Shosuke Kokuba, right, swings as Cpl. Eric D. Chrivia catches during a friendly softball game between the Henoko Young Men’s Association and U.S. Marines Jan. 25 on Camp Schwab. The Young Men’s Association played the Marines in a nine-inning game. Kokuba, from Henoko, Okinawa, is a member of the Henoko Young Men’s Association. Chrivia, from Hale, Michigan, is a mortarman with 3rd Battalion, 3rd Marine Regiment, currently assigned to 4th Marine Regiment, 3rd Marine Division, III Marine Expeditionary Force under the unit deployment program. - Shosuke Kokuba, right, swings as Cpl. Eric D. Chrivia catches during a friendly softball game between the Henoko Young Men’s Association and U.S. Marines Jan. 25 on Camp Schwab. The Young Men’s Association played the Marines in a nine-inning game. Kokuba, from Henoko, Okinawa, is a member of the Henoko Young Men’s Association. Chrivia, from Hale, Michigan, is a mortarman with 3rd Battalion, 3rd Marine Regiment, currently assigned to 4th Marine Regiment, 3rd Marine Division, III Marine Expeditionary Force under the unit deployment program.

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.

U.S. Marines lead a foot patrol Dec. 9 during Forest Light 15-1 at the Oyanohara Training Area in Yamato, 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. The Marines are with 2nd Battalion, 9th Marine Regiment, currently attached to 4th Marine Regiment, 3rd Marine Division, III Marine Expeditionary Force, under the unit deployment program. - U.S. Marines lead a foot patrol Dec. 9 during Forest Light 15-1 at the Oyanohara Training Area in Yamato, 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. The Marines are with 2nd Battalion, 9th Marine Regiment, currently attached to 4th Marine Regiment, 3rd Marine Division, III Marine Expeditionary Force, under the unit deployment program.

U.S. Marine Staff Sgt. Ryan T. Watson, right, receives a bouquet of flowers from a student Dec. 5 at Chinzei High School in Kumamoto prefecture, Japan. Marines participating in Forest Light 15-1 took a day off from training to visit local high schools to exchange culture lessons with the student. 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 in a bilateral training environment. Watson, from Tulsa, Oklahoma, is an infantry unit leader with 2nd Battalion, 9th Marine Regiment, currently assigned to 4th Marine Regiment, 3rd Marine Division, III Marine Expeditionary Force, under the unit deployment program. - U.S. Marine Staff Sgt. Ryan T. Watson, right, receives a bouquet of flowers from a student Dec. 5 at Chinzei High School in Kumamoto prefecture, Japan. Marines participating in Forest Light 15-1 took a day off from training to visit local high schools to exchange culture lessons with the student. 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 in a bilateral training environment. Watson, from Tulsa, Oklahoma, is an infantry unit leader with 2nd Battalion, 9th Marine Regiment, currently assigned to 4th Marine Regiment, 3rd Marine Division, III Marine Expeditionary Force, under the unit deployment program.

U.S. Marine Lance Cpl. Jonas G. Dewald, right, instructs a Japan Ground Self-Defense Force member during sniper stalk lane training Dec. 2 in the Oyanohara Training Area in Yamato, Kumamoto prefecture, Japan. The training is part of Forest Light 15-1, a semi-annual, bilateral exercise consisting of a command post exercise and field training events conducted by elements of III Marine Expeditionary Force and the JGSDF to enhance the U.S. and Japan military partnership, solidify regional security agreements and improve individual and unit-level skills. Dewald, from Wilson, North Carolina, is a machine gunner with Weapons Company, 2nd Battalion, 9th Marine Regiment, currently attached to 4th Marine Regiment, 3rd Marine Division, III MEF, under the unit deployment program. The JGSDF member is with 42nd Regiment, 8th Division, Western Army, JGSDF. - U.S. Marine Lance Cpl. Jonas G. Dewald, right, instructs a Japan Ground Self-Defense Force member during sniper stalk lane training Dec. 2 in the Oyanohara Training Area in Yamato, Kumamoto prefecture, Japan. The training is part of Forest Light 15-1, a semi-annual, bilateral exercise consisting of a command post exercise and field training events conducted by elements of III Marine Expeditionary Force and the JGSDF to enhance the U.S. and Japan military partnership, solidify regional security agreements and improve individual and unit-level skills. Dewald, from Wilson, North Carolina, is a machine gunner with Weapons Company, 2nd Battalion, 9th Marine Regiment, currently attached to 4th Marine Regiment, 3rd Marine Division, III MEF, under the unit deployment program. The JGSDF member is with 42nd Regiment, 8th Division, Western Army, JGSDF.

Japan Ground Self-Defense Force Col. Hiroji Yamashita, left, and U.S. Marine Maj. Roy M. Draa salute their troops Dec. 1 during the opening ceremony for Forest Light 15-1 at the Oyanohara Training Area in Yamato, Kumamoto prefecture, Japan. Forest Light is a semi-annual, bilateral exercise consisting of a command post exercise and field training event conducted by elements of III Marine Expeditionary Force and the JGSDF. Yamashita is the commanding officer with 42nd Regiment, 8th Division, Western Army, JGSDF. Draa, from Baltimore, Maryland, is the executive officer with 2nd Battalion, 9th Marine Regiment, currently attached to 4th Marine Regiment, 3rd Marine Division, III MEF, under the unit deployment program. - Japan Ground Self-Defense Force Col. Hiroji Yamashita, left, and U.S. Marine Maj. Roy M. Draa salute their troops Dec. 1 during the opening ceremony for Forest Light 15-1 at the Oyanohara Training Area in Yamato, Kumamoto prefecture, Japan. Forest Light is a semi-annual, bilateral exercise consisting of a command post exercise and field training event conducted by elements of III Marine Expeditionary Force and the JGSDF. Yamashita is the commanding officer with 42nd Regiment, 8th Division, Western Army, JGSDF. Draa, from Baltimore, Maryland, is the executive officer with 2nd Battalion, 9th Marine Regiment, currently attached to 4th Marine Regiment, 3rd Marine Division, III MEF, under the unit deployment program.

Lance Cpl. Austin Nelson, front, races, Sgt. Joshua Houck to reassemble a MK 19 40 mm automatic grenade launcher Nov. 14 while participating in the weapons relay during the Shanghai Commanders’ Cup at Camp Schwab. The weapons relay tested teams of Marines to disassemble and reassemble six weapons ranging from the smallest, M9A1 9 mm service pistol, and progressing to the largest, MK 19 40 mm automatic grenade launcher. Nelson is from West Jordan, Utah, and a machine-gunner with 1st Battalion, 1st Marine Regiment, currently assigned to 4th Marine Regiment, 3rd Marine Division, III Marine Expeditionary Force, under the unit deployment program. Houck is from Rochester, New York, and a machine-gunner with 1st Battalion, 3rd Marines, currently assigned to 4th Marines. - Lance Cpl. Austin Nelson, front, races, Sgt. Joshua Houck to reassemble a MK 19 40 mm automatic grenade launcher Nov. 14 while participating in the weapons relay during the Shanghai Commanders’ Cup at Camp Schwab. The weapons relay tested teams of Marines to disassemble and reassemble six weapons ranging from the smallest, M9A1 9 mm service pistol, and progressing to the largest, MK 19 40 mm automatic grenade launcher. Nelson is from West Jordan, Utah, and a machine-gunner with 1st Battalion, 1st Marine Regiment, currently assigned to 4th Marine Regiment, 3rd Marine Division, III Marine Expeditionary Force, under the unit deployment program. Houck is from Rochester, New York, and a machine-gunner with 1st Battalion, 3rd Marines, currently assigned to 4th Marines.

Solar panels for the Ground Renewable Expeditionary Energy System gather energy to provide power to the command center Nov. 4 during the exercise Blue Chromite 15 on Camp Schwab. The solar panels supplied the initial 24 hours of power for the Combat Operations Center during Chromite and have continued to power the communications systems. The Marines maintaining the systems are from Communications Platoon, Headquarters and Service Battalion, 4th Marine Regiment, 3rd Marine Division, III Marine Expeditionary Force. - Solar panels for the Ground Renewable Expeditionary Energy System gather energy to provide power to the command center Nov. 4 during the exercise Blue Chromite 15 on Camp Schwab. The solar panels supplied the initial 24 hours of power for the Combat Operations Center during Chromite and have continued to power the communications systems. The Marines maintaining the systems are from Communications Platoon, Headquarters and Service Battalion, 4th Marine Regiment, 3rd Marine Division, III Marine Expeditionary Force.

Marines launch their Assault Amphibious Vehicle from the hull of the USS Germantown (LSD 42) Nov. 2 during exercise Blue Chromite 15. Blue Chromite demonstrates the Navy and Marine Corps’ amphibious and expeditionary capabilities from the sea. The Marines are with Combat Assault Battalion, 3rd Marine Division, III Marine Expeditionary Force. - Marines launch their Assault Amphibious Vehicle from the hull of the USS Germantown (LSD 42) Nov. 2 during exercise Blue Chromite 15. Blue Chromite demonstrates the Navy and Marine Corps’ amphibious and expeditionary capabilities from the sea. The Marines are with Combat Assault Battalion, 3rd Marine Division, III Marine Expeditionary Force.

Okinawa residents and U.S Marines stationed at Camp Schwab pose for a group photo following the completion of a fence cleaning project July 2 near Camp Schwab. During the event, participants removed ribbons and litter from the fence line. The Marines are volunteers with various units stationed at Camp Schwab. The event showcased local support for U.S. military forces stationed on the island and demonstrated the good relationship between the Okinawa community and the U.S. Marines on Camp Schwab. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Matt Myers/Released) - Okinawa residents and U.S Marines stationed at Camp Schwab pose for a group photo following the completion of a fence cleaning project July 2 near Camp Schwab. During the event, participants removed ribbons and litter from the fence line. The Marines are volunteers with various units stationed at Camp Schwab. The event showcased local support for U.S. military forces stationed on the island and demonstrated the good relationship between the Okinawa community and the U.S. Marines on Camp Schwab. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Matt Myers/Released)