News Stories Archive

U.S. Marines with 3rd Marine Division board a KC-130J Super Hercules during an Alert Contingency Marine Air-Ground Task Force drill on Okinawa, Japan, initiating the deployment of the division’s Forward Command Element participating in KAMANDAG 6 in the Philippines, Sept. 27, 2022. KAMANDAG is an annual bilateral exercise between the Armed Forces of the Philippines and U.S. military designed to strengthen interoperability, capabilities, trust, and cooperation built over decades of shared experiences. - U.S. Marines with 3rd Marine Division board a KC-130J Super Hercules during an Alert Contingency Marine Air-Ground Task Force drill on Okinawa, Japan, initiating the deployment of the division’s Forward Command Element participating in KAMANDAG 6 in the Philippines, Sept. 27, 2022. KAMANDAG is an annual bilateral exercise between the Armed Forces of the Philippines and U.S. military designed to strengthen interoperability, capabilities, trust, and cooperation built over decades of shared experiences.

U.S. Marines with 3d Marine Division pass in review during a battle colors rededication ceremony rehearsal on Camp Hansen, Okinawa, Japan, Sept. 13, 2022. - U.S. Marines with 3d Marine Division pass in review during a battle colors rededication ceremony rehearsal on Camp Hansen, Okinawa, Japan, Sept. 13, 2022. The ceremony will commemorate the Division’s 80th Anniversary and its legacy of valor, honor, and fidelity. The 3d Marine Division was activated at Camp Elliot, San Diego, Sept. 16, 1942 and has taken part in combat operations from World War II and Vietnam through Iraq and Afghanistan. The current Marines of 3d Marine Division continue to build on this legacy today as a critical part of the stand-in force within the first island chain of the Indo-Pacific. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Michael Taggart)

U.S. Marines and Naval personnel with Special Reaction Team, Headquarters and Support Battalion, Marine Corps Installations Pacific, pose for a photo during multiple weapons sustainment training on Camp Hansen, Okinawa, Japan, Aug. 11, 2022. The members of SRT are attached to the Provost Marshal’s Office and are specifically trained and equipped to react in scenarios like an active shooter, hostage situations, and barricaded subjects. - U.S. Marines and Naval personnel with Special Reaction Team, Headquarters and Support Battalion, Marine Corps Installations Pacific, pose for a photo during multiple weapons sustainment training on Camp Hansen, Okinawa, Japan, Aug. 11, 2022. The members of SRT are attached to the Provost Marshal’s Office and are specifically trained and equipped to react in scenarios like an active shooter, hostage situations, and barricaded subjects.

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. Marine Corps Cpl. Ivan Perez, a military working dog handler, and his partner, Jack, a military working dog with Provost Marshal's Office, Marine Corps Base Camp Smedley D. Butler, pose for a photo on Camp Hansen, Okinawa, Japan, May 26, 2022. Perez and Jack, an 80-pound German Shepherd, specializing in explosives detection, have trained together for nearly a year. PMO K-9 teams are on continuous shifts on all bases in Okinawa, trained and prepared for emergencies such as suspect apprehension, pursuit attacks, building searches, field scouting, drug and explosives detection. - U.S. Marine Corps Cpl. Ivan Perez, a military working dog handler, and his partner, Jack, a military working dog with Provost Marshal's Office, Marine Corps Base Camp Smedley D. Butler, pose for a photo on Camp Hansen, Okinawa, Japan, May 26, 2022. Perez and Jack, an 80-pound German Shepherd, specializing in explosives detection, have trained together for nearly a year. PMO K-9 teams are on continuous shifts on all bases in Okinawa, trained and prepared for emergencies such as suspect apprehension, pursuit attacks, building searches, field scouting, drug and explosives detection.

U.S. Marine Corps Sgt. Trevor Hancock, a team leader with 2nd Battalion, 2nd Marine Regiment, 2nd Marine Division, fires his rifle during an Urban Sniper Course on Camp Hansen, Okinawa, Japan, May 25, 2022. The Urban Sniper Course was led by Marines with the Expeditionary Operations Training Group, III Marine Expeditionary Force, to enhance sniper skills in urban environments through precision fire, engaging targets through glass, urban tactical movement, marksmanship during the day and the night, planning, and stalking in urban terrain. - U.S. Marine Corps Sgt. Trevor Hancock, a team leader with 2nd Battalion, 2nd Marine Regiment, 2nd Marine Division, fires his rifle during an Urban Sniper Course on Camp Hansen, Okinawa, Japan, May 25, 2022. The Urban Sniper Course was led by Marines with the Expeditionary Operations Training Group, III Marine Expeditionary Force, to enhance sniper skills in urban environments through precision fire, engaging targets through glass, urban tactical movement, marksmanship during the day and the night, planning, and stalking in urban terrain.

Brig. Gen. Brian Wolford, the 3rd Marine Logistics Group commanding general, awards the Navy and Marine Corps Medal to 1st Lt. Steven Ladine, a logistics officer with 9th Engineer Support Battalion, 3rd MLG, on Camp Hansen, Okinawa, Japan, June 7, 2022. LaDine was awarded the Navy and Marine Corps Medal for heroism for rescuing a civilian from drowning off the coast of Nagahama Beach in May 2021. - Brig. Gen. Brian Wolford, the 3rd Marine Logistics Group commanding general, awards the Navy and Marine Corps Medal to 1st Lt. Steven Ladine, a logistics officer with 9th Engineer Support Battalion, 3rd MLG, on Camp Hansen, Okinawa, Japan, June 7, 2022. LaDine was awarded the Navy and Marine Corps Medal for heroism for rescuing a civilian from drowning off the coast of Nagahama Beach in May 2021.

U.S. Marines with 3rd Battalion, 2nd Marines, secure a landing zone during Counter Assault Exercise on Okinawa, Japan, May 11, 2022. During this force-on-force exercise, an infantry company with 3/2 rapidly deployed into the double-canopy jungles of the Northern Training Area to defend against an assault from another infantry company with 1st Battalion, 3rd Marines. This exercise was designed to increase 3rd Marine Division’s ability to seize and defend key maritime terrain, such as islands or coastal areas, and conduct Expeditionary Advanced Base Operations in the western Pacific. 3/2 is deployed under 4th Marines, 3rd Marine Division as part of the Unit Deployment Program. - U.S. Marines with 3rd Battalion, 2nd Marines, secure a landing zone during Counter Assault Exercise on Okinawa, Japan, May 11, 2022. During this force-on-force exercise, an infantry company with 3/2 rapidly deployed into the double-canopy jungles of the Northern Training Area to defend against an assault from another infantry company with 1st Battalion, 3rd Marines. This exercise was designed to increase 3rd Marine Division’s ability to seize and defend key maritime terrain, such as islands or coastal areas, and conduct Expeditionary Advanced Base Operations in the western Pacific. 3/2 is deployed under 4th Marines, 3rd Marine Division as part of the Unit Deployment Program.