U.S. Marine Lt. Col. Nicholas Davis, left, presents Japan Ground Self-Defense Force Col. Hiroji Yamashita with a plaque Dec. 12 during the closing ceremony for Forest Light 15-1 at Camp Kita Kumamoto in Kumamoto, 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. Davis is the commanding officer of 2nd Battalion, 9th Marine Regiment, currently assigned to 4th Marine Regiment, 3rd Marine Division, III Marine Expeditionary Force, under the unit deployment program. Yamashita is the commanding officer of the 42nd Regiment, 8th Division, Western Army, JGSDF. - U.S. Marine Lt. Col. Nicholas Davis, left, presents Japan Ground Self-Defense Force Col. Hiroji Yamashita with a plaque Dec. 12 during the closing ceremony for Forest Light 15-1 at Camp Kita Kumamoto in Kumamoto, 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. Davis is the commanding officer of 2nd Battalion, 9th Marine Regiment, currently assigned to 4th Marine Regiment, 3rd Marine Division, III Marine Expeditionary Force, under the unit deployment program. Yamashita is the commanding officer of the 42nd Regiment, 8th Division, Western Army, JGSDF.

A CH-53E Super Stallion helicopter flies with a Humvee attached to it Oct. 7 here. The CH-53E is able to lift a max weight of 73,500 pounds, which includes its own weight, and is able to lift not only vehicles, but expeditionary bridges and even other aircraft. The CH-53E is with Marine Heavy Helicopter Squadron 361, currently assigned to Marine Aircraft Group 36, 1st Marine Aircraft Wing, III MEF, under the unit deployment program. - A CH-53E Super Stallion helicopter flies with a Humvee attached to it Oct. 7 here. The CH-53E is able to lift a max weight of 73,500 pounds, which includes its own weight, and is able to lift not only vehicles, but expeditionary bridges and even other aircraft. The CH-53E is with Marine Heavy Helicopter Squadron 361, currently assigned to Marine Aircraft Group 36, 1st Marine Aircraft Wing, III MEF, under the unit deployment program.

Sgt. John M. Dearing provides security July 18 at the Central Training Area, Okinawa, Japan, during a Marine Expeditionary Unit exercise. The training scenario called for the 31st MEU’s Battalion Landing Team to insert via aircraft into a landing zone near a simulated hostile village to seize and capture high-value individuals. Dearing is a rifleman with 3rd Bn., 5th Marine Regiment, 31st MEU. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Adam B. Miller/Released). - Sgt. John M. Dearing provides security July 18 at the Central Training Area, Okinawa, Japan, during a Marine Expeditionary Unit exercise. The training scenario called for the 31st MEU’s Battalion Landing Team to insert via aircraft into a landing zone near a simulated hostile village to seize and capture high-value individuals. Dearing is a rifleman with 3rd Bn., 5th Marine Regiment, 31st MEU. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Adam B. Miller/Released).