A crowd of mourners wait for the start of the 5th Kesennuma City memorial ceremony remembering all those that were lost in the Great East Japan earthquake, tsunami and nuclear disaster March 11 in Kesennuma City. Col. Roger J. McFadden represented Marine Forces Japan who responded to the disaster as a part of Operation Tomodachi. McFadden along with city representatives and Kesennuma residents placed flowers on the memorial and observed a moment of silence at 2:46 p.m. Japan Standard Time. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Sgt. Royce Dorman) - A crowd of mourners wait for the start of the 5th Kesennuma City memorial ceremony remembering all those that were lost in the Great East Japan earthquake, tsunami and nuclear disaster March 11 in Kesennuma City. Col. Roger J. McFadden represented Marine Forces Japan who responded to the disaster as a part of Operation Tomodachi. McFadden along with city representatives and Kesennuma residents placed flowers on the memorial and observed a moment of silence at 2:46 p.m. Japan Standard Time. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Sgt. Royce Dorman)

Marines provide security as others board an MV22B Osprey Jan. 10 on Camp Courtney in Okinawa, Japan. The Marines with the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit’s Maritime Raid Force took part in a night raid as the first of three situational training events that make up the Realistic Urban Training Exercise. Expeditionary Operations Training Group, III Marine Expeditionary Force Headquarters Group, III MEF designed the training to test the MRF’s ability to respond to any contingency or crisis in the United States Pacific Command’s area of responsibility. - Marines provide security as others board an MV22B Osprey Jan. 10 on Camp Courtney in Okinawa, Japan. The Marines with the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit’s Maritime Raid Force took part in a night raid as the first of three situational training events that make up the Realistic Urban Training Exercise. Expeditionary Operations Training Group, III Marine Expeditionary Force Headquarters Group, III MEF designed the training to test the MRF’s ability to respond to any contingency or crisis in the United States Pacific Command’s area of responsibility.

Cpl. Gary Odom, a Toledo, Ohio, native, picks up trash Aug. 23 at the Kin Town Fishing Port. The Kin Town Social Welfare Office coordinated the event, and invited local residents and Camp Hansen service members to pick up trash and enjoy local cuisine. Odom is a field radio operator with Battalion Landing Team 3rd Battalion, 5th Marines, 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit, III Marine Expeditionary Force. (U.S. Marine Photo by Lance Cpl. Abbey Perria/Released) - Cpl. Gary Odom, a Toledo, Ohio, native, picks up trash Aug. 23 at the Kin Town Fishing Port. The Kin Town Social Welfare Office coordinated the event, and invited local residents and Camp Hansen service members to pick up trash and enjoy local cuisine. Odom is a field radio operator with Battalion Landing Team 3rd Battalion, 5th Marines, 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit, III Marine Expeditionary Force. (U.S. Marine Photo by Lance Cpl. Abbey Perria/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). - 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).

More than 20,000 people attended the 28th Sapporo Airshow July 20 at the Sapporo Okadama Airport. The airshow was the first to display the MV-22B Osprey tiltrotor aircraft for the public in Sapporo. The Ospreys gave the Japanese community a closer look at the aircraft. The Ospreys are with Medium Tiltrotor Squadron 262, Marine Aircraft Group 36, 1st Marine Aircraft Wing, III Marine Expeditionary Force. (U.S. Marine Corps Photo by Lance Cpl. Thor J. Larson/ Released) - More than 20,000 people attended the 28th Sapporo Airshow July 20 at the Sapporo Okadama Airport. The airshow was the first to display the MV-22B Osprey tiltrotor aircraft for the public in Sapporo. The Ospreys gave the Japanese community a closer look at the aircraft. The Ospreys are with Medium Tiltrotor Squadron 262, Marine Aircraft Group 36, 1st Marine Aircraft Wing, III Marine Expeditionary Force. (U.S. Marine Corps Photo by Lance Cpl. Thor J. Larson/ Released)

Lance Cpl. Amelia Williams, left, enjoys a cookout with the children of the Nagomi Nursing Home for Children June 22 in Nago. The children experienced American culture through interaction with the Marines. Williams is a Bremerton, Washington, native and a radio operator with 3rd Marine Logistics Group currently assigned to Combat Logistics Battalion 31, 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit, III Marine Expeditionary Force. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Brittany A. James/Released) - Lance Cpl. Amelia Williams, left, enjoys a cookout with the children of the Nagomi Nursing Home for Children June 22 in Nago. The children experienced American culture through interaction with the Marines. Williams is a Bremerton, Washington, native and a radio operator with 3rd Marine Logistics Group currently assigned to Combat Logistics Battalion 31, 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit, III Marine Expeditionary Force. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Brittany A. James/Released)

Marines run toward an awaiting CH-53E Super Stallion helicopter Jan. 8 at Camp Hansen. The Marines took part in fast-rope training, where more than 100 Marines familiarized themselves with the essential technique. The Marines are with Battalion Landing Team, 2nd Battalion, 5th Marines, 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit, III Marine Expeditionary Force. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Natalie M. Rostran/Released) - Marines run toward an awaiting CH-53E Super Stallion helicopter Jan. 8 at Camp Hansen. The Marines took part in fast-rope training, where more than 100 Marines familiarized themselves with the essential technique. The Marines are with Battalion Landing Team, 2nd Battalion, 5th Marines, 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit, III Marine Expeditionary Force. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Natalie M. Rostran/Released)

A CH-53E Super Stallion touches down at Landing Zone Falcon Jan. 3 during confined area landing training in the Central Training Area. The helicopter and crew are with Marine Heavy Helicopter Squadron 463, currently assigned to Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron 265 (Reinforced), 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit, III Marine Expeditionary Force. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. David N. Hersey/Released) - A CH-53E Super Stallion touches down at Landing Zone Falcon Jan. 3 during confined area landing training in the Central Training Area. The helicopter and crew are with Marine Heavy Helicopter Squadron 463, currently assigned to Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron 265 (Reinforced), 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit, III Marine Expeditionary Force. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. David N. Hersey/Released)

A percussion actuated neutralizer detonator a simulated improvised explosive device, destroying its power source Oct. 23 during disruptive-tools training at the Demolitions 2 Range in the Central Training Area. Marines used anything from air and water to high velocity rounds to disarm the IEDs. Marines from 3rd Explosive Ordnance Disposal Company and the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit constructed the IEDs to test each other and see how each side would disarm them. The Marines are with 3rd EOD Company, 9th Engineer Support Battalion, 3rd Marine Logistics Group, III Marine Expeditionary Force, and the 31st MEU, III MEF. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Sgt. Brian A. Marion/Released) - A percussion actuated neutralizer detonator a simulated improvised explosive device, destroying its power source Oct. 23 during disruptive-tools training at the Demolitions 2 Range in the Central Training Area. Marines used anything from air and water to high velocity rounds to disarm the IEDs. Marines from 3rd Explosive Ordnance Disposal Company and the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit constructed the IEDs to test each other and see how each side would disarm them. The Marines are with 3rd EOD Company, 9th Engineer Support Battalion, 3rd Marine Logistics Group, III Marine Expeditionary Force, and the 31st MEU, III MEF. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Sgt. Brian A. Marion/Released)