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Marines with Marine Corps Installations Pacific and Marine Heavy Helicopter Squadron 462, 1st Marine Aircraft Wing, 3rd Marine Expeditionary Force assist role players off a CH-53E Super Stallion July 23, during the Churashima Rescue Exercise on Camp Naha, Okinawa, Japan. The event marked the first year Marines participated in the exercise, supporting mutual preparation and demonstrating the importance of interoperability. “(The exercise) is exactly the type of mission that requires JSDF and the Marine Corps cooperation and coordination,” said Maj. Thai N. Nguyen, G-5, planner, MCIPAC. “When (this is) accomplished in advance of a disaster, (it) saves valuable time, resources, and lives.” - Marines with Marine Corps Installations Pacific and Marine Heavy Helicopter Squadron 462, 1st Marine Aircraft Wing, 3rd Marine Expeditionary Force assist role players off a CH-53E Super Stallion July 23, during the Churashima Rescue Exercise on Camp Naha, Okinawa, Japan. The event marked the first year Marines participated in the exercise, supporting mutual preparation and demonstrating the importance of interoperability. “(The exercise) is exactly the type of mission that requires JSDF and the Marine Corps cooperation and coordination,” said Maj. Thai N. Nguyen, G-5, planner, MCIPAC. “When (this is) accomplished in advance of a disaster, (it) saves valuable time, resources, and lives.”

U.S. Marine Lt. Col. Nicholas Davis, left, presents Japan Ground Self-Defense Force Col. Hiroji Yamashita with a plaque, Dec. 12, during the closing ceremony for Forest Light 15-1 at Camp Kita Kumamoto in Kumamoto, 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. Davis is the commanding officer of 2nd Battalion, 9th Marine Regiment, currently assigned to 4th Marine Regiment, 3rd Marine Division, III Marine Expeditionary Force, under the unit deployment program. Yamashita is the commanding officer of the 42nd Regiment, 8th Division, Western Army, JGSDF. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Drew Tech/Released) - U.S. Marine Lt. Col. Nicholas Davis, left, presents Japan Ground Self-Defense Force Col. Hiroji Yamashita with a plaque, Dec. 12, during the closing ceremony for Forest Light 15-1 at Camp Kita Kumamoto in Kumamoto, 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. Davis is the commanding officer of 2nd Battalion, 9th Marine Regiment, currently assigned to 4th Marine Regiment, 3rd Marine Division, III Marine Expeditionary Force, under the unit deployment program. Yamashita is the commanding officer of the 42nd Regiment, 8th Division, Western Army, JGSDF. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Drew Tech/Released)

U.S. Marines lead a foot patrol during Forest Light 15-1 at the Oyanohara Training Area in Yamato, Kumamoto prefecture, Japan Dec. 9. 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 during Forest Light 15-1 at the Oyanohara Training Area in Yamato, Kumamoto prefecture, Japan Dec. 9. 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. - 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.

Japan Ground Self-Defense Force Sgt. 1st Class Yatsuka Ikeda, left, helps U.S. Marine 1st Sgt. Timothy Babcock set up the American flag Dec. 1 before the opening ceremony for Forest Light 15-1 at the Oyanohara Training Area in Yamato, Kumamoto prefecture, Japan. Forest Light demonstrates the continued commitment of the U.S. and Japan to increase interoperability of our armed forces and maintain a strong partnership to protect Japan from external aggression. Ikeda is with 42nd Regiment, 8th Division, Western Army, JGSDF. Babcock, from Port Austin, Michigan, is company first sergeant with Company G, 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. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Drew Tech/Released) - Japan Ground Self-Defense Force Sgt. 1st Class Yatsuka Ikeda, left, helps U.S. Marine 1st Sgt. Timothy Babcock set up the American flag Dec. 1 before the opening ceremony for Forest Light 15-1 at the Oyanohara Training Area in Yamato, Kumamoto prefecture, Japan. Forest Light demonstrates the continued commitment of the U.S. and Japan to increase interoperability of our armed forces and maintain a strong partnership to protect Japan from external aggression. Ikeda is with 42nd Regiment, 8th Division, Western Army, JGSDF. Babcock, from Port Austin, Michigan, is company first sergeant with Company G, 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. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Drew Tech/Released)

U.S. Marine Lance Cpl. Jonas G. Dewald works with a fellow Marine to don his ghillie suit Dec. 2 in the Oyanohara Training Area in Yamato, Kumamoto prefecture, Japan. The concealment training is part of Forest Light 15-1, a semi-annual, bilateral exercise consisting of a command post exercise and field training events conducted by elements of III Marine Expeditionary Force and the Japan Ground Self-Defense Force to enhance the U.S. and Japan military partnership, solidify regional security agreements and improve individual and unit-level skills. Dewald, from Wilson, North Carolina, is a machine gunner with Weapons Company, 2nd Battalion, 9th Marine Regiment, currently attached to 4th Marine Regiment, 3rd Marine Division, III MEF, under the unit deployment program. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Drew Tech/Released) - U.S. Marine Lance Cpl. Jonas G. Dewald works with a fellow Marine to don his ghillie suit Dec. 2 in the Oyanohara Training Area in Yamato, Kumamoto prefecture, Japan. The concealment training is part of Forest Light 15-1, a semi-annual, bilateral exercise consisting of a command post exercise and field training events conducted by elements of III Marine Expeditionary Force and the Japan Ground Self-Defense Force to enhance the U.S. and Japan military partnership, solidify regional security agreements and improve individual and unit-level skills. Dewald, from Wilson, North Carolina, is a machine gunner with Weapons Company, 2nd Battalion, 9th Marine Regiment, currently attached to 4th Marine Regiment, 3rd Marine Division, III MEF, under the unit deployment program. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Drew Tech/Released)