Students study Japanese characters during a Survival Japanese Language Class Nov. 29 on Marine Corps Air Station Futenma, Okinawa, Japan. The class provided students with the opportunity to learn to speak, read and write basic Japanese words, phrases and characters. The lesson covered the three basic Japanese forms of writing called hiragana, katakana and kanji. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Janessa K. Pon) - Students study Japanese characters during a Survival Japanese Language Class Nov. 29 on Marine Corps Air Station Futenma, Okinawa, Japan. The class provided students with the opportunity to learn to speak, read and write basic Japanese words, phrases and characters. The lesson covered the three basic Japanese forms of writing called hiragana, katakana and kanji. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Janessa K. Pon)

Cpl. Victor Santana, center, writes down clues to help Okinawa schoolchildren guess a word during an English word guessing game during the 2nd annual English Day Camp Feb. 28 at the Nago City Youth Center. Okinawa community volunteers and Marines assigned to Camp Schwab helped teach English to Okinawa schoolchildren as part of a Nago City Board of Education Program. Santana is a food service specialist assigned to 3rd Combat Assault Battalion, 3rd Marine Division, III Marine Expeditionary Force. - Cpl. Victor Santana, center, writes down clues to help Okinawa schoolchildren guess a word during an English word guessing game during the 2nd annual English Day Camp Feb. 28 at the Nago City Youth Center. Okinawa community volunteers and Marines assigned to Camp Schwab helped teach English to Okinawa schoolchildren as part of a Nago City Board of Education Program. Santana is a food service specialist assigned to 3rd Combat Assault Battalion, 3rd Marine Division, III Marine Expeditionary Force.

Keiichi Hirano, left, a Japanese major league baseball player pitches to a local kid during a friendly game at a baseball clinic Jan. 24 on Camp Kinser. This was the first baseball clinic held on Camp Kinser. Approximately 50 Japanese and American children participated in the event. The clinic consisted of Hirano teaching fundamental skills and techniques followed by a game. The day ended with prizes, lunch and a cake for all who participated. Hirano is with the Orix Buffaloes. - Keiichi Hirano, left, a Japanese major league baseball player pitches to a local kid during a friendly game at a baseball clinic Jan. 24 on Camp Kinser. This was the first baseball clinic held on Camp Kinser. Approximately 50 Japanese and American children participated in the event. The clinic consisted of Hirano teaching fundamental skills and techniques followed by a game. The day ended with prizes, lunch and a cake for all who participated. Hirano is with the Orix Buffaloes.

Kin Town residents leave the bases exchange Jan. 17 during Camp Hansen’s Friendship Saturday. Friendship Saturday is an event where community members are allowed on the base, unescorted but with passes, and enjoy some of the facilities on the camp. They visited various facilities including the Exchange, The Palms and bowling alley. Free balloons were handed out for children to enjoy during the event. - Kin Town residents leave the bases exchange Jan. 17 during Camp Hansen’s Friendship Saturday. Friendship Saturday is an event where community members are allowed on the base, unescorted but with passes, and enjoy some of the facilities on the camp. They visited various facilities including the Exchange, The Palms and bowling alley. Free balloons were handed out for children to enjoy during the event.

Gunnery Sgt. Shane R. Bertrand, from Ontario, Oregon, helps children put together paper pilgrim and American Indian hats Nov. 23 during the second annual Thanksgiving celebration with Tai Chu En Children’s Home at the Camp Kinser Chapel. This was the second annual Thanksgiving event with the children’s home and the Marines and sailors with Combat Logistics Regiment 35. Following the crafts, the children and volunteers sat down for a Thanksgiving feast including turkey, corn and pumpkin pie. Bertrand is the logistics chief for CLR 35, 3rd Marine Logistics Group, III Marine Expeditionary. - Gunnery Sgt. Shane R. Bertrand, from Ontario, Oregon, helps children put together paper pilgrim and American Indian hats Nov. 23 during the second annual Thanksgiving celebration with Tai Chu En Children’s Home at the Camp Kinser Chapel. This was the second annual Thanksgiving event with the children’s home and the Marines and sailors with Combat Logistics Regiment 35. Following the crafts, the children and volunteers sat down for a Thanksgiving feast including turkey, corn and pumpkin pie. Bertrand is the logistics chief for CLR 35, 3rd Marine Logistics Group, III Marine Expeditionary.

Nakachi Hibiki, left, practices his pitch with Lance Cpl. James Owens, right, before a baseball game between Marine Corps Community Services team, the Cyclones, and Ginowan City team, Shimashi Dreams, Sept. 27 on the Camp Foster baseball fields. Hibiki, 12, is a Ginowan City native, and Owens is a Salt Lake City, Utah, native and an ammunition stock recording Section clerk with Marine Aviation Logistics Squadron 36, 1st Marine Aircraft Wing, III Marine Expeditionary Force. Four Ginowan City baseball teams came to Camp Foster to play ball with four MCCS teams. - Nakachi Hibiki, left, practices his pitch with Lance Cpl. James Owens, right, before a baseball game between Marine Corps Community Services team, the Cyclones, and Ginowan City team, Shimashi Dreams, Sept. 27 on the Camp Foster baseball fields. Hibiki, 12, is a Ginowan City native, and Owens is a Salt Lake City, Utah, native and an ammunition stock recording Section clerk with Marine Aviation Logistics Squadron 36, 1st Marine Aircraft Wing, III Marine Expeditionary Force. Four Ginowan City baseball teams came to Camp Foster to play ball with four MCCS teams.

U.S. Marine Lance Cpl. Matt Rissinger, second from left, discusses the M4 carbine assault rifle with members of the Japan Self-Defense Force Aug. 5 during their visit to the Provost Marshal’s Office on Camp Foster. Members of the JSDF spent the day touring PMO and training with equipment used by U.S. military policemen. Rissinger is a Lititz, Pennsylvania, native and Special Reaction Team member with PMO, Marine Corps Base Camp Butler, Marine Corps Installations Pacific. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Brittany A. James/Released) - U.S. Marine Lance Cpl. Matt Rissinger, second from left, discusses the M4 carbine assault rifle with members of the Japan Self-Defense Force Aug. 5 during their visit to the Provost Marshal’s Office on Camp Foster. Members of the JSDF spent the day touring PMO and training with equipment used by U.S. military policemen. Rissinger is a Lititz, Pennsylvania, native and Special Reaction Team member with PMO, Marine Corps Base Camp Butler, Marine Corps Installations Pacific. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Brittany A. James/Released)