Japan Ground Self-Defense Force Sgt. Mizuho Ban recites the Noncommissioned Officers Creed with her class during their graduation of Corporal’s Course Feb. 10 aboard Camp Foster, Okinawa, Japan. Ban travelled over 700 miles from Chitose City, Hokkaido, Japan, to attend the course with Marines, sailors and airmen. Ban is a radio communicator with 1st Electronic Warfare Unit, 2nd Direction Finding Company. - Japan Ground Self-Defense Force Sgt. Mizuho Ban recites the Noncommissioned Officers Creed with her class during their graduation of Corporal’s Course Feb. 10 aboard Camp Foster, Okinawa, Japan. Ban travelled over 700 miles from Chitose City, Hokkaido, Japan, to attend the course with Marines, sailors and airmen. Ban is a radio communicator with 1st Electronic Warfare Unit, 2nd Direction Finding Company.

Marines and Yokohama DeNA BayStars baseball team pose in front of an MV-22B Osprey Feb. 23 on Marine Corps Air Station Futenma, Okinawa, Japan. The BayStars players and staff had the opportunity to tour an Osprey and dine at the Habu Pit. “Events like this enhance the already strong community relations MCAS Futenma enjoys with the surrounding City of Ginowan,” said Lt. Col. Bob Sweginnis, the executive officer of MCAS Futenma. “This event in particular allowed those who live and work aboard MCAS Futenma to meet and interact with professional baseball players from a prominent Japanese Big League team that conducts spring training every year in here Ginowan City, just outside the gates of Futenma.” (U.S. Marine Corps Photo by Cpl. Jessica Collins) - Marines and Yokohama DeNA BayStars baseball team pose in front of an MV-22B Osprey Feb. 23 on Marine Corps Air Station Futenma, Okinawa, Japan. The BayStars players and staff had the opportunity to tour an Osprey and dine at the Habu Pit. “Events like this enhance the already strong community relations MCAS Futenma enjoys with the surrounding City of Ginowan,” said Lt. Col. Bob Sweginnis, the executive officer of MCAS Futenma. “This event in particular allowed those who live and work aboard MCAS Futenma to meet and interact with professional baseball players from a prominent Japanese Big League team that conducts spring training every year in here Ginowan City, just outside the gates of Futenma.” (U.S. Marine Corps Photo by Cpl. Jessica Collins)

Okinawa residents wait in line to board and tour an MV-22B Osprey June 6, during the Futenma Flightline Fair on Marine Corps Air Station Futenma, Okinawa, Japan. Along with the Ospreys, the guests were also able to tour and meet the crew members of a KC-130J Super Hercules, an HH-60 Pave hawk, and various other aircraft. According to Col. Peter Lee, the Commanding officer of MCAS Futenma, it’s not only important that the Okinawa residents know about the aircraft on MCAS Futenma, but also the Marines who work on them. (U.S. Marine Corps Photo by Lance Cpl. Daniel Jean-Paul/Released) - Okinawa residents wait in line to board and tour an MV-22B Osprey June 6, during the Futenma Flightline Fair on Marine Corps Air Station Futenma, Okinawa, Japan. Along with the Ospreys, the guests were also able to tour and meet the crew members of a KC-130J Super Hercules, an HH-60 Pave hawk, and various other aircraft. According to Col. Peter Lee, the Commanding officer of MCAS Futenma, it’s not only important that the Okinawa residents know about the aircraft on MCAS Futenma, but also the Marines who work on them. (U.S. Marine Corps Photo by Lance Cpl. Daniel Jean-Paul/Released)

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.

An MV-22B Osprey tiltrotor aircraft flies to a casualty evacuation drill Nov. 8 during Tomodachi relief exercise 15.2 near Izu Oshima Island, Tokyo Metropolis Prefecture, Japan. TREX 15.2 is an annual, bilateral training exercise that simulates humanitarian assistance and disaster relief missions in the Asia-Pacific region while forging a stronger U.S. and Japanese alliance. The exercise also included an HADR training mission, an in-flight demonstration for the Japanese Minister of Defense and additional Japanese politicians, and a static display and press conference for the Japanese media. - An MV-22B Osprey tiltrotor aircraft flies to a casualty evacuation drill Nov. 8 during Tomodachi relief exercise 15.2 near Izu Oshima Island, Tokyo Metropolis Prefecture, Japan. TREX 15.2 is an annual, bilateral training exercise that simulates humanitarian assistance and disaster relief missions in the Asia-Pacific region while forging a stronger U.S. and Japanese alliance. The exercise also included an HADR training mission, an in-flight demonstration for the Japanese Minister of Defense and additional Japanese politicians, and a static display and press conference for the Japanese media.

Cpl. Nicholas Majerus, from Mazeppa, Minn., prepares to fast-rope out of an MV-22B Osprey with his military working dog, Iggi, Oct. 27 at Camp Hansen. “I think our bond has gotten a lot stronger,” said Majerus. “I’ve been with (Iggi) for a long time so she trusts me with everything, and she knows I would never put her in any kind of danger.” Majerus is a working dog handler. He and Iggi are with 3rd Law Enforcement Battalion, III Marine Expeditionary Force Headquarters Group, III MEF. - Cpl. Nicholas Majerus, from Mazeppa, Minn., prepares to fast-rope out of an MV-22B Osprey with his military working dog, Iggi, Oct. 27 at Camp Hansen. “I think our bond has gotten a lot stronger,” said Majerus. “I’ve been with (Iggi) for a long time so she trusts me with everything, and she knows I would never put her in any kind of danger.” Majerus is a working dog handler. He and Iggi are with 3rd Law Enforcement Battalion, III Marine Expeditionary Force Headquarters Group, III MEF.

A member of the Japan Air Self Defense Force tows an MV-22B Osprey at Hyakuri Air Base during the Japan Air Self Defense Force’s Air Review 2014 Oct. 25. The aircraft is with Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron 265, Marine Aircraft Group 36, 1st Marine Air Wing, III Marine Expeditionary Force. - A member of the Japan Air Self Defense Force tows an MV-22B Osprey at Hyakuri Air Base during the Japan Air Self Defense Force’s Air Review 2014 Oct. 25. The aircraft is with Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron 265, Marine Aircraft Group 36, 1st Marine Air Wing, III Marine Expeditionary Force.

Capt. Seth A. Woodhull, left, from Greenwood, Arkansas, helps an attendee put on aviation equipment at the Japanese-American Friendship Festival Sept. 6 at Yokota Air Base. This year marked the first time the Osprey was displayed at the festival. More than 148,000 people attended the event where the Osprey was one of the most popular aircraft. The festival had aircraft from both the U.S. military and Japan Air Self-Defense Force. Woodhull is the adjutant for Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron 265, Marine Aircraft Group 36, 1st Marine Aircraft Wing, III Marine Expeditionary Force. (U.S. Marine Corps Photo by Cpl. Thor J. Larson/Released) - Capt. Seth A. Woodhull, left, from Greenwood, Arkansas, helps an attendee put on aviation equipment at the Japanese-American Friendship Festival Sept. 6 at Yokota Air Base. This year marked the first time the Osprey was displayed at the festival. More than 148,000 people attended the event where the Osprey was one of the most popular aircraft. The festival had aircraft from both the U.S. military and Japan Air Self-Defense Force. Woodhull is the adjutant for Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron 265, Marine Aircraft Group 36, 1st Marine Aircraft Wing, III Marine Expeditionary Force. (U.S. Marine Corps Photo by Cpl. Thor J. Larson/Released)

MV-22B Osprey tiltrotor aircraft fly past Mount Suribachi July 28 at Iwo To, Japan, en route to Chichi Jima. Due to Chichi Jima’s remote location, the residents rely heavily on nearby Iwo To for medical and humanitarian relief. Given the long-range, heavy-lift capabilities of the Osprey, which have been consistently demonstrated during humanitarian assistance and disaster relief operations and exercises around the Asia-Pacific, the aircraft provides a reliable and effective means for response to future medical, humanitarian and relief needs. The Ospreys and crew are with Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron 265, Marine Aircraft Group 36, 1st Marine Aircraft Wing, III Marine Expeditionary Force. - MV-22B Osprey tiltrotor aircraft fly past Mount Suribachi July 28 at Iwo To, Japan, en route to Chichi Jima. Due to Chichi Jima’s remote location, the residents rely heavily on nearby Iwo To for medical and humanitarian relief. Given the long-range, heavy-lift capabilities of the Osprey, which have been consistently demonstrated during humanitarian assistance and disaster relief operations and exercises around the Asia-Pacific, the aircraft provides a reliable and effective means for response to future medical, humanitarian and relief needs. The Ospreys and crew are with Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron 265, Marine Aircraft Group 36, 1st Marine Aircraft Wing, III Marine Expeditionary Force.