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.

Sgt. Christopher Rateau-Holbach, from Fulton, Mississippi, swims towards his destination Oct. 30 at White Beach Naval Facility during the scout swimmers course. The students underwent countless hours in the water in order to become more proficient in maneuvering through the water. Rateau-Holbach is a student with Expeditionary Operations Training Group, III Marine Expeditionary Force Headquarters Group, III MEF. - Sgt. Christopher Rateau-Holbach, from Fulton, Mississippi, swims towards his destination Oct. 30 at White Beach Naval Facility during the scout swimmers course. The students underwent countless hours in the water in order to become more proficient in maneuvering through the water. Rateau-Holbach is a student with Expeditionary Operations Training Group, III Marine Expeditionary Force Headquarters Group, III MEF.

Marines check the GPS coordinates of their M777A2 lightweight 155 mm howitzers Oct. 30 during a command post exercise for Artillery Relocation Training Program 14-3. “Camp Fuji provides that cold weather training environment that artillery units need to be familiar with,” said Sgt. Maj. Marvin M. Magcale, the battalion sergeant major for 3rd Battalion, 12th Marines. “The Marines and sailors in this battalion will be better prepared to accomplish the mission involving cold weather. Austere conditions obviously affect not only the Marines and sailors, but their equipment as well.” The Marines are with Battery B, 1st Bn., 12th Marine Regiment, 1st Marine Division, based out of Kaneohe Bay, Hawaii, and are currently assigned to 3rd Bn., 12th Marines, 3rd Marine Division, III Marine Expeditionary Force under the unit deployment program. - Marines check the GPS coordinates of their M777A2 lightweight 155 mm howitzers Oct. 30 during a command post exercise for Artillery Relocation Training Program 14-3. “Camp Fuji provides that cold weather training environment that artillery units need to be familiar with,” said Sgt. Maj. Marvin M. Magcale, the battalion sergeant major for 3rd Battalion, 12th Marines. “The Marines and sailors in this battalion will be better prepared to accomplish the mission involving cold weather. Austere conditions obviously affect not only the Marines and sailors, but their equipment as well.” The Marines are with Battery B, 1st Bn., 12th Marine Regiment, 1st Marine Division, based out of Kaneohe Bay, Hawaii, and are currently assigned to 3rd Bn., 12th Marines, 3rd Marine Division, III Marine Expeditionary Force under the unit deployment program.

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.

Cpl. Nicholas Majerus, from Mazeppa, Minn., prepares to fast-rope out of an MV-22B Osprey with his military working dog, Iggi, Oct. 27 at Camp Hansen. “I think our bond has gotten a lot stronger,” said Majerus. “I’ve been with (Iggi) for a long time so she trusts me with everything, and she knows I would never put her in any kind of danger.” Majerus is a working dog handler. He and Iggi are with 3rd Law Enforcement Battalion, III Marine Expeditionary Force Headquarters Group, III MEF. - Cpl. Nicholas Majerus, from Mazeppa, Minn., prepares to fast-rope out of an MV-22B Osprey with his military working dog, Iggi, Oct. 27 at Camp Hansen. “I think our bond has gotten a lot stronger,” said Majerus. “I’ve been with (Iggi) for a long time so she trusts me with everything, and she knows I would never put her in any kind of danger.” Majerus is a working dog handler. He and Iggi are with 3rd Law Enforcement Battalion, III Marine Expeditionary Force Headquarters Group, III MEF.

Mike Eli, from Tomball, Texas, shakes the hands of fans during the free concert Eli Young Band played for service members and their families Nov. 1 at the Army and Air Force Exchange Service parking lot on Camp Hansen. Eli walked down the center of the crowd shaking hands with service members and their families while playing one of the bands songs to show his appreciation to the service members. He also took time to shake the hand of every person in the front row after the concert. Eli is the lead vocalist for the band. - Mike Eli, from Tomball, Texas, shakes the hands of fans during the free concert Eli Young Band played for service members and their families Nov. 1 at the Army and Air Force Exchange Service parking lot on Camp Hansen. Eli walked down the center of the crowd shaking hands with service members and their families while playing one of the bands songs to show his appreciation to the service members. He also took time to shake the hand of every person in the front row after the concert. Eli is the lead vocalist for the band.

Maj. Andrew Merz, from Lansing, Michigan, talks to a Kin Town resident after the tsunami evacuation drill Nov. 5 at Camp Hansen. This was the first exercise since the local disaster response agreement was signed by Marine Corps and Kin Town officials in September. The drills improved the communication between Camp Hansen, Kin Town Officers, Ishi Kawa police and the local community leaders responsible for disaster response, according to Masaru Nago, from Kin Town. Merz is the operations officer for Camp Hansen. - Maj. Andrew Merz, from Lansing, Michigan, talks to a Kin Town resident after the tsunami evacuation drill Nov. 5 at Camp Hansen. This was the first exercise since the local disaster response agreement was signed by Marine Corps and Kin Town officials in September. The drills improved the communication between Camp Hansen, Kin Town Officers, Ishi Kawa police and the local community leaders responsible for disaster response, according to Masaru Nago, from Kin Town. Merz is the operations officer for Camp Hansen.

A member of the Japan Self-Defense Force, left, hands a day pass to a community member Oct. 17 at the front gate of Camp Hansen. Unit leaders with the installation organized the first Friendship Friday Oct. 17 for residents of Kin Town. The community members visited the installation’s eateries and bowling alley, and had the opportunity to view a static display of a CH-53E Super Stallion helicopter. - A member of the Japan Self-Defense Force, left, hands a day pass to a community member Oct. 17 at the front gate of Camp Hansen. Unit leaders with the installation organized the first Friendship Friday Oct. 17 for residents of Kin Town. The community members visited the installation’s eateries and bowling alley, and had the opportunity to view a static display of a CH-53E Super Stallion helicopter.

Sgt. Gerry Pratama, from Anahuac, Texas, practices CPR during a scout swimmers course Oct. 22 at the Camp Hansen Aquatic Center. During the first of three weeks, students will earn their lifeguard certification, so they can provide first aid while training in the ocean. Pratama is a student with Expeditionary Operations Training Group, III Marine Expeditionary Unit Headquarters Group, III MEF. - Sgt. Gerry Pratama, from Anahuac, Texas, practices CPR during a scout swimmers course Oct. 22 at the Camp Hansen Aquatic Center. During the first of three weeks, students will earn their lifeguard certification, so they can provide first aid while training in the ocean. Pratama is a student with Expeditionary Operations Training Group, III Marine Expeditionary Unit Headquarters Group, III MEF.

Lance Cpl. Tyler J. Greene, from Stanwood, Washington, looks through a selection of donated clothing Oct. 17 at the Swap Shop on Camp Hansen. The Swap Shop has a variety of donated items such as board games, books and uniform items. Greene is a radio technician with 7th Communication Battalion, III Marine Expeditionary Force Headquarters Group, III MEF. - Lance Cpl. Tyler J. Greene, from Stanwood, Washington, looks through a selection of donated clothing Oct. 17 at the Swap Shop on Camp Hansen. The Swap Shop has a variety of donated items such as board games, books and uniform items. Greene is a radio technician with 7th Communication Battalion, III Marine Expeditionary Force Headquarters Group, III MEF.