Sgt. Jeffrey L. Allen scopes out the terrain from his seat in a UH-1Y Huey at Marine Corps Air Station Futenma, Okinawa, Japan, April 8, 2016,. Allen, along with other crew chiefs and aircraft maintainers, may work up to 16 hours a day performing maintenance and checks on aircraft to ensure safe missions. Allen, from Ennis, Texas, is with Marine Light Attack Helicopter Squadron 167, currently supporting Marine Aircraft Group 36, 1st Marine Aircraft Wing, III Marine Expeditionary Force, under the unit deployment program. - Sgt. Jeffrey L. Allen scopes out the terrain from his seat in a UH-1Y Huey at Marine Corps Air Station Futenma, Okinawa, Japan, April 8, 2016,. Allen, along with other crew chiefs and aircraft maintainers, may work up to 16 hours a day performing maintenance and checks on aircraft to ensure safe missions. Allen, from Ennis, Texas, is with Marine Light Attack Helicopter Squadron 167, currently supporting Marine Aircraft Group 36, 1st Marine Aircraft Wing, III Marine Expeditionary Force, under the unit deployment program.

Benin National Surveillance Police commemorated the Sept. 11, 2001, anniversary attacks with U.S. Marines and sailors at the National Police Academy in Cotonou, Benin, today. The Marines and sailors with Special-Purpose Marine Air-Ground Task Force Crisis Response-Africa are in Benin for a month-long training mission with the National Surveillance Police to help counter illicit trafficking along the country’s borders. During a break in the training, NPS students stood alongside Marines and sailors in formation for a brief ceremony to remember the day when more than 3,000 lives perished from the heinous terrorist attack. The ceremony began with the playing of taps, followed by three smoke cans, releasing colors of the Benin flag, symbolizing the partnership between the U.S. and Benin. - Benin National Surveillance Police commemorated the Sept. 11, 2001, anniversary attacks with U.S. Marines and sailors at the National Police Academy in Cotonou, Benin, today. The Marines and sailors with Special-Purpose Marine Air-Ground Task Force Crisis Response-Africa are in Benin for a month-long training mission with the National Surveillance Police to help counter illicit trafficking along the country’s borders. During a break in the training, NPS students stood alongside Marines and sailors in formation for a brief ceremony to remember the day when more than 3,000 lives perished from the heinous terrorist attack. The ceremony began with the playing of taps, followed by three smoke cans, releasing colors of the Benin flag, symbolizing the partnership between the U.S. and Benin.

Sgt. William G. Byington performs a parachute landing fall June 19 as part of the basic airborne refresher at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, Alaska, before conducting a rehearsal for Talisman Sabre 15. Prior to a live jump, all service members are required to practice parachute landing falls. U.S. Marines, Soldiers, Airmen and Australian soldiers trained June 9 through July 5 in preparation for a mass airborne attack during Talisman Sabre 15. Talisman Sabre is an exercise designed to improve U.S. and Australian combat training, readiness and interoperability. The service members are a part of the Pacific Command’s Combined Task Force 660 for Talisman Sabre. - Sgt. William G. Byington performs a parachute landing fall June 19 as part of the basic airborne refresher at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, Alaska, before conducting a rehearsal for Talisman Sabre 15. Prior to a live jump, all service members are required to practice parachute landing falls. U.S. Marines, Soldiers, Airmen and Australian soldiers trained June 9 through July 5 in preparation for a mass airborne attack during Talisman Sabre 15. Talisman Sabre is an exercise designed to improve U.S. and Australian combat training, readiness and interoperability. The service members are a part of the Pacific Command’s Combined Task Force 660 for Talisman Sabre.

Marines work through the night to move the forward command element March 5 during Dragon Fire Exercise 15-2 at Pohakuloa Training Area, Kona, Hawaii. Night movement provides an edge over the enemy, and provides Marines with cover and concealment during their move. The Marines are with Headquarters Battery, 12th Marine Regiment, 3rd Marine Division, III Marine Expeditionary Force. - Marines work through the night to move the forward command element March 5 during Dragon Fire Exercise 15-2 at Pohakuloa Training Area, Kona, Hawaii. Night movement provides an edge over the enemy, and provides Marines with cover and concealment during their move. The Marines are with Headquarters Battery, 12th Marine Regiment, 3rd Marine Division, III Marine Expeditionary Force.

An assault breacher vehicle races towards the objective as artillery provides suppressing fire Feb. 9 at Marine Air Ground Combat Center Twentynine Palms, California, during the battalion assault course at Integrated Training Exercise 2-15. ABV’s are used to clear areas of mines and other ordinance for ground troops and vehicles to move through. During the BAC the ABV’s fire a mine-clearing line charge to simulate destroying enemy ordinance. The Marines operating the ABV are with 2nd Combat Engineer Battalion, 2nd Marine Division, II Marine Expeditionary Force. - An assault breacher vehicle races towards the objective as artillery provides suppressing fire Feb. 9 at Marine Air Ground Combat Center Twentynine Palms, California, during the battalion assault course at Integrated Training Exercise 2-15. ABV’s are used to clear areas of mines and other ordinance for ground troops and vehicles to move through. During the BAC the ABV’s fire a mine-clearing line charge to simulate destroying enemy ordinance. The Marines operating the ABV are with 2nd Combat Engineer Battalion, 2nd Marine Division, II Marine Expeditionary Force.

Lance Cpl. Christian J. Hernandez (left) and Lance Cpl. Giovonni Mejia fire the M777A2 lightweight 155 mm howitzer Jan. 31 to support units engaged in the mechanized assault course at Marine Air Ground Combat Center Twentynine Palms during Integrated Training Exercise 2-15. “Fighting with combined arms is on of the most important parts of the (Marine Air-Ground Task Force),” said Lt. Col. Neil J. Owens. Giovonni, a Dallas, Texas native and Hernandez, a Buford, Georgia, native are both cannoneers with 1st Battalion, 12th Marine Regiment, currently assigned to 3rd Battalion, 12th Marines, 3rd Marine Division, III Marine Expeditionary Force for ITX 2-15, as part of the ground combat element for SPMAGTF-4. Owens, a Medford, Massechusetts, native, is the commanding officer for 3rd Bn., 12th Marines. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. William Hester/ Released) - Lance Cpl. Christian J. Hernandez (left) and Lance Cpl. Giovonni Mejia fire the M777A2 lightweight 155 mm howitzer Jan. 31 to support units engaged in the mechanized assault course at Marine Air Ground Combat Center Twentynine Palms during Integrated Training Exercise 2-15. “Fighting with combined arms is on of the most important parts of the (Marine Air-Ground Task Force),” said Lt. Col. Neil J. Owens. Giovonni, a Dallas, Texas native and Hernandez, a Buford, Georgia, native are both cannoneers with 1st Battalion, 12th Marine Regiment, currently assigned to 3rd Battalion, 12th Marines, 3rd Marine Division, III Marine Expeditionary Force for ITX 2-15, as part of the ground combat element for SPMAGTF-4. Owens, a Medford, Massechusetts, native, is the commanding officer for 3rd Bn., 12th Marines. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. William Hester/ Released)

Marines with Headquarters Regiment stand with their maintenance readiness awards from all four quarters and the overall 2014 fiscal year on Camp Kinser, Dec. 31. Headquarters Regiment, 3rd Marine Logistics Group, III Marine Expeditionary Force maintained an overall maintenance readiness of 90% or higher throughout the entire year of 2014. “My success comes from the success of my Marines,” said Col. Edmund J. Bowen, the regiment’s commanding officer, from Staten Island, New York. - Marines with Headquarters Regiment stand with their maintenance readiness awards from all four quarters and the overall 2014 fiscal year on Camp Kinser, Dec. 31. Headquarters Regiment, 3rd Marine Logistics Group, III Marine Expeditionary Force maintained an overall maintenance readiness of 90% or higher throughout the entire year of 2014. “My success comes from the success of my Marines,” said Col. Edmund J. Bowen, the regiment’s commanding officer, from Staten Island, New York.

Master Gunnery Sgt. Alex C. Cabero Jr., center, explains an upcoming event Dec. 9 to a group of Marines at Camp Kinser during a Truck Rodeo. The rodeo increased camaraderie and refreshed basic motor transportation skills for Marines stationed across Okinawa. Cabero, from Vista, California, is the unit movement control chief with 3rd Marine Logistics Group, III Marine Expeditionary Force. - Master Gunnery Sgt. Alex C. Cabero Jr., center, explains an upcoming event Dec. 9 to a group of Marines at Camp Kinser during a Truck Rodeo. The rodeo increased camaraderie and refreshed basic motor transportation skills for Marines stationed across Okinawa. Cabero, from Vista, California, is the unit movement control chief with 3rd Marine Logistics Group, III Marine Expeditionary Force.