CAMP HANSEN, OKINAWA, Japan – The crowd cheers for Ted Nugent Sept. 24 during Hansen Fest aboard Camp Hansen, Okinawa, Japan. - CAMP HANSEN, OKINAWA, Japan – The crowd cheers for Ted Nugent Sept. 24 during Hansen Fest aboard Camp Hansen, Okinawa, Japan. In the middle of the concert, Nugent took the time to read messages from home to the Marines, some of the notes were directly to specific Marines and others were expressing how thankful people, back home, are for the Marines’ sacrifices. More than 13,000 people attended the two-day event.

Cpl. Calvin V. Montgomery uses his whole body to pull the lanyard of an M777 Howitzer, firing a 155 mm round March 11 during Dragon Fire Exercise 15-2 at Pohakuloa Training Area, Hawaii. Howitzers are used by artillery batteries to provide suppressing fire for ground units. Montgomery, an Eatonton, Georgia, native, is a radio operator with Headquarters Battery, 12th Marine Regiment, 3rd Marine Division, III Marine Expeditionary Force. - Cpl. Calvin V. Montgomery uses his whole body to pull the lanyard of an M777 Howitzer, firing a 155 mm round March 11 during Dragon Fire Exercise 15-2 at Pohakuloa Training Area, Hawaii. Howitzers are used by artillery batteries to provide suppressing fire for ground units. Montgomery, an Eatonton, Georgia, native, is a radio operator with Headquarters Battery, 12th Marine Regiment, 3rd Marine Division, III Marine Expeditionary Force.

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.

Marines ceremonially march out a cake Sept. 16 during the 3rd Marine Division’s 72nd anniversary ceremony on Camp Hansen. After the guest of honor ate the first piece of cake, the youngest and oldest Marines in the unit received a piece symbolizing the passing of tradition from older to younger generations. “We are a Marine Corps of tradition, concerned and thoughtful of our legacy,” said Maj. Gen. H. Stacy Clardy III, the commanding general of 3rd Marine Division. “We are celebrating where this division has been in the past.” The Marines are with various units assigned to 3rd Marine Division, III Marine Expeditionary Force. - Marines ceremonially march out a cake Sept. 16 during the 3rd Marine Division’s 72nd anniversary ceremony on Camp Hansen. After the guest of honor ate the first piece of cake, the youngest and oldest Marines in the unit received a piece symbolizing the passing of tradition from older to younger generations. “We are a Marine Corps of tradition, concerned and thoughtful of our legacy,” said Maj. Gen. H. Stacy Clardy III, the commanding general of 3rd Marine Division. “We are celebrating where this division has been in the past.” The Marines are with various units assigned to 3rd Marine Division, III Marine Expeditionary Force.