Japanese Ground Self-Defense Force 1st Lt. Ryota Hasebe attached to 3rd Battalion 12th Marines, 3rd Marine Division, III Marine Expeditionary Force for two months starting Jan. 11 and ending March 13. During those two months Hasebe learned about U.S. Marine Corps Artillery and went to Twentynine Palms, California for Integrated Training Exercise 2-15. Hasebe, 28, studied Chinese Literature and graduated from Kokugakuin University in Tokyo before joining the JGSDF in 2011. Hasebe is now the battalion fire direction control officer for 1st Battalion, 4th Field Artillery Regiment in Fukuoka Japan. - Japanese Ground Self-Defense Force 1st Lt. Ryota Hasebe attached to 3rd Battalion 12th Marines, 3rd Marine Division, III Marine Expeditionary Force for two months starting Jan. 11 and ending March 13. During those two months Hasebe learned about U.S. Marine Corps Artillery and went to Twentynine Palms, California for Integrated Training Exercise 2-15. Hasebe, 28, studied Chinese Literature and graduated from Kokugakuin University in Tokyo before joining the JGSDF in 2011. Hasebe is now the battalion fire direction control officer for 1st Battalion, 4th Field Artillery Regiment in Fukuoka Japan.

Lance Cpl. Christian J. Hernandez cleans the breach of a M777A2 lightweight 155 mm howitzer Jan. 30 at Marine Air Ground Combat Center Twentynine Palms during Integrated Training Exercise 2-15 to keep the weapon firing properly. The howitzer is capable of firing high explosive, illuminating, smoke and satellite guided rounds. Hernandez, a Buford, Georgia, native, is a cannoneer with Alpha Battery, 1st Battalion, 12th Marine Regiment, currently assigned to 3rd Battalion, 12th Marines, 3rd Marine Division, III Marine Expeditionary Force for ITX 2-15 as part of the ground combat element of Special Purpose Marine Air-Ground Task Force 4. - Lance Cpl. Christian J. Hernandez cleans the breach of a M777A2 lightweight 155 mm howitzer Jan. 30 at Marine Air Ground Combat Center Twentynine Palms during Integrated Training Exercise 2-15 to keep the weapon firing properly. The howitzer is capable of firing high explosive, illuminating, smoke and satellite guided rounds. Hernandez, a Buford, Georgia, native, is a cannoneer with Alpha Battery, 1st Battalion, 12th Marine Regiment, currently assigned to 3rd Battalion, 12th Marines, 3rd Marine Division, III Marine Expeditionary Force for ITX 2-15 as part of the ground combat element of Special Purpose Marine Air-Ground Task Force 4.

Marines prepare to fuse 155 mm rounds to fire Nov. 4 at the North Fuji Maneuver Area during Artillery Relocation Training Program 14-3. ARTP is a regularly scheduled training event that strengthens combat readiness of U.S. Marine forces, and supports the U.S.-Japan Treaty of Mutual Cooperation and Security. The Marines are with Battery B, 1st Battalion, 12th Marine Regiment based out of Kaneohe Bay, Hawaii, and are currently assigned to 3rd Battalion, 12th Marines, 3rd Marine Division, III Marine Expeditionary Force under the Unit Deployment Program. - Marines prepare to fuse 155 mm rounds to fire Nov. 4 at the North Fuji Maneuver Area during Artillery Relocation Training Program 14-3. ARTP is a regularly scheduled training event that strengthens combat readiness of U.S. Marine forces, and supports the U.S.-Japan Treaty of Mutual Cooperation and Security. The Marines are with Battery B, 1st Battalion, 12th Marine Regiment based out of Kaneohe Bay, Hawaii, and are currently assigned to 3rd Battalion, 12th Marines, 3rd Marine Division, III Marine Expeditionary Force under the Unit Deployment Program.

Maj. Matthew A. Thompson, right, speaks with the Marines of Battery B after a Marine Corps birthday cake-cutting ceremony Nov. 10 at the North Fuji Maneuver Area during Artillery Relocation Training Program 14-3. ARTP is a regularly scheduled training event that increases and maintains combat readiness of U.S. Marine forces and supports the U.S.-Japan Treaty of Mutual Cooperation and Security. Thompson is from Presho, South Dakota, and is the commanding officers for Battery B, 1st Battalion, 12th Marine Regiment, based out of Kaneohe Bay, Hawaii, currently assigned to 3rd Battalion, 12th Marines, 3rd Marine Division, III Marine Expeditionary Force, under the unit deployment program. - Maj. Matthew A. Thompson, right, speaks with the Marines of Battery B after a Marine Corps birthday cake-cutting ceremony Nov. 10 at the North Fuji Maneuver Area during Artillery Relocation Training Program 14-3. ARTP is a regularly scheduled training event that increases and maintains combat readiness of U.S. Marine forces and supports the U.S.-Japan Treaty of Mutual Cooperation and Security. Thompson is from Presho, South Dakota, and is the commanding officers for Battery B, 1st Battalion, 12th Marine Regiment, based out of Kaneohe Bay, Hawaii, currently assigned to 3rd Battalion, 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. - 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 fire a high-explosive round from an M777A2 lightweight 155 mm howitzer during live-fire artillery training Sept. 2 at the Yausubetsu Maneuver Area in Hokkaido as part of Artillery Relocation Training Program 14-2. The Yausubetsu Maneuver Area is the largest training area available to U.S. Marines in the ARTP and affords the opportunity to fire at greater distances than other training areas. The Marines are with Battery B, 1st Battalion, 12th Marine Regiment, currently assigned to 3rd Battalion, 12th Marines, 3rd Marine Division, III Marine Expeditionary Force. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Sgt. Matthew Manning/Released) - Marines fire a high-explosive round from an M777A2 lightweight 155 mm howitzer during live-fire artillery training Sept. 2 at the Yausubetsu Maneuver Area in Hokkaido as part of Artillery Relocation Training Program 14-2. The Yausubetsu Maneuver Area is the largest training area available to U.S. Marines in the ARTP and affords the opportunity to fire at greater distances than other training areas. The Marines are with Battery B, 1st Battalion, 12th Marine Regiment, currently assigned to 3rd Battalion, 12th Marines, 3rd Marine Division, III Marine Expeditionary Force. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Sgt. Matthew Manning/Released)

U.S. Marines load a simulated casualty onto a Japan Ground Self-Defense Force UH-1J Iroquois during casualty evacuation training Aug. 21 at the Yausubetsu Maneuver Area during Artillery Relocation Training Program 14-2. In case of a serious injury or illness during ARTP 14-2, Marines and sailors are prepared to work with members of the JGSDF to successfully evacuate a casualty. The Marines are with 3rd Battalion, 12th Marine Regiment, 3rd Marine Division, III Marine Expeditionary Force. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Matthew Manning/Released) - U.S. Marines load a simulated casualty onto a Japan Ground Self-Defense Force UH-1J Iroquois during casualty evacuation training Aug. 21 at the Yausubetsu Maneuver Area during Artillery Relocation Training Program 14-2. In case of a serious injury or illness during ARTP 14-2, Marines and sailors are prepared to work with members of the JGSDF to successfully evacuate a casualty. The Marines are with 3rd Battalion, 12th Marine Regiment, 3rd Marine Division, III Marine Expeditionary Force. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Matthew Manning/Released)