U.S. Marine Cpl. Peyton N. Whitted beams with joy after successfully knocking down targets Feb. 5 during Korean Marine Exchange Program 15-3 at Gimpo, Republic of Korea. The U.S. Marines were given the unique opportunity to test out the Daewoo K1 submachine gun, Daewoo K2 assault rifle, Daewoo K5 handgun, the K201 40mm grenade launcher, the Daewoo K14 sniper rifle, and the Type 58 assault rifle. Whitted is a reconnaissance man with Alpha Company, 3rd Reconnaissance Battalion, 3rd Marine Division, III Marine Expeditionary Force. - U.S. Marine Cpl. Peyton N. Whitted beams with joy after successfully knocking down targets Feb. 5 during Korean Marine Exchange Program 15-3 at Gimpo, Republic of Korea. The U.S. Marines were given the unique opportunity to test out the Daewoo K1 submachine gun, Daewoo K2 assault rifle, Daewoo K5 handgun, the K201 40mm grenade launcher, the Daewoo K14 sniper rifle, and the Type 58 assault rifle. Whitted is a reconnaissance man with Alpha Company, 3rd Reconnaissance Battalion, 3rd Marine Division, III Marine Expeditionary Force.

U.S. and Republic of Korea Marines hike a 35- km path up a mountain Jan. 15 during Korean Marine Exchange Program 15-3 in Pyeongchang, Republic of Korea. Ice and snow covered the entire path. The U.S. Marines are reconnaissance men with Alpha Company, 3rd Reconnaissance Battalion, 3rd Marine Division, III Marine Expeditionary Force. The ROK Marines are force reconnaissance men with 2nd Battalion, 2nd Marine Division. - U.S. and Republic of Korea Marines hike a 35- km path up a mountain Jan. 15 during Korean Marine Exchange Program 15-3 in Pyeongchang, Republic of Korea. Ice and snow covered the entire path. The U.S. Marines are reconnaissance men with Alpha Company, 3rd Reconnaissance Battalion, 3rd Marine Division, III Marine Expeditionary Force. The ROK Marines are force reconnaissance men with 2nd Battalion, 2nd Marine Division.

Infantry Marines move to counter-attack the enemy’s attack in the later stage of the battalion assault course Feb. 10 at Marine Air Ground Combat Center Twentynine Palms, California, during Integrated Training Exercise 2-15. Infantry Marines use amphibious assault vehicles to move across the battle space faster and safer than on foot. The infantry Marines are with 1st Battalion, 4th Marine Regiment, 1st Marine Division, I Marine Expeditionary Force. The AAV operators are with Company D, 3rd Amphibious Assault Battalion, 1st Marine Division, I Marine Expeditionary Force. - Infantry Marines move to counter-attack the enemy’s attack in the later stage of the battalion assault course Feb. 10 at Marine Air Ground Combat Center Twentynine Palms, California, during Integrated Training Exercise 2-15. Infantry Marines use amphibious assault vehicles to move across the battle space faster and safer than on foot. The infantry Marines are with 1st Battalion, 4th Marine Regiment, 1st Marine Division, I Marine Expeditionary Force. The AAV operators are with Company D, 3rd Amphibious Assault Battalion, 1st Marine Division, I Marine Expeditionary Force.

Staff Sgt. Absalon A. Cabrera uses a radio to communicate with the 4th Marine Regiment’s combat operations center while transporting the commanding officer across the battle space Feb. 12 at Marine Air Ground Combat Center Twentynine Palms, California, during the battalion assault course as part of Integrated Training Exercise 2-15. “I am very proud of all of my Marines,” said Cabrera. “They have accomplished a lot and it has been seen at different levels out here.” ITX 2-15 is designed to integrate combined arms and improve war fighting capabilities. Cabrera, a Los Angeles, California, native and an infantry unit leader, is the jump team commander for Special Purpose Marine Air-Ground Task Force Four with Headquarters Company, 4th Marine Regiment, 3rd Marine Division, III Marine Expeditionary Force. - Staff Sgt. Absalon A. Cabrera uses a radio to communicate with the 4th Marine Regiment’s combat operations center while transporting the commanding officer across the battle space Feb. 12 at Marine Air Ground Combat Center Twentynine Palms, California, during the battalion assault course as part of Integrated Training Exercise 2-15. “I am very proud of all of my Marines,” said Cabrera. “They have accomplished a lot and it has been seen at different levels out here.” ITX 2-15 is designed to integrate combined arms and improve war fighting capabilities. Cabrera, a Los Angeles, California, native and an infantry unit leader, is the jump team commander for Special Purpose Marine Air-Ground Task Force Four with Headquarters Company, 4th Marine Regiment, 3rd Marine Division, III Marine Expeditionary Force.

U.S. Reconnaissance Marines learn how to fall properly while skiing Jan. 23 in Pyeongchang, Republic of Korea. The proper fall is to tuck your ski poles off to the opposite side of your fall, fall uphill and land on your leg, shoulder and hip to protect your head and wrists from damage. The U.S. Marines are with Alpha Company, 3rd Reconnaissance Battalion, 3rd Marine Division, III Marine Expeditionary Force. - U.S. Reconnaissance Marines learn how to fall properly while skiing Jan. 23 in Pyeongchang, Republic of Korea. The proper fall is to tuck your ski poles off to the opposite side of your fall, fall uphill and land on your leg, shoulder and hip to protect your head and wrists from damage. The U.S. Marines are with Alpha Company, 3rd Reconnaissance Battalion, 3rd Marine Division, III Marine Expeditionary Force.

A U.S. Marine pilot inspects his F/A-18 Hornet prior to take off, Feb. 16. U.S. Marines attached to Marine Aircraft Group 12, 1st Marine Aircraft Wing, III Marine Expeditionary Force, and the Royal Thai Air Force train bi-laterally to maintain readiness and interoperability in support of peace and security in the region as part of Exercise Cobra Gold 2015. For more information on exercise Cobra Gold, please visit the official Facebook page at http://www.facebook.com/ExerciseCobraGold. - A U.S. Marine pilot inspects his F/A-18 Hornet prior to take off, Feb. 16. U.S. Marines attached to Marine Aircraft Group 12, 1st Marine Aircraft Wing, III Marine Expeditionary Force, and the Royal Thai Air Force train bi-laterally to maintain readiness and interoperability in support of peace and security in the region as part of Exercise Cobra Gold 2015. For more information on exercise Cobra Gold, please visit the official Facebook page at http://www.facebook.com/ExerciseCobraGold.

KADENA AIR BASE, OKINAWA, Japan – A military working dog awaits orders from a Marine military working dog handler Feb. 4 as part of explosive detection training at Kadena Air Base. During the training, dog handlers used military working dogs’ keen sense of smell to assist them with detecting odors of materials commonly used in explosives. The training ensured the Marines were proficient in handling and communicating with their military working dogs as they identified threats in the area. The training was executed by by the K-9 section of the Provost Marshal’s Office, Headquarters & Support Battalion, Marine Corps Installations Pacific-Marine Corps Base Camp Butler, Japan. (U.S. Marine Corps Photo by Lance Cpl. Janessa K. Pon/ Released) - KADENA AIR BASE, OKINAWA, Japan – A military working dog awaits orders from a Marine military working dog handler Feb. 4 as part of explosive detection training at Kadena Air Base. During the training, dog handlers used military working dogs’ keen sense of smell to assist them with detecting odors of materials commonly used in explosives. The training ensured the Marines were proficient in handling and communicating with their military working dogs as they identified threats in the area. The training was executed by by the K-9 section of the Provost Marshal’s Office, Headquarters & Support Battalion, Marine Corps Installations Pacific-Marine Corps Base Camp Butler, Japan. (U.S. Marine Corps Photo by Lance Cpl. Janessa K. Pon/ Released)

Corey L. Carter, left, and Cpl. Brandon G. Taylor give new backpacks to young girls Feb. 4 at “Uruhashi,” the Single Mother Association Center in Uruma City, Okinawa. Taylor and Carter worked various side jobs to raise money for the bags, which are required in Japanese elementary schools. Called “randoseru” in Japanese, the backpacks have been the standard for elementary schoolchildren since the 1960s; they are made of fine leather and can range from $150 to $800. Taylor is an Aiken, South Carolina, native and a special intelligence system administrator assigned to III Marine Expeditionary Force Headquarters Group. Carter is a Chicago, Illinois, native and the Single Marine Program camp coordinator for Camp Courtney. - Corey L. Carter, left, and Cpl. Brandon G. Taylor give new backpacks to young girls Feb. 4 at “Uruhashi,” the Single Mother Association Center in Uruma City, Okinawa. Taylor and Carter worked various side jobs to raise money for the bags, which are required in Japanese elementary schools. Called “randoseru” in Japanese, the backpacks have been the standard for elementary schoolchildren since the 1960s; they are made of fine leather and can range from $150 to $800. Taylor is an Aiken, South Carolina, native and a special intelligence system administrator assigned to III Marine Expeditionary Force Headquarters Group. Carter is a Chicago, Illinois, native and the Single Marine Program camp coordinator for Camp Courtney.

Dr. Robert D. Eldridge, center right, speaks with Ginowan residents and city officials Jan. 29 at the Isa District Community Center about lessons learned in response to the Great East Japan Earthquake and subsequent tsunami, which took place March 11, 2011 and destroyed much of the coastal Tohoku region. Ginowan City, with some areas such as the community center pictured just 2 meters above sea level, is susceptible to a tsunami, and Eldridge spoke about opportunities to work together to further strengthen response mechanisms. Eldridge is the deputy assistant chief of G-7, government and external affairs, Marine Corps Installations Pacific-Marine Corps Base Camp Butler, Japan. - Dr. Robert D. Eldridge, center right, speaks with Ginowan residents and city officials Jan. 29 at the Isa District Community Center about lessons learned in response to the Great East Japan Earthquake and subsequent tsunami, which took place March 11, 2011 and destroyed much of the coastal Tohoku region. Ginowan City, with some areas such as the community center pictured just 2 meters above sea level, is susceptible to a tsunami, and Eldridge spoke about opportunities to work together to further strengthen response mechanisms. Eldridge is the deputy assistant chief of G-7, government and external affairs, Marine Corps Installations Pacific-Marine Corps Base Camp Butler, Japan.

U.S. Marine pilot Capt. Ernie Drake shows Yothinnukun School student, Nattasit Attapolpisarn, the gear he uses when operating an aircraft during an open house held by Royal Thai Air Force Wing 1 and U.S. Marines at Royal Thai Air Force Base Korat during Exercise Cobra Gold 2015, Feb. 13. Students also observed demonstrations of the Marine Corps Martial Arts Program, Explosive Ordnance Disposal, Aircraft Rescue Firefighters, and Navy Corpsmen basic medical procedures. Drake is with Marine All-Weather Fighter Attack Squadron 533, currently attached to Marine Aircraft Group 12, 1st Marine Aircraft Wing, III Marine Expeditionary Force in Iwakuni, Japan, under the Unit Deployment Program. Cobra Gold 2015 is a Thailand /United States co-sponsored, multinational and joint theater security cooperation exercise, conducted annually in the Kingdom of Thailand, with 25 nations participating. This year there is an increased focus on Humanitarian Civic Action, community engagement, and medical activities to support the needs and humanitarian interests of civilian populations around the region. For more information on exercise Cobra Gold, please visit the official Facebook page at http://www.facebook.com/ExerciseCobraGold. - U.S. Marine pilot Capt. Ernie Drake shows Yothinnukun School student, Nattasit Attapolpisarn, the gear he uses when operating an aircraft during an open house held by Royal Thai Air Force Wing 1 and U.S. Marines at Royal Thai Air Force Base Korat during Exercise Cobra Gold 2015, Feb. 13. Students also observed demonstrations of the Marine Corps Martial Arts Program, Explosive Ordnance Disposal, Aircraft Rescue Firefighters, and Navy Corpsmen basic medical procedures. Drake is with Marine All-Weather Fighter Attack Squadron 533, currently attached to Marine Aircraft Group 12, 1st Marine Aircraft Wing, III Marine Expeditionary Force in Iwakuni, Japan, under the Unit Deployment Program. Cobra Gold 2015 is a Thailand /United States co-sponsored, multinational and joint theater security cooperation exercise, conducted annually in the Kingdom of Thailand, with 25 nations participating. This year there is an increased focus on Humanitarian Civic Action, community engagement, and medical activities to support the needs and humanitarian interests of civilian populations around the region. For more information on exercise Cobra Gold, please visit the official Facebook page at http://www.facebook.com/ExerciseCobraGold.