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)

Two chemical, biological, radiological, nuclear defense specialists ensure gas masks are properly fitted prior to leak, seal, package and decontamination training April 21 at the gas chamber on Camp Hansen, Okinawa. The CBRN defense specialists assisted in familiarizing explosive ordnance disposal technicians with decontamination procedures following the leak, seal, package process used to mitigate CBRN-related hazards. The EOD technicians and CBRN defense specialists used protective equipment to perform general decontamination of the affected area and prepare the leaking ordnance for safe containment and transport before completing the decontamination process. The training instilled the Marines’ confidence in their safety equipment and procedures used to mitigate CBRN-related hazards. The Marines are with 9th Engineer Support Battalion, and Marine Logistics Group Headquarters Regiment, 3rd MLG, III Marine Expeditionary Force. - Two chemical, biological, radiological, nuclear defense specialists ensure gas masks are properly fitted prior to leak, seal, package and decontamination training April 21 at the gas chamber on Camp Hansen, Okinawa. The CBRN defense specialists assisted in familiarizing explosive ordnance disposal technicians with decontamination procedures following the leak, seal, package process used to mitigate CBRN-related hazards. The EOD technicians and CBRN defense specialists used protective equipment to perform general decontamination of the affected area and prepare the leaking ordnance for safe containment and transport before completing the decontamination process. The training instilled the Marines’ confidence in their safety equipment and procedures used to mitigate CBRN-related hazards. The Marines are with 9th Engineer Support Battalion, and Marine Logistics Group Headquarters Regiment, 3rd MLG, III Marine Expeditionary Force.

Dennis E. Provencher, the district commander of Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 9723, Okinawa salutes the Ernie Pyle Monument April 19, after placing a floral wreath at the foot of the epitaph on Ieshima, Okinawa, Japan. Okinawa citizens, service members, veterans, Boy Scouts, and families gather to honor the 70th anniversary of Ernest T. “Ernie” Pyle’s death at the sight where he was killed in 1945 during the battle of Okinawa. Pyle was a Pulitzer Prize winner and served as a war correspondent from 1935 through most of World War II, famous for his columns for the Scripps-Howard newspaper chain. Pyle volunteered to deploy with the men of the Army’s 77th Infantry Division to report first-hand during the battle of Okinawa. - Dennis E. Provencher, the district commander of Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 9723, Okinawa salutes the Ernie Pyle Monument April 19, after placing a floral wreath at the foot of the epitaph on Ieshima, Okinawa, Japan. Okinawa citizens, service members, veterans, Boy Scouts, and families gather to honor the 70th anniversary of Ernest T. “Ernie” Pyle’s death at the sight where he was killed in 1945 during the battle of Okinawa. Pyle was a Pulitzer Prize winner and served as a war correspondent from 1935 through most of World War II, famous for his columns for the Scripps-Howard newspaper chain. Pyle volunteered to deploy with the men of the Army’s 77th Infantry Division to report first-hand during the battle of Okinawa.

Marines use water to extinguish a fuel fire at Marine Corps Air Station Futenma during live-burn training Feb. 21. Bulk fuel specialists dispensed fuel into the training pit, and a Marine with Aircraft Rescue Firefighting ignited the fluid. The ARFF and bulk fuel specialist Marines then worked together to contain and extinguish the fire while enhancing communication and teamwork. The Marines are with ARFF, Headquarters and Headquarters Squadron, MCAS Futenma, as well as Bulk Fuel Company, 9th Engineer Support Battalion, 3rd Marine Logistics Group, III Marine Expeditionary Force. - Marines use water to extinguish a fuel fire at Marine Corps Air Station Futenma during live-burn training Feb. 21. Bulk fuel specialists dispensed fuel into the training pit, and a Marine with Aircraft Rescue Firefighting ignited the fluid. The ARFF and bulk fuel specialist Marines then worked together to contain and extinguish the fire while enhancing communication and teamwork. The Marines are with ARFF, Headquarters and Headquarters Squadron, MCAS Futenma, as well as Bulk Fuel Company, 9th Engineer Support Battalion, 3rd Marine Logistics Group, III Marine Expeditionary Force.

Staff Sgt. Edward Fairley, center, speaks about his thoughts on diversity to Petty Officer 2nd Class Dane O. Castello, right, and Petty Officer 1st Class Roman G. Gatica Dec. 2 during Diversity Observance Day on Camp Hansen. Marines and sailors of different cultural backgrounds were picked to discuss their thoughts on diversity. “Equality is something that we are all striving for, we all want, we all fight for and we all deserve,” said Fairley, from Gulfport, Mississippi, a food service specialist with 12th Marine Regiment, 3rd Marine Division, III Marine Expeditionary Force. Castello, from Georgetown, Guyana, and Gatica, from San Antonio, Texas, are field medical corpsman with Headquarters Regiment, 3rd Marine Logistics Group, III MEF. - Staff Sgt. Edward Fairley, center, speaks about his thoughts on diversity to Petty Officer 2nd Class Dane O. Castello, right, and Petty Officer 1st Class Roman G. Gatica Dec. 2 during Diversity Observance Day on Camp Hansen. Marines and sailors of different cultural backgrounds were picked to discuss their thoughts on diversity. “Equality is something that we are all striving for, we all want, we all fight for and we all deserve,” said Fairley, from Gulfport, Mississippi, a food service specialist with 12th Marine Regiment, 3rd Marine Division, III Marine Expeditionary Force. Castello, from Georgetown, Guyana, and Gatica, from San Antonio, Texas, are field medical corpsman with Headquarters Regiment, 3rd Marine Logistics 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. - 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.

Corpsmen and airmen are sprayed with water to clean off accumulated mud July 20 after the Combat Endurance Course, the final test of the Jungle Medicine Combat Course at the Jungle Warfare Training Center on Camp Gonsalves. The corpsmen endured four miles of obstacles and navigated through simulated combat situations in the jungle terrain. The service members are also sprayed to cool off after running the course for hours in the Okinawan sun. The corpsmen are with 3rd Dental Battalion and 3rd Medical Battalion, both with 3rd Marine Logistics Group, III Marine Expeditionary Force; as well as 1st Battalion, 8th Marine Regiment, currently assigned to 4th Marine Regiment, 3rd Marine Division, III MEF. The airmen are with 18th Aeromedical Evacuation Squadron, 18th Operations Group, 18th Wing. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Brittany A. James/released) - Corpsmen and airmen are sprayed with water to clean off accumulated mud July 20 after the Combat Endurance Course, the final test of the Jungle Medicine Combat Course at the Jungle Warfare Training Center on Camp Gonsalves. The corpsmen endured four miles of obstacles and navigated through simulated combat situations in the jungle terrain. The service members are also sprayed to cool off after running the course for hours in the Okinawan sun. The corpsmen are with 3rd Dental Battalion and 3rd Medical Battalion, both with 3rd Marine Logistics Group, III Marine Expeditionary Force; as well as 1st Battalion, 8th Marine Regiment, currently assigned to 4th Marine Regiment, 3rd Marine Division, III MEF. The airmen are with 18th Aeromedical Evacuation Squadron, 18th Operations Group, 18th Wing. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Brittany A. James/released)

Hula dancers perform a traditional dance during the 3rd Maintenance Battalion’s 3rd annual Summer Luau June 13 at the Hai Sai on Camp Kinser. The battalion hosted the luau to provide Marines and family members an opportunity to come together as a battalion and celebrate the start of summer. The dancers are with Hui Nahona Aloha, a Tahitian-dance group on Okinawa. - Hula dancers perform a traditional dance during the 3rd Maintenance Battalion’s 3rd annual Summer Luau June 13 at the Hai Sai on Camp Kinser. The battalion hosted the luau to provide Marines and family members an opportunity to come together as a battalion and celebrate the start of summer. The dancers are with Hui Nahona Aloha, a Tahitian-dance group on Okinawa.

Lance Cpls. Jeffery Bozenparth, left, and Helen Kong cleanup debris April 5 during the third annual Ginowan Tropical Beach Cleanup in Ginowan City, Okinawa. Trash and natural debris such as sticks and leaves were removed during the cleanup. Bozenparth is an aviation communications systems technician with Marine Air Support Squadron 2, Marine Air Control Group 18, 1st Marine Aircraft Wing, III Marine Expeditionary Force. Kong is an aviation communications systems technician with Marine Tactical Air Command Squadron 18, MACG-18, 1st MAW, III MEF. - Lance Cpls. Jeffery Bozenparth, left, and Helen Kong cleanup debris April 5 during the third annual Ginowan Tropical Beach Cleanup in Ginowan City, Okinawa. Trash and natural debris such as sticks and leaves were removed during the cleanup. Bozenparth is an aviation communications systems technician with Marine Air Support Squadron 2, Marine Air Control Group 18, 1st Marine Aircraft Wing, III Marine Expeditionary Force. Kong is an aviation communications systems technician with Marine Tactical Air Command Squadron 18, MACG-18, 1st MAW, III MEF.

Gunnery Sgt. Miranda E. Brown participates in a discussion during an Equal Opportunity Representative Course March 4 held at the Ocean Breeze on Camp Foster. The course taught civilians, officers and staff noncommissioned officers interested in becoming EO representatives about the responsibilities associated with the position. Brown is the operations chief with Manpower Information Systems Support Office 27, Marine Corps Base Camp Smedley D. Butler, Marine Corps Installations Pacific. - Gunnery Sgt. Miranda E. Brown participates in a discussion during an Equal Opportunity Representative Course March 4 held at the Ocean Breeze on Camp Foster. The course taught civilians, officers and staff noncommissioned officers interested in becoming EO representatives about the responsibilities associated with the position. Brown is the operations chief with Manpower Information Systems Support Office 27, Marine Corps Base Camp Smedley D. Butler, Marine Corps Installations Pacific.