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A landing support specialist watches as a UH-1Y Huey attached to Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron 262, 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit, flies away with a load of tires during a helicopter support team exercise Feb. 6 on the flight deck of the USS Bonhomme Richard. This was the first time the Marines executed an HST exercise aboard a ship. The Marines are with Combat Logistics Battalion 31, 31st MEU, and are currently deployed in support of the annually-scheduled Spring Patrol of the Asia-Pacific region.

Photo by Lance Cpl. Ryan Mains

Landing support specialists wait for a UH-1Y Huey attached to Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron 262, 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit, to lower itself so they can hook on a load of tires during a helicopter support team exercise Feb. 6 on the flight deck of the USS Bonhomme Richard. Using a MK-105 cable, also known as the Q-tip, the Marines hooked the load onto the bottom of the Huey. The Marines are with Combat Logistics Battalion 31, 31st MEU, and are currently deployed in support of the annually-scheduled Spring Patrol of the Asia-Pacific region.

Photo by Lance Cpl. Ryan Mains

Lance Cpl. Ronald Summerlin adjusts flight line equipment during arrested landing safety training Jan. 9 on Marine Corps Air Station Futenma. Arrested landings are the use of equipment, such as a safety barrier or an arresting wire, to rapidly decelerate an aircraft and ensure the landing path is straight and clear. During the training, Marines demonstrated proficiency in the use of arresting equipment while ensuring the safety of personnel and equipment on the airstrip. Summerlin is a Virginia Beach, Virginia, native and an expeditionary airfield systems technician with Headquarters and Headquarters Squadron, MCAS Futenma, Marine Corps Installations Pacific-Marine Corps Base Camp Butler, Japan.

Photo by Lance Cpl. Janessa Pon

An FA-18D Hornet lands during arrested landing safety training Jan. 9 at Marine Corps Air Station Futenma. The equipment used in arrested landings help aircraft land within a limited distance, such as on an aircraft carrier. The Marines are expeditionary airfield systems technicians with Headquarters and Headquarters Squadron, MCAS Futenma, Marine Corps Installations Pacific-Marine Corps Base Camp Butler, Japan. The aircraft is with Marine All Weather Fighter Attack Squadron 533, Marine Aircraft Group 31, which is currently assigned to Marine Aircraft Group 12, 1st Marine Aircraft Wing, III Marine Expeditionary Force, under the unit deployment program.

Photo by Cpl. Joey Holeman

Lance Cpl. Ronald Summerlin cranks a tape reel to pull back the arresting wire Jan. 9 during arrested landing safety training at Marine Corps Air Station Futenma. Arrested landings are the use of equipment, such as a safety barrier or an arresting wire, to rapidly slow down an aircraft and ensure the landing path is straight and clear. During the training, Marines demonstrated proficiency in the use of arresting equipment while ensuring the safety of personnel and equipment on the airstrip. Summerlin is a Virginia Beach, Virginia, native and an expeditionary airfield systems technician with Headquarters and Headquarters Squadron, MCAS Futenma, Marine Corps Installations Pacific-Marine Corps Base Camp Butler, Japan.

Photo by Lance Cpl. Janessa Pon

Lance Cpl. Ronald Summerlin prepares to reset equipment following the landing of an FA-18D Hornet Jan. 9 during arrested landing safety training on Marine Corps Air Station Futenma. Arrested landings are the use of equipment, such as a safety barrier or an arresting wire, to rapidly slow down aircraft and ensure the landing path is straight and clear. During the training, Marines demonstrated proficiency in the use of arresting equipment while ensuring the safety of personnel and equipment on the airstrip. Summerlin is a Virginia Beach, Virginia, native and an expeditionary airfield systems technician with Headquarters and Headquarters Squadron, MCAS Futenma, Marine Corps Installations Pacific-Marine Corps Base Camp Butler, Japan.

Photo by Lance Cpl. Janessa Pon

A Japanese volunteer from the Oshima Fire Department and U.S. Marine Corps Cpl. Robert C. Austin quickly offload humanitarian aid and disaster relief supplies from an MV-22B Osprey tiltrotor aircraft Nov. 8 during Tomodachi relief exercise 15.2 near Izu Oshima Island, Tokyo Metropolis Prefecture, Japan. TREX 15.2 is an annual, bilateral training exercise that simulates humanitarian assistance and disaster relief missions in the Japan while strengthening U.S. and Japanese alliance. During the offload, approximately 600 pounds of food, water, blankets, and medical supplies were transported from the Osprey to a waiting truck in less than eight minutes. Austin, from Grand Ledge, Michigan, is an Osprey crew chief with Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron 265, Marine Aircraft Group 36, 1st Marine Aircraft Wing, III Marine Expeditionary Force.

Photo by Lance Cpl. Matt Myers

U.S. Marine Corps Maj. Brian D. Psolka, front-left, and members of the Northeastern Army, Japan Ground Self-Defense Force move humanitarian aid and disaster relief supplies aboard an MV-22B Osprey tiltrotor aircraft Nov. 8 during Tomodachi relief exercise 15.2 near Izu Oshima Island, Tokyo Metropolis Prefecture, Japan. TREX 15.2 is an annual, bilateral training exercise that simulates humanitarian assistance and disaster relief missions in Japan while strengthening the U.S. and Japanese alliance. The supplies were being transported to a nearby area where they could be provided to victims of the notional disaster.

Photo by Lance Cpl. Matt Myers

Emergency medical technicians with the Oshima Fire Department transfer a notionally wounded victim to an MV-22B Osprey tiltrotor aircraft Nov. 8 during Tomodachi relief exercise 15.2 near Izu Oshima Island, Tokyo Metropolis Prefecture, Japan. TREX 15.2 is an annual, bilateral training exercise that simulates humanitarian assistance and disaster relief missions in Japan while strengthening the U.S. and Japanese alliance. In less than eight minutes, more than 600 pounds of relief supplies were offloaded from an Osprey so two notionally wounded victims could evacuated.

Photo by Lance Cpl. Matt Myers

Akinori Eto, the Japanese Minister of Defense, secures the straps of his seat belt just prior to liftoff in a MV-22B Osprey tiltrotor aircraft Nov. 8 during Tomodachi relief exercise 15.2 near Izu Oshima Island, Tokyo Metropolis Prefecture, Japan. TREX 15.2 is an annual, bilateral training exercise that simulates humanitarian assistance and disaster relief missions in the Asia-Pacific region while forging a stronger U.S. and Japanese alliance. “I personally feel that the MV-22B Osprey is far better than the CH-46; what’s good about it is its speed and range,” said Eto from Towada, Aomori, Japan. “I believe these features will be very helpful in saving lives during operations in remote islands.”

Photo by Lance Cpl. Matt Myers

An MV-22B Osprey tiltrotor aircraft flies to a casualty evacuation drill Nov. 8 during Tomodachi relief exercise 15.2 near Izu Oshima Island, Tokyo Metropolis Prefecture, Japan. TREX 15.2 is an annual, bilateral training exercise that simulates humanitarian assistance and disaster relief missions in the Asia-Pacific region while forging a stronger U.S. and Japanese alliance. The exercise also included an HADR training mission, an in-flight demonstration for the Japanese Minister of Defense and additional Japanese politicians, and a static display and press conference for the Japanese media.

Photo by Lance Cpl. Matt Myers

2nd Central Nuclear Biological Chemical Weapon Defense Unit makes his way through a smoke filled room inside the fire training tower aboard Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, Japan, Nov. 7, 2014. The 102nd Central NBC Weapon Defense Unit, Marine Aircraft Group 12, and the MCAS Iwakuni Fire Station collaborated to conduct interoperability training while executing Chemical Biological Radiological Nuclear and Hazardous Material Emergency Response Operations.

Photo by Cpl. Antonio Rubio

A CH-53E Super Stallion lowers a M777 Howitzer and its ammunition onto a landing zone aboard Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune, N.C., as part of a reactionary combat training exercise Sept. 30, 2014. The purpose of the exercise was to build cohesion between and the aircraft’s crew and the Marines on the ground handling the equipment. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Olivia C. McDonald/Released)

Photo by Lance Cpl. Olivia C. McDonald

Marines disembark a CH-53E Super Stallion to prepare a M777 Howitzer for firing during a reactionary combat training exercise aboard Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune, N.C., Sept. 30, 2014. The combined air-ground team used the training to build cohesion and improve their ability to rapidly deploy the weapon system in a combat environment. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Olivia C. McDonald/Released)

Photo by Lance Cpl. Olivia C. McDonald