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.

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.

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).

Commissioned officers and senior enlisted service members with the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force Command and Staff College listen intently to Marine Capt. Robin D. Brewer, July 16, at Marine Corps Air Station Futenma, Okinawa. The Okinawan sailors participated in an extensive question-and-answer-style briefing, followed by a static display of an MV 22B Osprey tiltrotor aircraft. Before going up to the aircraft, Brewer questions the JMSDF attendees had regarding the Osprey and its capabilities. Brewer is a Tallahassee, Florida, native and an Osprey pilot with Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron 265, Marine Aircraft Group 36, 1st Marine Aircraft Wing, III Marine Expeditionary Force. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Pete Sanders/Released) - Commissioned officers and senior enlisted service members with the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force Command and Staff College listen intently to Marine Capt. Robin D. Brewer, July 16, at Marine Corps Air Station Futenma, Okinawa. The Okinawan sailors participated in an extensive question-and-answer-style briefing, followed by a static display of an MV 22B Osprey tiltrotor aircraft. Before going up to the aircraft, Brewer questions the JMSDF attendees had regarding the Osprey and its capabilities. Brewer is a Tallahassee, Florida, native and an Osprey pilot with Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron 265, Marine Aircraft Group 36, 1st Marine Aircraft Wing, III Marine Expeditionary Force. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Pete Sanders/Released)

Cpl. Dylan M. Burke, right, and Cpl. Dylan L. Dedmon embark the M1161 internally transportable vehicle aboard an MV-22B Osprey tiltrotor aircraft Oct. 23 at Marine Corps Air Station Futenma. “The ITV is designed to fit inside aircraft hulls like the Osprey,” said Dedmon. “We can drive into or out of the hull and get carried off to our mission destination. Then once it lands, we can drive out just the same.” Dedmon and Burk are reconnaissance men with 3rd Reconnaissance Battalion, 3rd Marine Division, III Marine Expeditionary Force. - Cpl. Dylan M. Burke, right, and Cpl. Dylan L. Dedmon embark the M1161 internally transportable vehicle aboard an MV-22B Osprey tiltrotor aircraft Oct. 23 at Marine Corps Air Station Futenma. “The ITV is designed to fit inside aircraft hulls like the Osprey,” said Dedmon. “We can drive into or out of the hull and get carried off to our mission destination. Then once it lands, we can drive out just the same.” Dedmon and Burk are reconnaissance men with 3rd Reconnaissance Battalion, 3rd Marine Division, III Marine Expeditionary Force.

Lt. Col. Larry G. Brown salutes the Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron 262 unit colors as they pass in review Aug. 30 during a redesignation ceremony at Marine Corps Air Station Futenma. The squadron, previously Marine Medium Helicopter Squadron 262, was redesignated to reflect the replacement of the squadron's CH-46E Sea Knight helicopters with MV-22B Osprey tiltrotor aircraft. The Osprey will increase the operational range, agility and load-carrying capabilities of VMM-262, providing III Marine Expeditionary Force with improved rapid-response ability throughout the Asia-Pacific region. VMM-262 is a part of Marine Aircraft Group 36, 1st Marine Aircraft Wing, III MEF. Brown is the commanding officer of VMM-262. - Lt. Col. Larry G. Brown salutes the Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron 262 unit colors as they pass in review Aug. 30 during a redesignation ceremony at Marine Corps Air Station Futenma. The squadron, previously Marine Medium Helicopter Squadron 262, was redesignated to reflect the replacement of the squadron's CH-46E Sea Knight helicopters with MV-22B Osprey tiltrotor aircraft. The Osprey will increase the operational range, agility and load-carrying capabilities of VMM-262, providing III Marine Expeditionary Force with improved rapid-response ability throughout the Asia-Pacific region. VMM-262 is a part of Marine Aircraft Group 36, 1st Marine Aircraft Wing, III MEF. Brown is the commanding officer of VMM-262.