing capabilities Oct. 7 to 8. - U.S. Marines conduct a simulated High Mobility Artillery Rocket System fire mission while demonstrating expeditionary advanced basing capabilities Oct. 7 to 8.

During the exercise, Marines refine their skills to better support Division operations in an expeditionary environment. - U.S. Marines receive their final orders to establish a forward operations center Jan. 23, 2018 on Camp Hansen, Okinawa, Japan, for Exercise Samurai. During the exercise, Marines refine their skills to better support Division operations in an expeditionary environment. The Marines are assigned Headquarters and Service Battalion, 3rd Marine Division.

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1st Lt. Aaron Cranford speaks in an interview with Justin Kinjo and Yusuke Teruya, divers who almost lost their lives at the hands of a rip current, after the he receives the Navy and Marine Corps Medal on Jan. 8, 2017, at the 3rd Reconnaissance Battalion Headquarters building on Camp Schwab, Okinawa, Japan. Cranford was awarded the Navy and Marine Corps Medal for risking his life while rescuing three divers and a local Okinawan who were caught in rip current during a recreational dive at Onna Point, Okinawa, Japan on April 23, 2017. Cranford, a native of Fort Worth, Texas, is a supply officer with Headquarters and Service Company, 3rd Reconnaissance Battalion, 3rd Marine Division. - 1st Lt. Aaron Cranford speaks in an interview with Justin Kinjo and Yusuke Teruya, divers who almost lost their lives at the hands of a rip current, after the he receives the Navy and Marine Corps Medal on Jan. 8, 2017, at the 3rd Reconnaissance Battalion Headquarters building on Camp Schwab, Okinawa, Japan. Cranford was awarded the Navy and Marine Corps Medal for risking his life while rescuing three divers and a local Okinawan who were caught in rip current during a recreational dive at Onna Point, Okinawa, Japan on April 23, 2017. Cranford, a native of Fort Worth, Texas, is a supply officer with Headquarters and Service Company, 3rd Reconnaissance Battalion, 3rd Marine Division.