After three grueling weeks of intense physical and mental training, Marines completed the Marine Corps Martial Arts Instructor Course April 10 at Combined Arms Training Center Camp Fuji, Gotemba, Japan. - Marines spar during a Marine Corps Martial Arts Instructor Course April 10 at Combined Arms Training Center Camp Fuji, Gotemba, Japan. The MAI course brought Marines stationed across 15 countries together to endure rigorous training and earn a tab for their MCMAP belt, signifying them as Marine Corps Martial Arts Program Instructors. MCMAP is a fundamental skill for all Marines, beginning in boot camp. It strengthens combat readiness and promotes physical fitness. (Courtesy photo by U.S. Marine Corps 2nd Lt. Ryan Morie)

CAMP FOSTER, OKINAWA, Japan – Soldiers practice techniques during Marine Corps Martial Arts Program June 28 at Gunner’s Gym aboard Camp Foster, Okinawa, Japan. - CAMP FOSTER, OKINAWA, Japan – Soldiers practice techniques during Marine Corps Martial Arts Program June 28 at Gunner’s Gym aboard Camp Foster, Okinawa, Japan. MCMAP is a weapon-based system that integrates equipment, physical challenges and tactics found on the modern battlefield. For Marines, MCMAP is a fundamental part of the Marine Corps, as all recruits have to be a tan belt to graduate boot camp. For other branches it is a new experience that is different from what they are normally offered. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Pfc. Kelcey Seymour)

CAMP KINSER, OKINAWA, Japan— Cpl. Emmanuel Guzman teaches a member of the Japan Ground Self-Defense how to execute an arm bar from the mount during a Marine Corps Martial Arts Program demonstration Nov. 27 aboard Camp Kinser, Okinawa, Japan. - Cpl. Emmanuel Guzman teaches a member of the Japan Ground Self-Defense how to execute an arm bar from the mount during a Marine Corps Martial Arts Program demonstration Nov. 27 aboard Camp Kinser, Okinawa, Japan. The demonstration was part of a cultural exchange between Combat Logistics Regiment 35, 3rd Marine Logistics Group, III Marine Expeditionary Force and members of the Japan Ground Self-Defense Force, 15th Brigade. The Marines taught the JGSDF wrist locks, arm bar from the mount and disarming techniques. Guzman is a supply administration and operations specialist with 3rd Supply Battalion, CLR-35, 3rd MLG, III MEF. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Danielle R. Prentice)

Cpl. Jody Scott poses for a picture - CAMP FOSTER, OKINAWA, Japan – Cpl. Jody Scott poses for a picture Sept. 14 inside of the martial arts room he built by hand for his barracks aboard Camp Foster, Okinawa, Japan. Scott is a Harrison Township, Michigan, native, whose unselfishness makes him one of the most sought out martial arts instructors on Okinawa. Marines who seek his notorious Marine Corps Martial Arts Program leave stronger physically, mentally and with a renewed zeal for life. Scott is a Marine Corps Martial Arts Instructor with Headquarters and Support Battalion, Marine Corps Installations Pacific-Marine Corps Base Camp Butler, Japan. (U.S Marine photo by Lance Corporal Tayler P. Schwamb)

Seaman Miguelanto S. Lugtu demonstrates how to splint a broken arm on a member of Girl Scout Troop 435 during a Jane Wayne Day March 12 aboard Camp Kinser, Okinawa, Japan. Jane Wayne Day is an event designed to allow spouses and children to gain a better understanding of some of the physical challenges military service members face. During the event, participants learned about radios, the Marine Corps Martial Arts Program, ran a modified combat fitness test, perused medical equipment and donned chemical, biological, radiological, nuclear defense equipment. The troop took on the many challenges of the day as a celebration of the Girl Scout Birthday. Lugtu is a corpsman with Headquarters Regiment, 3rd Marine Logistics Group, III Marine Expeditionary Force and a Portsmouth, Virginia, native. - Seaman Miguelanto S. Lugtu demonstrates how to splint a broken arm on a member of Girl Scout Troop 435 during a Jane Wayne Day March 12 aboard Camp Kinser, Okinawa, Japan. Jane Wayne Day is an event designed to allow spouses and children to gain a better understanding of some of the physical challenges military service members face. During the event, participants learned about radios, the Marine Corps Martial Arts Program, ran a modified combat fitness test, perused medical equipment and donned chemical, biological, radiological, nuclear defense equipment. The troop took on the many challenges of the day as a celebration of the Girl Scout Birthday. Lugtu is a corpsman with Headquarters Regiment, 3rd Marine Logistics Group, III Marine Expeditionary Force and a Portsmouth, Virginia, native.

Kinser Elementary School 4th graders do ammo-can lifts Dec. 10 during Warrior Day on Camp Kinser. “The purpose of the Warrior Day is to provide the students of Kinser Elementary School an opportunity to conduct training similar to what their parents do,” said Staff Sgt. Tracie Mahan, from Fort Madison, Iowa. Mahan is a machinist with 3rd Maintenance Battalion, Combat Logistics Regiment 35, 3rd Marine Logistics Group, III Marine Expeditionary Force. - Kinser Elementary School 4th graders do ammo-can lifts Dec. 10 during Warrior Day on Camp Kinser. “The purpose of the Warrior Day is to provide the students of Kinser Elementary School an opportunity to conduct training similar to what their parents do,” said Staff Sgt. Tracie Mahan, from Fort Madison, Iowa. Mahan is a machinist with 3rd Maintenance Battalion, Combat Logistics Regiment 35, 3rd Marine Logistics Group, III Marine Expeditionary Force.

U.S. Marine Staff Sgt. Ryan T. Watson, right, receives a bouquet of flowers from a student Dec. 5 at Chinzei High School in Kumamoto prefecture, Japan. Marines participating in Forest Light 15-1 took a day off from training to visit local high schools to exchange culture lessons with the student. Forest Light is a routine, semi-annual exercise designed to enhance the U.S. and Japan military partnership, solidify regional security agreements, and improve individual and unit-level skills in a bilateral training environment. Watson, from Tulsa, Oklahoma, is an infantry unit leader with 2nd Battalion, 9th Marine Regiment, currently assigned to 4th Marine Regiment, 3rd Marine Division, III Marine Expeditionary Force, under the unit deployment program. - U.S. Marine Staff Sgt. Ryan T. Watson, right, receives a bouquet of flowers from a student Dec. 5 at Chinzei High School in Kumamoto prefecture, Japan. Marines participating in Forest Light 15-1 took a day off from training to visit local high schools to exchange culture lessons with the student. Forest Light is a routine, semi-annual exercise designed to enhance the U.S. and Japan military partnership, solidify regional security agreements, and improve individual and unit-level skills in a bilateral training environment. Watson, from Tulsa, Oklahoma, is an infantry unit leader with 2nd Battalion, 9th Marine Regiment, currently assigned to 4th Marine Regiment, 3rd Marine Division, III Marine Expeditionary Force, under the unit deployment program.

Staff Sgt. Rafael Garcialopez, right, passes Marine Corps Martial Arts Program fundamentals and knowledge to his squad Nov. 21, Kin Blue, Okinawa, during the culminating event for Marine Corps Martial Arts Instructor course class 1-15. MCMAP focuses on real life hand-to-hand combat survival techniques that also include leadership tie inns that help build confidence and leadership in the Marines. The culminating event pushed the Marines and sailor to their limits mentally and physically while challenging them with MCMAP fundamentals. The Marines and sailor in the course trained for three weeks in order to earn their instructor tab. After earning their tab, they now have the ability to practice and teach the disciplines and lessons they learned from the course. The course was run by Headquarters and Support Battalion, Marine Corps Installation Pacific-Marine Corps Base Camp Butler, Japan. Garcialopez is martial arts instructor-trainer and chief instructor for the course. - Staff Sgt. Rafael Garcialopez, right, passes Marine Corps Martial Arts Program fundamentals and knowledge to his squad Nov. 21, Kin Blue, Okinawa, during the culminating event for Marine Corps Martial Arts Instructor course class 1-15. MCMAP focuses on real life hand-to-hand combat survival techniques that also include leadership tie inns that help build confidence and leadership in the Marines. The culminating event pushed the Marines and sailor to their limits mentally and physically while challenging them with MCMAP fundamentals. The Marines and sailor in the course trained for three weeks in order to earn their instructor tab. After earning their tab, they now have the ability to practice and teach the disciplines and lessons they learned from the course. The course was run by Headquarters and Support Battalion, Marine Corps Installation Pacific-Marine Corps Base Camp Butler, Japan. Garcialopez is martial arts instructor-trainer and chief instructor for the course.

Students with the Ryukyu Rehabilitation Academy and Marines compete in a friendly game of tug-of-war Nov. 2 during the Ryukyu Rehabilitation Academy Festival. The festival included music by the III Marine Expeditionary Force Band, Marine Corps Martial Arts Program demonstrations and a friendly competition of tug-of-war. The students attend the Ryukyu Rehabilitation Academy and are residents of Kin Town. The band members are with III MEF band, III MEF. The Marines are with 3rd Intelligence Battalion, III Marine Expeditionary Force Headquarters Group, III MEF. - Students with the Ryukyu Rehabilitation Academy and Marines compete in a friendly game of tug-of-war Nov. 2 during the Ryukyu Rehabilitation Academy Festival. The festival included music by the III Marine Expeditionary Force Band, Marine Corps Martial Arts Program demonstrations and a friendly competition of tug-of-war. The students attend the Ryukyu Rehabilitation Academy and are residents of Kin Town. The band members are with III MEF band, III MEF. The Marines are with 3rd Intelligence Battalion, III Marine Expeditionary Force Headquarters Group, III MEF.

Donald W. Christensen, right, learns to disarm a weapon from Cpl. Ryan T. Starr Oct. 25 during Junglefest 2014 at the Jungle Warfare Training Center on Okinawa, Japan. The festival allowed Okinawa community members and U.S. service members to see and experience some of the military training techniques that the instructors at the JWTC teach during the jungle survival training course. Christensen is a student and child of an active duty service member on Okinawa. Starr, from Waldron, Arkansas, is an instructor at the Jungle Warfare Training Center. - Donald W. Christensen, right, learns to disarm a weapon from Cpl. Ryan T. Starr Oct. 25 during Junglefest 2014 at the Jungle Warfare Training Center on Okinawa, Japan. The festival allowed Okinawa community members and U.S. service members to see and experience some of the military training techniques that the instructors at the JWTC teach during the jungle survival training course. Christensen is a student and child of an active duty service member on Okinawa. Starr, from Waldron, Arkansas, is an instructor at the Jungle Warfare Training Center.