News Stories Archive

U.S. Marine Corps Instructors of Water Survival and graduates of the Water Survival Advanced course pose for a group photo on Marine Corps Air Station Futenma, Okinawa, Japan, July 22, 2022. WSA is the highest swim qualification that Marines can obtain before becoming Marine Corps Instructors of Water Survival. Throughout the course, students endured aquatic conditioning, endurance swimming, and underwater rescue training. - U.S. Marine Corps Instructors of Water Survival and graduates of the Water Survival Advanced course pose for a group photo on Marine Corps Air Station Futenma, Okinawa, Japan, July 22, 2022. WSA is the highest swim qualification that Marines can obtain before becoming Marine Corps Instructors of Water Survival. Throughout the course, students endured aquatic conditioning, endurance swimming, and underwater rescue training.

U.S. Marines with the Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni Special Reaction Team, and the air station’s Provost Marshal’s Office conduct a barricaded suspect exercise at the Iwakuni Naval Family Branch Clinic at MCAS Iwakuni, Japan, April 8, 2022. SRT and PMO work side-by-side to conduct emergency drills in order to maintain their proficiencies and prepare for potential real-world contingencies on the installation. - U.S. Marines with the Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni Special Reaction Team, and the air station’s Provost Marshal’s Office conduct a barricaded suspect exercise at the Iwakuni Naval Family Branch Clinic at MCAS Iwakuni, Japan, April 8, 2022. SRT and PMO work side-by-side to conduct emergency drills in order to maintain their proficiencies and prepare for potential real-world contingencies on the installation.

A firefighter with Marine Corps Installations Pacific Fire and Emergency Services expels excess water from a hose after bilateral live-fire training on Camp Hansen, Okinawa, Japan, March 25, 2022. MCIPAC F&ES and the Naha City Fire Department assembled and conducted live-fire training to compare the different firefighting techniques and methods each department uses to accomplish the same mission. - A firefighter with Marine Corps Installations Pacific Fire and Emergency Services expels excess water from a hose after bilateral live-fire training on Camp Hansen, Okinawa, Japan, March 25, 2022. MCIPAC F&ES and the Naha City Fire Department assembled and conducted live-fire training to compare the different firefighting techniques and methods each department uses to accomplish the same mission.

U.S. Marines with Battalion Landing Team 1/5, 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit, and soldiers with Amphibious Rapid Deployment Brigade, conduct integrated coordination of an air assault training exercise, on Combined Arms Training Center Camp Fuji, Japan, March 9, 2022. The training exercise was conducted to build proficiency in rapidly seizing and defending key terrain. Maritime Defense Exercise Amphibious Rapid Deployment Brigade is a bilateral exercise meant to increase interoperability and strengthen ties between U.S. and Japanese forces for the defense of Japan. - U.S. Marines with Battalion Landing Team 1/5, 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit, and soldiers with Amphibious Rapid Deployment Brigade, conduct integrated coordination of an air assault training exercise, on Combined Arms Training Center Camp Fuji, Japan, March 9, 2022. The training exercise was conducted to build proficiency in rapidly seizing and defending key terrain. Maritime Defense Exercise Amphibious Rapid Deployment Brigade is a bilateral exercise meant to increase interoperability and strengthen ties between U.S. and Japanese forces for the defense of Japan.

U.S. Marine Corps 1st Lt. Seth McAnally, an infantry platoon commander, with 2nd Battalion, 7th Marines, conducts a patrol during Jungle Warfare Exercise 22 in the Northern Training Area, Okinawa, Japan, Feb. 16th, 2022. 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. 2/7 is forward-deployed in the Indo-Pacific under 4th Marines, 3rd Marine Division as a part of the Unit Deployment Program. - U.S. Marine Corps 1st Lt. Seth McAnally, an infantry platoon commander, with 2nd Battalion, 7th Marines, conducts a patrol during Jungle Warfare Exercise 22 in the Northern Training Area, Okinawa, Japan, Feb. 16th, 2022. 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. 2/7 is forward-deployed in the Indo-Pacific under 4th Marines, 3rd Marine Division as a part of the Unit Deployment Program.

U.S. Marine Corps Lt. Gen. James W. Bierman, the III Marine Expeditionary Force Commanding General, and Japan Self-Defense Force LTG Ryoji Takemoto, the Western Army Commanding General, collaboratively lead a virtual bilateral operations confirmation brief during exercise Keen Edge 22, Feb. 2, 2022. Keen Edge 22 was a bilateral command post exercise conducted Jan. 27 through Feb. 3, 2022. The exercise is an annual event that improves interagency coordination, combat readiness and interoperability of all participants. This U.S.-Japan exercise series alternates between field training exercises (i.e., Keen Sword) and command post exercises (i.e., Keen Edge). - U.S. Marine Corps Lt. Gen. James W. Bierman, the III Marine Expeditionary Force Commanding General, and Japan Self-Defense Force LTG Ryoji Takemoto, the Western Army Commanding General, collaboratively lead a virtual bilateral operations confirmation brief during exercise Keen Edge 22, Feb. 2, 2022. Keen Edge 22 was a bilateral command post exercise conducted Jan. 27 through Feb. 3, 2022. The exercise is an annual event that improves interagency coordination, combat readiness and interoperability of all participants. This U.S.-Japan exercise series alternates between field training exercises (i.e., Keen Sword) and command post exercises (i.e., Keen Edge).

Cpl. Jacob Wright, a scout sniper, with Battalion Landing Team 1/5, 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit captures imagery of key road terrain during a two-day route reconnaissance mission at the Jungle Warfare Training Center in Okinawa, Japan, Jan. 12, 2022. Scout snipers play an integral part in the Stand in Force Concept operating as the eyes and ears of the ground force commander, allowing for a more efficient decision making process. 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 premiere crisis response force in the Indo-Pacific region. - Cpl. Jacob Wright, a scout sniper, with Battalion Landing Team 1/5, 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit captures imagery of key road terrain during a two-day route reconnaissance mission at the Jungle Warfare Training Center in Okinawa, Japan, Jan. 12, 2022. Scout snipers play an integral part in the Stand in Force Concept operating as the eyes and ears of the ground force commander, allowing for a more efficient decision making process. 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 premiere crisis response force in the Indo-Pacific region.

U.S. Marine Corps Pfc. Benjamin Crayton, a motor vehicle operator with Headquarters and Support Battalion, Marine Corps Installations Pacific, observes the motor pool during an inspection of a Humvee on Camp Foster, Okinawa, Japan, Jan. 10, 2022. Crayton was born in Monrovia, Liberia during the First Liberian Civil War, and immigrated to Europe as a refugee. When he was 17 years old he moved to the U.S. and in 2021 he enlisted in the Marine Corps. - U.S. Marine Corps Pfc. Benjamin Crayton, a motor vehicle operator with Headquarters and Support Battalion, Marine Corps Installations Pacific, observes the motor pool during an inspection of a Humvee on Camp Foster, Okinawa, Japan, Jan. 10, 2022. Crayton was born in Monrovia, Liberia during the First Liberian Civil War, and immigrated to Europe as a refugee. When he was 17 years old he moved to the U.S. and in 2021 he enlisted in the Marine Corps.

U.S. Marines and Sailors with Combat Logistics Regiment 3, 3rd Marine Logistics Group, board a U.S. Air Force C-130 Hercules at Kadena Air Base, Japan, Dec. 6, 2021. Marines with CLR-3 are providing support services such as field expedient showers and laundry facilities to the residents of Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam affected by the ongoing water issue. 3rd MLG, based out of Okinawa, Japan, is a forward deployed combat unit that serves as III MEF’s comprehensive logistics and combat service support backbone for operations throughout the Indo-Pacific area of responsibility. - U.S. Marines and Sailors with Combat Logistics Regiment 3, 3rd Marine Logistics Group, board a U.S. Air Force C-130 Hercules at Kadena Air Base, Japan, Dec. 6, 2021. Marines with CLR-3 are providing support services such as field expedient showers and laundry facilities to the residents of Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam affected by the ongoing water issue. 3rd MLG, based out of Okinawa, Japan, is a forward deployed combat unit that serves as III MEF’s comprehensive logistics and combat service support backbone for operations throughout the Indo-Pacific area of responsibility.