News Stories Archive

A member of the Japan Ground Self Defense Force looks out the back of a CH-47JA Chinook helicopter during exercise Forest Light Eastern Army at Camp Soumagahara, Gunma Prefecture, Japan, Dec. 9. - A member of the Japan Ground Self Defense Force looks out the back of a CH-47JA Chinook helicopter during exercise Forest Light Eastern Army at Camp Soumagahara, Gunma Prefecture, Japan, Dec. 9.

Forest Light 21

To end the crazy year that is 2020 strong, the U.S. Marines with Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron 265, 1st Marine Aircraft Wing participated in the bilateral exercise Forest Light with Japan Ground Self-Defense Force December 3 to December 21, 2020. Forest Light is an exercise that occurs annually or semi-annually between the Marines and JGSDF that rotates through the five JGSDF Army units to strengthen cooperation and bilateral operations. This iteration of Forest Light was designed to increase the partnership between the Marines and the JGSDF Eastern Army, with focus on offensive and defensive air mobile field training...

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U.S. Marines and troops from the 30th Infantry Regiment, 12th Brigade, Japan Ground Self-Defense Force are briefed on upcoming integrated defensive tactics training during exercise Forest Light 21 in Niigata Prefecture, Japan, Dec. 10. - U.S. Marines and troops from the 30th Infantry Regiment, 12th Brigade, Japan Ground Self-Defense Force are briefed on upcoming integrated defensive tactics training during exercise Forest Light 21 in Niigata Prefecture, Japan, Dec. 10.

Seizing and defending islands: U.S. Marines, Japan Ground Self-Defense Force strengthen integrated capabilities during exercise Forest Light

With MV-22 Ospreys and CH-47 aircraft operating overhead, U.S. Marines and Japanese soldiers manned machine guns, managed interlinked sensor screens, and provided targeting information for long-range fires assets in preparation to defend against an amphibious assault and enable a fast-hitting counterattack into enemy-held territory. The soaring mountains, chilling snow, and thick mud of northwest Niigata Prefecture played host to countless iterations on these scenes from December 7 through 17 as part of exercise Forest Light Eastern Army, the latest in the long-running bilateral exercise...

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A U.S. Marine provides security with an M2 Browning .50 Caliber machine gun during Exercise Reindeer II in Setermoen, Norway, Nov. 25. - A U.S. Marine provides security with an M2 Browning .50 Caliber machine gun during Exercise Reindeer II in Setermoen, Norway, Nov. 25.

20 OF THE MOST INFLUENTIAL PHOTOS FROM NOVEMBER 2020

From Marines in the ranges of California to those in the airfields of Japan, these are 20 of the most influential photos from around the Marine Corps during the month of November...

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A U.S. Marine talks with a child during an English activity at the National Chuo Youth Friendship Center’s fourth annual English camp Nov. 21 to Nov. 22. - A U.S. Marine talks with a child during an English activity at the National Chuo Youth Friendship Center’s fourth annual English camp Nov. 21 to Nov. 22.

CATC Camp Fuji Marines and Sailor guide local children through English lessons, culture exchange

U.S. Marines and Sailors with Combined Arms Training Center Camp Fuji participated in the National Chuo Youth Friendship Center’s fourth annual English camp in Shizuoka, Japan, November 21-22. Approximately 30 children ages 11 to 12 had the opportunity to practice their English with the U.S. service members through a variety of lessons. This year, students even “visited” the United States; after a short lesson and practice with their language partners, the students “left” Japan and went through “immigration” in the U.S., where the service members stamped their lesson passports and asked what camp activities they were looking forward to the most...

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Explosive ordnance disposal technicians across Okinawa participate in an “ordnance exploitation proof of concept range” at Camp Schwab, Japan, Nov. 16 - 25. - Explosive ordnance disposal technicians across Okinawa participate in an “ordnance exploitation proof of concept range” at Camp Schwab, Japan, Nov. 16 - 25.

New training concept could be the future of foreign ordnance exploitation

A Marine shouts, “Fire in the hole!” The proclamation leads to a moment of stillness; silence fills what will soon be a blast site. A loud “whump” precedes an earth-shaking shockwave. Dirt lifts from the floor. One can feel a rattle in the center of their chest and an intense heat wave radiates through the air. A sound like thunder erupts and disappears into the Okinawan jungle...

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A U.S. Marine launched the first Big Ideas Challenge last August to unleash the creativity and ingenuity of III MEF Marines and sailors against the most pressing challenges facing the Marine Corps. Marines are currently reviewing the submissions along with making recommendations on how to implement them. - A U.S. Marine launched the first Big Ideas Challenge last August to unleash the creativity and ingenuity of III MEF Marines and sailors against the most pressing challenges facing the Marine Corps. Marines are currently reviewing the submissions along with making recommendations on how to implement them.

III MEF explores innovative concepts through Big Ideas Challenges

Lt. Gen. H. Stacy Clardy, the III Marine Expeditionary Force commanding general, launched the first Big Ideas Challenge last August to unleash the creativity and ingenuity of III MEF Marines and sailors against the most pressing challenges facing the Marine Corps. Over 70 submissions were received from Marines and sailors of all ranks and military occupational specialties. Included in those submissions were inputs from Army and Air Force personnel, spouses and even non-SOFA status personnel. “The submissions surpassed my expectations both in quantity received and in the quality of ideas that were submitted, especially due to the short time window for the challenge,” said Maj. Stephen Kent, action officer for the Big Ideas Challenge...

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U.S. Marines assigned to Marine Corps Base (MCB) Camp Blaz conduct the first flag raising of the new command, marking the initial operation capability of the base in Dededo, Guam, Oct. 1, 2020. MCB Camp Blaz is the first Marine Corps base activated since the commissioning of Marine Corps Logistics Base Albany, Georgia on March 1, 1952. - U.S. Marines assigned to Marine Corps Base (MCB) Camp Blaz conduct the first flag raising of the new command, marking the initial operation capability of the base in Dededo, Guam, Oct. 1, 2020. MCB Camp Blaz is the first Marine Corps base activated since the commissioning of Marine Corps Logistics Base Albany, Georgia on March 1, 1952. The Marine Corps plans to hold a formal activation ceremony for the new base in the spring of 2021. MCB Camp Blaz, named after Brig. Gen. Vicente Tomas Garrido Blaz, a Marine officer of 29 years and former Guam delegate to the U.S. House of Representatives, symbolizes Guam’s contributions to national security and the continued partnership between the Marine Corps and the Government of Guam. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Andrew King)

Marine Corps activates Camp Blaz in Guam

Marine Corps Base Camp Blaz will be activated on October 1. The activation is an administrative action that officially marks the initial operational capability of the base. This will be the first new Marine Corps base activated since March 1, 1952, with the commissioning of what is presently Marine Corps Logistics Base, Albany, Georgia. The Marine Corps plans to hold an activation ceremony for its newest base in spring 2021. MCB Camp Blaz will be home to approximately 5,000 Marines from III Marine Expeditionary Force who will begin relocating from Okinawa, Japan in the first half of the 2020s...

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U.S. Marines conduct a fire mission during a High Mobility Artillery Rocket System rapid infiltration exercise at Ie Shima, Japan, Sept. 24. - U.S. Marines conduct a fire mission during a High Mobility Artillery Rocket System rapid infiltration exercise at Ie Shima, Japan, Sept. 24.

Extending the range: Marines secure maritime terrain, deploy rocket system

U.S. Marines refined their ability to rapidly deploy to remote regional islands in order to control key maritime terrain as 3rd Marine Division and 3rd Marine Logistics Group conducted operations September 23 - 25 centered on the Okinawan island of Ie Shima. During this operation, elements of 12th Marine Artillery Regiment partnered with Marines from 3rd Reconnaissance Battalion and U.S. Air Force Special Operations Squadron to develop the unit’s ability to rapidly insert and employ a range of military capabilities from remote islands within littoral areas of the region...

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U.S. Marines fire an M2 .50 caliber machine gun on Camp Hansen, Okinawa, Japan, Aug. 26. - U.S. Marines fire an M2 .50 caliber machine gun on Camp Hansen, Okinawa, Japan, Aug. 26.

20 OF THE MOST INFLUENTIAL PHOTOS FROM JUNE 2020

From Marines in the ranges of California to those in the skies of Japan, these are 20 of the most influential photos from around the Marine Corps during the month of August...

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U.S. Marines with 3d Marine Expeditionary Brigade board an MV-22B Osprey with Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron 265, 1st Marine Aircraft Wing, during a flyaway drill on the flight line of Kadena Air Base, Okinawa, Japan, Aug. 18, 2020. The MEB continues to conduct essential, realistic training while adhering to strict COVID-19 safety protocols to mitigate the spread of COVID-19 and are prepared to deploy in support of our allies and partners throughout the region. 3d MEB is structured to rapidly respond to crisis around the globe immediately, effectively, and efficiently, whether they are humanitarian or combat-related. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Hannah Hall) - U.S. Marines with 3d Marine Expeditionary Brigade board an MV-22B Osprey with Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron 265, 1st Marine Aircraft Wing, during a flyaway drill on the flight line of Kadena Air Base, Okinawa, Japan, Aug. 18, 2020. The MEB continues to conduct essential, realistic training while adhering to strict COVID-19 safety protocols to mitigate the spread of COVID-19 and are prepared to deploy in support of our allies and partners throughout the region. 3d MEB is structured to rapidly respond to crisis around the globe immediately, effectively, and efficiently, whether they are humanitarian or combat-related. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Hannah Hall)

3rd Marine Expeditionary Brigade conducts Alert Contingency MAGTF rapid deployment drill

3rd Marine Expeditionary Brigade Marines conducted a Joint Humanitarian Assistance Survey Team rapid deployment drill in support of continued Alert Contingency Marine Air Ground Task Force training here, August 18. The drill was conducted to ensure that the ACM remains postured and ready to deploy in response to crisis throughout the Indo-Pacific, in spite of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. The MEB executed the drill with support from two MV-22 Ospreys from Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron 265, 1st Marine Aircraft Wing, out of Marine Corps Air Station Futenma...

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