Cpl. Cristina Rivera, Camp Courtney's Camp Services Office, was certified LOA by Okinawa Prefectural mothers and children family support center April 25, 2016. - Cpl. Cristina Rivera, Camp Courtney's Camp Services Office, was certified LOA by Okinawa Prefectural mothers and children family support center April 25, 2016.

Monica Poulsen gives the introduction to the play, “The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee” Oct. 23 at the Headquarters and Support Battalion building aboard Camp Foster, Okinawa, Japan. The play was performed by the Pacific Okinawa Players, Oct. 15-17 and 22-24. POPs is a community theater group that performs multiple productions throughout the year. The group is comprised of volunteers of all ages under the Status of Forces agreement and directs ticket sales and donations toward the costs of productions as well as scholarship funds for students pursuing performing arts. POPs performed the play Oct. 15-17 and 22-24. Membership information as well as future performance dates are available at www.pacificokinawaplayers.org. Poulsen is a membership secretary with POPs and a Cobleskill, New York, native. - Monica Poulsen gives the introduction to the play, “The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee” Oct. 23 at the Headquarters and Support Battalion building aboard Camp Foster, Okinawa, Japan. The play was performed by the Pacific Okinawa Players, Oct. 15-17 and 22-24. POPs is a community theater group that performs multiple productions throughout the year. The group is comprised of volunteers of all ages under the Status of Forces agreement and directs ticket sales and donations toward the costs of productions as well as scholarship funds for students pursuing performing arts. POPs performed the play Oct. 15-17 and 22-24. Membership information as well as future performance dates are available at www.pacificokinawaplayers.org. Poulsen is a membership secretary with POPs and a Cobleskill, New York, native.

A service member dressed as a clown peers through the smoke in the Futenma Haunted Labyrinth during the VIP opening of the Futenma Haunted Labyrinth Oct. 9 on Marine Corps Air Station Futenma, Okinawa, Japan. The Futenma Haunted Labyrinth is a fundraiser for the Single Marine Program held annually for the past four years. Approximately 200 Okinawa residents and service members navigated the labyrinth and enjoyed a dinner buffet at the Habu Pit. Volunteers in the labyrinth lined hallways and took parts in various scenes throughout the building to provide guests with a fun and frightful experience. The labyrinth is scheduled to open its doors to the public Oct. 23, 24, 29, and 30. - A service member dressed as a clown peers through the smoke in the Futenma Haunted Labyrinth during the VIP opening of the Futenma Haunted Labyrinth Oct. 9 on Marine Corps Air Station Futenma, Okinawa, Japan. The Futenma Haunted Labyrinth is a fundraiser for the Single Marine Program held annually for the past four years. Approximately 200 Okinawa residents and service members navigated the labyrinth and enjoyed a dinner buffet at the Habu Pit. Volunteers in the labyrinth lined hallways and took parts in various scenes throughout the building to provide guests with a fun and frightful experience. The labyrinth is scheduled to open its doors to the public Oct. 23, 24, 29, and 30.

Kin Town Mayor Hajime Nakama, left, and Col. Sean M. McBride shake hands Sept. 5 at the bowling alley aboard Camp Hansen, Okinawa, Japan during the annual Hansen Fest. During the festival, Kin Town officials and representatives from the 19 commands aboard Camp Hansen gathered at the Camp Hansen bowling alley for the 21st Annual Hansen Bowling Social, to build camaraderie through friendly competition. The annual festival serves as one of the many ways to improve upon the already strong relationship between Camp Hansen and the local community. The two-day event reeled in more than 13,000 people. McBride, commander of Camp Hansen and the commanding officer of III Marine Expeditionary Force Headquarters Group, III MEF, is a Butte, Montana, native. (Marine Corps Photo by Cpl. Janessa K. Pon/ Released) - Kin Town Mayor Hajime Nakama, left, and Col. Sean M. McBride shake hands Sept. 5 at the bowling alley aboard Camp Hansen, Okinawa, Japan during the annual Hansen Fest. During the festival, Kin Town officials and representatives from the 19 commands aboard Camp Hansen gathered at the Camp Hansen bowling alley for the 21st Annual Hansen Bowling Social, to build camaraderie through friendly competition. The annual festival serves as one of the many ways to improve upon the already strong relationship between Camp Hansen and the local community. The two-day event reeled in more than 13,000 people. McBride, commander of Camp Hansen and the commanding officer of III Marine Expeditionary Force Headquarters Group, III MEF, is a Butte, Montana, native. (Marine Corps Photo by Cpl. Janessa K. Pon/ Released)

Yuko Murayoshi assists an attendee in tying an obi, which is a sash worn over a yukata, during a traditional Japanese clothing class June 19 at the Marine and Family Programs building on Camp Foster, Okinawa. The class, sponsored by Marine Corps Community Services, Okinawa, taught attendees how to wear a yukata, a Japanese garment worn during summer. The class also highlighted traditional Japanese culture and customs and the importance of service members and their families engaging in the local culture. Attending cultural classes through MCCS is one of the ways service members can immerse themselves in the traditional Japanese culture, according to Murayoshi. Murayoshi is the instructor of the class, and a class coordinator with MCCS. (Marine Corps Photo by Cpl. Janessa K. Pon/ Released) - Yuko Murayoshi assists an attendee in tying an obi, which is a sash worn over a yukata, during a traditional Japanese clothing class June 19 at the Marine and Family Programs building on Camp Foster, Okinawa. The class, sponsored by Marine Corps Community Services, Okinawa, taught attendees how to wear a yukata, a Japanese garment worn during summer. The class also highlighted traditional Japanese culture and customs and the importance of service members and their families engaging in the local culture. Attending cultural classes through MCCS is one of the ways service members can immerse themselves in the traditional Japanese culture, according to Murayoshi. Murayoshi is the instructor of the class, and a class coordinator with MCCS. (Marine Corps Photo by Cpl. Janessa K. Pon/ Released)

A Marine with the Provost Marshal’s Office on Camp Courtney, Okinawa, Japan, places handcuffs on an Uruma City Police officer posing as an on-base intruder, June 11, during bilateral training between service members and the UCPD. The event ensured Marines with Camp Guard and the Provost Marshal’s Office are proficient in communicating with the UCPD to mitigate threats involving service members and Okinawa residents. During the training event, Camp Guard Marines patrolling the base perimeter apprehended a simulated armed intruder. PMO Marines received a notification over a radio signal and responded to rehearse turnover procedures of the intruder and escort him to the proper detainment authorities. (Marine Corps Photo by Cpl. Janessa K. Pon/ Released) - A Marine with the Provost Marshal’s Office on Camp Courtney, Okinawa, Japan, places handcuffs on an Uruma City Police officer posing as an on-base intruder, June 11, during bilateral training between service members and the UCPD. The event ensured Marines with Camp Guard and the Provost Marshal’s Office are proficient in communicating with the UCPD to mitigate threats involving service members and Okinawa residents. During the training event, Camp Guard Marines patrolling the base perimeter apprehended a simulated armed intruder. PMO Marines received a notification over a radio signal and responded to rehearse turnover procedures of the intruder and escort him to the proper detainment authorities. (Marine Corps Photo by Cpl. Janessa K. Pon/ Released)

Two children compete in a four-by-100 meter relay at the Kin Athletic Field in Kin Town, Okinawa, Japan May 9, during the Kin Town Friendship Track and Field Meet. The meet was organized by the Kin Town schools and the mayor of Kin Town to reach beyond the language barrier between the Okinawa residents and service members’ families through athletic events, according to Takayuki Kayo, the Camp Hansen community relations specialist and an Okinawa City, Okinawa, native. The activities encouraged endurance and teamwork between the Okinawa children and American children. (Marine Corps Photo by Cpl. Janessa K. Pon/ Released) - Two children compete in a four-by-100 meter relay at the Kin Athletic Field in Kin Town, Okinawa, Japan May 9, during the Kin Town Friendship Track and Field Meet. The meet was organized by the Kin Town schools and the mayor of Kin Town to reach beyond the language barrier between the Okinawa residents and service members’ families through athletic events, according to Takayuki Kayo, the Camp Hansen community relations specialist and an Okinawa City, Okinawa, native. The activities encouraged endurance and teamwork between the Okinawa children and American children. (Marine Corps Photo by Cpl. Janessa K. Pon/ Released)

Yoshihisa Akena poses for a photo March 4 during the 15th annual Hijiki Harvest on Camp Courtney, Okinawa. The first day of this year’s harvest drew more than 250 residents. “Hijiki,” a type of seaweed, is a traditional Japanese food that is nutrient-dense and rich with iron. Many residents look forward to the Camp Courtney harvest because hijiki is scarce in other areas of Okinawa due to overharvesting. Akena said he attends the Camp Courtney Hijiki Harvest every year. Akena is an Uruma City native and a retired Japanese security guard who served the Camp Courtney Provost Marshal’s Office for 29 years. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Royce Dorman/Released) - Yoshihisa Akena poses for a photo March 4 during the 15th annual Hijiki Harvest on Camp Courtney, Okinawa. The first day of this year’s harvest drew more than 250 residents. “Hijiki,” a type of seaweed, is a traditional Japanese food that is nutrient-dense and rich with iron. Many residents look forward to the Camp Courtney harvest because hijiki is scarce in other areas of Okinawa due to overharvesting. Akena said he attends the Camp Courtney Hijiki Harvest every year. Akena is an Uruma City native and a retired Japanese security guard who served the Camp Courtney Provost Marshal’s Office for 29 years. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Royce Dorman/Released)

Cpl. Victor Santana, center, writes down clues to help Okinawa schoolchildren guess a word during an English word guessing game during the 2nd annual English Day Camp Feb. 28 at the Nago City Youth Center. Okinawa community volunteers and Marines assigned to Camp Schwab helped teach English to Okinawa schoolchildren as part of a Nago City Board of Education Program. Santana is a food service specialist assigned to 3rd Combat Assault Battalion, 3rd Marine Division, III Marine Expeditionary Force. - Cpl. Victor Santana, center, writes down clues to help Okinawa schoolchildren guess a word during an English word guessing game during the 2nd annual English Day Camp Feb. 28 at the Nago City Youth Center. Okinawa community volunteers and Marines assigned to Camp Schwab helped teach English to Okinawa schoolchildren as part of a Nago City Board of Education Program. Santana is a food service specialist assigned to 3rd Combat Assault Battalion, 3rd Marine Division, III Marine Expeditionary Force.

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.