Marines escort a downed pilot role-player they located Dec. 5 amid a tactical recovery of aircraft and personnel scenario during Exercise Chromite. During the exercise, Marines gained valuable experience, which will prepare them to succeed in real-world operations. The Marines are with Weapons Company, 3rd Battalion, 1st Marine Regiment, currently assigned to 4th Marines, 3rd Marine Division, III Marine Expeditionary Force, under the unit deployment program. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Matt Myers/Released) - Marines escort a downed pilot role-player they located Dec. 5 amid a tactical recovery of aircraft and personnel scenario during Exercise Chromite. During the exercise, Marines gained valuable experience, which will prepare them to succeed in real-world operations. The Marines are with Weapons Company, 3rd Battalion, 1st Marine Regiment, currently assigned to 4th Marines, 3rd Marine Division, III Marine Expeditionary Force, under the unit deployment program. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Matt Myers/Released)

Master Gunnery Sgt. Randy L. Paschall inspects his motorcycle Dec. 6 at Oura Wan Beach on Camp Schwab during a motorcycle safety stand-down. Paschall is an electronics maintenance chief with Marine Wing Headquarters Squadron 1, 1st Marine Aircraft Wing, III Marine Expeditionary Force. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. David N. Hersey/Released) - Master Gunnery Sgt. Randy L. Paschall inspects his motorcycle Dec. 6 at Oura Wan Beach on Camp Schwab during a motorcycle safety stand-down. Paschall is an electronics maintenance chief with Marine Wing Headquarters Squadron 1, 1st Marine Aircraft Wing, III Marine Expeditionary Force. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. David N. Hersey/Released)

Marines help each other load their gear after returning from Afghanistan to Okinawa Dec. 9 at the Kadena Air Base passenger terminal. The Marines deployed for seven months to Camp Leatherneck, Helmand province, Afghanistan, to receive equipment from redeploying units, repair it as needed, and send it back to the U.S for redistribution throughout the Marine Corps. The Marines are with Retrograde and Redeployment, in support of Reset and Reconstitution Operations Group, Combat Logistics Battalion 4, Combat Logistics Regiment 3, 3rd Marine Logistics Group, III Marine Expeditionary Force. - Marines help each other load their gear after returning from Afghanistan to Okinawa Dec. 9 at the Kadena Air Base passenger terminal. The Marines deployed for seven months to Camp Leatherneck, Helmand province, Afghanistan, to receive equipment from redeploying units, repair it as needed, and send it back to the U.S for redistribution throughout the Marine Corps. The Marines are with Retrograde and Redeployment, in support of Reset and Reconstitution Operations Group, Combat Logistics Battalion 4, Combat Logistics Regiment 3, 3rd Marine Logistics Group, III Marine Expeditionary Force.

Hiromu Nakamaru places a cranial over his head while sitting in the cockpit of an MV-22B Osprey tiltrotor aircraft Dec. 9 during an orientation tour at Marine Corps Air Station Futenma. Nakamaru and other members of the Japan House of Representatives and Senate visited the air station to gain a better understanding of the Osprey. Nakamaru is a member of the Japan House of Representatives, and the Osprey is a part of Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron 262, Marine Aircraft Group 36, 1st Marine Aircraft Wing, III Marine Expeditionary Force. - Hiromu Nakamaru places a cranial over his head while sitting in the cockpit of an MV-22B Osprey tiltrotor aircraft Dec. 9 during an orientation tour at Marine Corps Air Station Futenma. Nakamaru and other members of the Japan House of Representatives and Senate visited the air station to gain a better understanding of the Osprey. Nakamaru is a member of the Japan House of Representatives, and the Osprey is a part of Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron 262, Marine Aircraft Group 36, 1st Marine Aircraft Wing, III Marine Expeditionary Force.

Lance Cpl. William B. Cooper inspects a piece of communications equipment Dec. 4 at Camp Kinser. Cooper is a test measurement and diagnostic equipment technician with Combat Logistics Regiment 35, 3rd Marine Logistics Group, III Marine Expeditionary Force. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Anne K. Henry/Released) - Lance Cpl. William B. Cooper inspects a piece of communications equipment Dec. 4 at Camp Kinser. Cooper is a test measurement and diagnostic equipment technician with Combat Logistics Regiment 35, 3rd Marine Logistics Group, III Marine Expeditionary Force. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Anne K. Henry/Released)

Lt. Gen. John Wissler, left, prepares to present a ceremonial gift to the guest of honor during the III Marine Expeditionary Force Marine Corps birthday ball Nov. 8 at the Butler Officers’ Club on Camp Foster. At this year's III MEF ball, Wissler invited Sgt. Michael D. Mansholt to be the guest of honor because he believes Mansholt epitomizes what it is to be a Marine noncommissioned officer. Wissler is the commanding general of III MEF, and Mansholt is a military policeman with 3rd Law Enforcement Battalion, III MEF Headquarters Group, III MEF. - Lt. Gen. John Wissler, left, prepares to present a ceremonial gift to the guest of honor during the III Marine Expeditionary Force Marine Corps birthday ball Nov. 8 at the Butler Officers’ Club on Camp Foster. At this year's III MEF ball, Wissler invited Sgt. Michael D. Mansholt to be the guest of honor because he believes Mansholt epitomizes what it is to be a Marine noncommissioned officer. Wissler is the commanding general of III MEF, and Mansholt is a military policeman with 3rd Law Enforcement Battalion, III MEF Headquarters Group, III MEF.

Marines cross a finish line of a relay race around Okinawa Nov. 11. Two teams of ten Marines competed against each other in a friendly rivalry of esprit-de-corps and endurance encompassing the entire distance of the Okinawa coastline. The race distance measured a total of 238 miles, matching the traditional number of years the Marine Corps has been in existence, and each competitor ran a total of 24 miles in segments. - Marines cross a finish line of a relay race around Okinawa Nov. 11. Two teams of ten Marines competed against each other in a friendly rivalry of esprit-de-corps and endurance encompassing the entire distance of the Okinawa coastline. The race distance measured a total of 238 miles, matching the traditional number of years the Marine Corps has been in existence, and each competitor ran a total of 24 miles in segments.