Col. Peter Lee poses for a photo with master labor contractors during the 241st Marine Corps Birthday celebration at the mess hall Nov. 9 on Marine Corps Air Station Futenma, Okinawa, Japan. The celebration was one of many held on installations across Okinawa to uphold the tradition of celebrating the Marine Corps’ birthday, which dates back to Nov. 10, 1775. The event featured a mouthwatering steak and lobster meal, a uniform pageant by Kubasaki High School Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps, and a live performance by the III Marine Expeditionary Force Band and was open to service members, civilian contractors, master labor contractors, and their families to celebrate together. Lee is the commanding officer of Marine Corps Air Station Futenma. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Janessa K. Pon/Released) - Col. Peter Lee poses for a photo with master labor contractors during the 241st Marine Corps Birthday celebration at the mess hall Nov. 9 on Marine Corps Air Station Futenma, Okinawa, Japan. The celebration was one of many held on installations across Okinawa to uphold the tradition of celebrating the Marine Corps’ birthday, which dates back to Nov. 10, 1775. The event featured a mouthwatering steak and lobster meal, a uniform pageant by Kubasaki High School Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps, and a live performance by the III Marine Expeditionary Force Band and was open to service members, civilian contractors, master labor contractors, and their families to celebrate together. Lee is the commanding officer of Marine Corps Air Station Futenma. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Janessa K. Pon/Released)

U.S. Marines participating in T-AKE 14-2 transport Humvees using components of an Improved Ribbon Bridge pushed by Bridge Erection Boats while executing ship-to-shore transport operations Sept. 24 in logistical support of Amphibious Landing Exercise 2015 in Subic Bay, Philippines. The operation proved the concept that IRB components can be used in conjunction with BEBs on the open ocean as a ship-to-shore connector for transporting supplies and equipment to Marines on shore. PHIBLEX is an annual bilateral training exercise conducted by the Armed Forces of the Philippines alongside U.S. Marine and Navy forces. The Marines are combat engineers with 9th Engineer Support Battalion, 3rd Marine Logistics Group, III Marine Expeditionary Force, currently assigned to Combat Logistics Detachment 379, Headquarters Regiment, 3rd MLG, III MEF. T-AKE 14-2 is a maritime pre-positioned force, multi-country theater security cooperation event that deployed from Okinawa aboard the USNS Sacagawea to participate in training exercises throughout the Asia-Pacific area of operations. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Drew Tech/Released) - U.S. Marines participating in T-AKE 14-2 transport Humvees using components of an Improved Ribbon Bridge pushed by Bridge Erection Boats while executing ship-to-shore transport operations Sept. 24 in logistical support of Amphibious Landing Exercise 2015 in Subic Bay, Philippines. The operation proved the concept that IRB components can be used in conjunction with BEBs on the open ocean as a ship-to-shore connector for transporting supplies and equipment to Marines on shore. PHIBLEX is an annual bilateral training exercise conducted by the Armed Forces of the Philippines alongside U.S. Marine and Navy forces. The Marines are combat engineers with 9th Engineer Support Battalion, 3rd Marine Logistics Group, III Marine Expeditionary Force, currently assigned to Combat Logistics Detachment 379, Headquarters Regiment, 3rd MLG, III MEF. T-AKE 14-2 is a maritime pre-positioned force, multi-country theater security cooperation event that deployed from Okinawa aboard the USNS Sacagawea to participate in training exercises throughout the Asia-Pacific area of operations. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Drew Tech/Released)

Kazunori Yoshimi, right, assists Naoto Matsuda, left, with filming a historic stone placed just off the Habu Trail on Marine Corps Air Station Futenma. Yoshimi and Matsuda are reporters with Ryukyu Broadcasting Corporation. The stone is formally named Shirubi-Dote, meaning “land survey marker.” The stone has been in place for more than 250 years, and served as a point of reference during the Ryukyu Kingdom period for measurement in creating maps and grids. - Kazunori Yoshimi, right, assists Naoto Matsuda, left, with filming a historic stone placed just off the Habu Trail on Marine Corps Air Station Futenma. Yoshimi and Matsuda are reporters with Ryukyu Broadcasting Corporation. The stone is formally named Shirubi-Dote, meaning “land survey marker.” The stone has been in place for more than 250 years, and served as a point of reference during the Ryukyu Kingdom period for measurement in creating maps and grids.

Sgt. Maj. Brian D. Olea, left, and Lt. Col. Curtis V. Ebitz, right, promote Sgt. Brandon R. Crook Nov. 1 at the summit of Mount Suribachi on Iwo To, formerly known as Iwo Jima. Olea is the sergeant major and Ebitz is the commanding officer of Marine Wing Headquarters Squadron 1, 1st Marine Aircraft Wing, III Marine Expeditionary Force. Crook is a Marine Air-Ground Task Force planning specialist with the squadron. - Sgt. Maj. Brian D. Olea, left, and Lt. Col. Curtis V. Ebitz, right, promote Sgt. Brandon R. Crook Nov. 1 at the summit of Mount Suribachi on Iwo To, formerly known as Iwo Jima. Olea is the sergeant major and Ebitz is the commanding officer of Marine Wing Headquarters Squadron 1, 1st Marine Aircraft Wing, III Marine Expeditionary Force. Crook is a Marine Air-Ground Task Force planning specialist with the squadron.