U.S. Marines lead a foot patrol Dec. 9 during Forest Light 15-1 at the Oyanohara Training Area in Yamato, Kumamoto prefecture, Japan. 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. The Marines are with 2nd Battalion, 9th Marine Regiment, currently attached to 4th Marine Regiment, 3rd Marine Division, III Marine Expeditionary Force, under the unit deployment program. - U.S. Marines lead a foot patrol Dec. 9 during Forest Light 15-1 at the Oyanohara Training Area in Yamato, Kumamoto prefecture, Japan. 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. The Marines are with 2nd Battalion, 9th Marine Regiment, currently attached to 4th Marine Regiment, 3rd Marine Division, III Marine Expeditionary Force, under the unit deployment program.

Lance Cpl. Austin Nelson, front, races, Sgt. Joshua Houck to reassemble a MK 19 40 mm automatic grenade launcher Nov. 14 while participating in the weapons relay during the Shanghai Commanders’ Cup at Camp Schwab. The weapons relay tested teams of Marines to disassemble and reassemble six weapons ranging from the smallest, M9A1 9 mm service pistol, and progressing to the largest, MK 19 40 mm automatic grenade launcher. Nelson is from West Jordan, Utah, and a machine-gunner with 1st Battalion, 1st Marine Regiment, currently assigned to 4th Marine Regiment, 3rd Marine Division, III Marine Expeditionary Force, under the unit deployment program. Houck is from Rochester, New York, and a machine-gunner with 1st Battalion, 3rd Marines, currently assigned to 4th Marines. - Lance Cpl. Austin Nelson, front, races, Sgt. Joshua Houck to reassemble a MK 19 40 mm automatic grenade launcher Nov. 14 while participating in the weapons relay during the Shanghai Commanders’ Cup at Camp Schwab. The weapons relay tested teams of Marines to disassemble and reassemble six weapons ranging from the smallest, M9A1 9 mm service pistol, and progressing to the largest, MK 19 40 mm automatic grenade launcher. Nelson is from West Jordan, Utah, and a machine-gunner with 1st Battalion, 1st Marine Regiment, currently assigned to 4th Marine Regiment, 3rd Marine Division, III Marine Expeditionary Force, under the unit deployment program. Houck is from Rochester, New York, and a machine-gunner with 1st Battalion, 3rd Marines, currently assigned to 4th Marines.

Republic of Korea Marines study a terrain map alongside U.S. Marines Oct. 7 at Rodriguez Live Fire Complex during Korean Marine Exchange Program 14-13. KMEP is a series of continuous combined training exercises designed to enhance the ROK-U.S. alliance, promote stability on the Korean Peninsula and strengthen ROK-U.S. military capabilities and interoperability. The ROK Marines are with 2nd Battalion, 8th Brigade, 2nd ROK Marine Division. The U.S. Marines are with various units assigned to III Marine Expeditionary Force. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Stephen D. Himes/Released) - Republic of Korea Marines study a terrain map alongside U.S. Marines Oct. 7 at Rodriguez Live Fire Complex during Korean Marine Exchange Program 14-13. KMEP is a series of continuous combined training exercises designed to enhance the ROK-U.S. alliance, promote stability on the Korean Peninsula and strengthen ROK-U.S. military capabilities and interoperability. The ROK Marines are with 2nd Battalion, 8th Brigade, 2nd ROK Marine Division. The U.S. Marines are with various units assigned to III Marine Expeditionary Force. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Stephen D. Himes/Released)

Cpl. Viktor Cadiente, right, calls for close air support Oct. 8 at Rodriguez Live Fire Complex during Korean Marine Exchange Program 14-13. KMEP familiarizes U.S. Marines with the Korean Peninsula and builds upon an existing strong relationship between Republic of Korea and U.S. Marines. Cadiente is from Honolulu, Hawaii, and is a joint fires observer with 5th Air Naval Gunfire Liaison Company, III Marine Expeditionary Force Headquarters Group, III MEF. - Cpl. Viktor Cadiente, right, calls for close air support Oct. 8 at Rodriguez Live Fire Complex during Korean Marine Exchange Program 14-13. KMEP familiarizes U.S. Marines with the Korean Peninsula and builds upon an existing strong relationship between Republic of Korea and U.S. Marines. Cadiente is from Honolulu, Hawaii, and is a joint fires observer with 5th Air Naval Gunfire Liaison Company, III Marine Expeditionary Force Headquarters Group, III MEF.

Sgt. Alex Mendoza, left, takes accountability of Marines after debarking from a high-speed vessel July 15 at Pohang, Gyeongsang, Republic of Korea. The Marines are in South Korea to participate in Korean Marine Exchange Program 14-12. KMEP is a regularly scheduled bilateral training exercise that consists of military operations in urban terrain, combat lifesaving techniques, basic breeching and a combined arms live-fire event with ROK Marines to increase interoperability between the two forces. Mendoza is a Bronx, New York, native and an automotive maintenance technician with Combat Assault Battalion, 3rd Marine Division, III Marine Expeditionary Force. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Diamond N. Peden/Released) - Sgt. Alex Mendoza, left, takes accountability of Marines after debarking from a high-speed vessel July 15 at Pohang, Gyeongsang, Republic of Korea. The Marines are in South Korea to participate in Korean Marine Exchange Program 14-12. KMEP is a regularly scheduled bilateral training exercise that consists of military operations in urban terrain, combat lifesaving techniques, basic breeching and a combined arms live-fire event with ROK Marines to increase interoperability between the two forces. Mendoza is a Bronx, New York, native and an automotive maintenance technician with Combat Assault Battalion, 3rd Marine Division, III Marine Expeditionary Force. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Diamond N. Peden/Released)

CAMP FOSTER, OKINAWA, Japan — Lance Cpl. Viviana R. Martinez, a Yuba City, California, native, works at her desk July 3 at Camp Foster, Okinawa, Japan. Martinez was recently selected to participate in the Ground Combat Element Integrated Task Force, a battalion comprised of 500 Marines, a fourth of them being females, for a yearlong volunteer program designed to evaluate female Marines under combat arms predeployment conditions. The program will assess how women integrate into combat arms military occupational specialties. Martinez is slated to report to the School of Infantry-East to begin training July 22 at Camp Lejeune, North Carolina. Martinez is a supply administration and operations specialist with Marine Wing Communications Squadron 18, Marine Air Control Group 18, 1st Marine Aircraft Wing, III Marine Expeditionary Force. - CAMP FOSTER, OKINAWA, Japan — Lance Cpl. Viviana R. Martinez, a Yuba City, California, native, works at her desk July 3 at Camp Foster, Okinawa, Japan. Martinez was recently selected to participate in the Ground Combat Element Integrated Task Force, a battalion comprised of 500 Marines, a fourth of them being females, for a yearlong volunteer program designed to evaluate female Marines under combat arms predeployment conditions. The program will assess how women integrate into combat arms military occupational specialties. Martinez is slated to report to the School of Infantry-East to begin training July 22 at Camp Lejeune, North Carolina. Martinez is a supply administration and operations specialist with Marine Wing Communications Squadron 18, Marine Air Control Group 18, 1st Marine Aircraft Wing, III Marine Expeditionary Force.

Finalists line up after presenting their costumes June 21 during the Super Duper Cosplay Contest at the Palms on Camp Hansen. The contestants went on stage to show their costumes and compete for first place. The Marine Corps Community Services sponsored event provided Marines, sailors and their families with an opportunity to showcase their homemade outfits and connect with other comic book enthusiasts. - Finalists line up after presenting their costumes June 21 during the Super Duper Cosplay Contest at the Palms on Camp Hansen. The contestants went on stage to show their costumes and compete for first place. The Marine Corps Community Services sponsored event provided Marines, sailors and their families with an opportunity to showcase their homemade outfits and connect with other comic book enthusiasts.

Cpl. Ricardo Gonzalez, right, is handed a rake from Yoshihisa Asahi during a beach cleanup May 20, 2014, at Matsuda-no-Hama Beach. Gonzalez has been chosen by the American Legion to receive the Spirit of Service Award at a national convention Aug. 26, 2014, in Charlotte, North Carolina. Gonzalez is a San Jose, California, native and Marine Air-Ground Task Force planning specialist with Headquarters Company, 4th Marine Regiment, 3rd Marine Division, III Marine Expeditionary Force. - Cpl. Ricardo Gonzalez, right, is handed a rake from Yoshihisa Asahi during a beach cleanup May 20, 2014, at Matsuda-no-Hama Beach. Gonzalez has been chosen by the American Legion to receive the Spirit of Service Award at a national convention Aug. 26, 2014, in Charlotte, North Carolina. Gonzalez is a San Jose, California, native and Marine Air-Ground Task Force planning specialist with Headquarters Company, 4th Marine Regiment, 3rd Marine Division, III Marine Expeditionary Force.

U.S. Marine Col. Scott F. Stebbins, right, discusses the U.S. Army Patriot missile launcher’s capabilities with a group of soldiers June 17 on Marine Corps Air Station Futenma. The Patriot missile launcher’s early warning system helps detect what planes are in the air, identify potential threats and then determine the whether hostile missiles have been launched. Stebbins is a Northglenn, Colorado, native and commanding officer of Marine Air Control Group 18, 1st Marine Aircraft Wing, III Marine Expeditionary Force. The soldiers are with Battery D, 1st Battalion, 1st Air Defense Artillery Regiment, 94th Army Air and Missile Defense Command. - U.S. Marine Col. Scott F. Stebbins, right, discusses the U.S. Army Patriot missile launcher’s capabilities with a group of soldiers June 17 on Marine Corps Air Station Futenma. The Patriot missile launcher’s early warning system helps detect what planes are in the air, identify potential threats and then determine the whether hostile missiles have been launched. Stebbins is a Northglenn, Colorado, native and commanding officer of Marine Air Control Group 18, 1st Marine Aircraft Wing, III Marine Expeditionary Force. The soldiers are with Battery D, 1st Battalion, 1st Air Defense Artillery Regiment, 94th Army Air and Missile Defense Command.

Pfc. Britton C. Stewart clutches a football as he attempts to break through a defender May 23 at the parade deck on Camp Hansen during a flag football game in honor of Sgt. Julian C. Chase and all service members who gave the ultimate sacrifice for their nation. Chase, fondly remembered as a devoted leader, was killed in action May 28, 2012, in Helmand province, Afghanistan. “A lot of men and women have given everything they had,” said Lt. Col. Josh K. Gelerter. “They leave behind families and friends. What we wanted to do today was not mourn their passing, but to celebrate their lives.” Stewart is a Memphis, Tenn., native and motor vehicle operator with 5th Air Naval Gunfire Liaison Company, III Marine Expeditionary Force Headquarters Group, III MEF. Gelerter is a Damascus, Md., native and the commanding officer of 5th ANGLICO, III MHG, III MEF. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. David N. Hersey/Released) - Pfc. Britton C. Stewart clutches a football as he attempts to break through a defender May 23 at the parade deck on Camp Hansen during a flag football game in honor of Sgt. Julian C. Chase and all service members who gave the ultimate sacrifice for their nation. Chase, fondly remembered as a devoted leader, was killed in action May 28, 2012, in Helmand province, Afghanistan. “A lot of men and women have given everything they had,” said Lt. Col. Josh K. Gelerter. “They leave behind families and friends. What we wanted to do today was not mourn their passing, but to celebrate their lives.” Stewart is a Memphis, Tenn., native and motor vehicle operator with 5th Air Naval Gunfire Liaison Company, III Marine Expeditionary Force Headquarters Group, III MEF. Gelerter is a Damascus, Md., native and the commanding officer of 5th ANGLICO, III MHG, III MEF. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. David N. Hersey/Released)