Service members from the Air Force, Marine Corps, Navy, and Army run with the Flames of Hope Nov. 6 on Kadena Air Base, Okinawa, Japan. The units ran in one mass formation to Risner Fitness and Sports Complex, where the Special Olympic Games were to be held the following day, carrying their unit flags and torches at the front. The officers sang cadences and ran in perfect harmony, embodying the unity that their leadership sought, according to Staff Sgt. Edward Tejada-De La Cruz, the motor transport operations chief with PMO, H&S Battalion, Marine Corps Installations Pacific, Marine Corps Base Camp Smedley D. Butler. - Service members from the Air Force, Marine Corps, Navy, and Army run with the Flames of Hope Nov. 6 on Kadena Air Base, Okinawa, Japan. The units ran in one mass formation to Risner Fitness and Sports Complex, where the Special Olympic Games were to be held the following day, carrying their unit flags and torches at the front. The officers sang cadences and ran in perfect harmony, embodying the unity that their leadership sought, according to Staff Sgt. Edward Tejada-De La Cruz, the motor transport operations chief with PMO, H&S Battalion, Marine Corps Installations Pacific, Marine Corps Base Camp Smedley D. Butler.

Monica Poulsen gives the introduction to the play, “The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee” Oct. 23 at the Headquarters and Support Battalion building aboard Camp Foster, Okinawa, Japan. The play was performed by the Pacific Okinawa Players, Oct. 15-17 and 22-24. POPs is a community theater group that performs multiple productions throughout the year. The group is comprised of volunteers of all ages under the Status of Forces agreement and directs ticket sales and donations toward the costs of productions as well as scholarship funds for students pursuing performing arts. POPs performed the play Oct. 15-17 and 22-24. Membership information as well as future performance dates are available at www.pacificokinawaplayers.org. Poulsen is a membership secretary with POPs and a Cobleskill, New York, native. - Monica Poulsen gives the introduction to the play, “The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee” Oct. 23 at the Headquarters and Support Battalion building aboard Camp Foster, Okinawa, Japan. The play was performed by the Pacific Okinawa Players, Oct. 15-17 and 22-24. POPs is a community theater group that performs multiple productions throughout the year. The group is comprised of volunteers of all ages under the Status of Forces agreement and directs ticket sales and donations toward the costs of productions as well as scholarship funds for students pursuing performing arts. POPs performed the play Oct. 15-17 and 22-24. Membership information as well as future performance dates are available at www.pacificokinawaplayers.org. Poulsen is a membership secretary with POPs and a Cobleskill, New York, native.

Characters from Sesame Street dance during a live show for service members and their children Sept. 4 at the Camp Foster Community Center. The show, titled “Katie Moves to a New Base,” was designed to help military families dealing with a permanent change of station. The show is part of the Sesame Street and the USO tour experience for military families which provides an entertaining way to help service members and their children cope with the many changes that come with the military lifestyle. - Characters from Sesame Street dance during a live show for service members and their children Sept. 4 at the Camp Foster Community Center. The show, titled “Katie Moves to a New Base,” was designed to help military families dealing with a permanent change of station. The show is part of the Sesame Street and the USO tour experience for military families which provides an entertaining way to help service members and their children cope with the many changes that come with the military lifestyle.

Staff Sgt. Daniel Andrzejewski, fills out paperwork in his office June 19, on Kadena Air Base, Okinawa, Japan. As the kennel master for Headquarters and Support Battalion, Marine Corps Installations Pacific, Marine Corps Base Camp Butler, Japan, Andrzejewski focuses mainly on the administrative aspects of the kennel. “As you get higher in rank, you work less and less with the dogs,” said Andrzejewski. “I love my job now, but sometimes I miss being able to work with the dogs.” (U.S. Marine Corps Photo by Lance Cpl. Daniel Jean-Paul/Released) - Staff Sgt. Daniel Andrzejewski, fills out paperwork in his office June 19, on Kadena Air Base, Okinawa, Japan. As the kennel master for Headquarters and Support Battalion, Marine Corps Installations Pacific, Marine Corps Base Camp Butler, Japan, Andrzejewski focuses mainly on the administrative aspects of the kennel. “As you get higher in rank, you work less and less with the dogs,” said Andrzejewski. “I love my job now, but sometimes I miss being able to work with the dogs.” (U.S. Marine Corps Photo by Lance Cpl. Daniel Jean-Paul/Released)

KADENA AIR BASE, OKINAWA, Japan – A military working dog awaits orders from a Marine military working dog handler Feb. 4 as part of explosive detection training at Kadena Air Base. During the training, dog handlers used military working dogs’ keen sense of smell to assist them with detecting odors of materials commonly used in explosives. The training ensured the Marines were proficient in handling and communicating with their military working dogs as they identified threats in the area. The training was executed by by the K-9 section of the Provost Marshal’s Office, Headquarters & Support Battalion, Marine Corps Installations Pacific-Marine Corps Base Camp Butler, Japan. (U.S. Marine Corps Photo by Lance Cpl. Janessa K. Pon/ Released) - KADENA AIR BASE, OKINAWA, Japan – A military working dog awaits orders from a Marine military working dog handler Feb. 4 as part of explosive detection training at Kadena Air Base. During the training, dog handlers used military working dogs’ keen sense of smell to assist them with detecting odors of materials commonly used in explosives. The training ensured the Marines were proficient in handling and communicating with their military working dogs as they identified threats in the area. The training was executed by by the K-9 section of the Provost Marshal’s Office, Headquarters & Support Battalion, Marine Corps Installations Pacific-Marine Corps Base Camp Butler, Japan. (U.S. Marine Corps Photo by Lance Cpl. Janessa K. Pon/ Released)

Heidi Murkoff writes a note and signs her book during a Special Delivery baby shower June 17 at the Kadena Officers’ Club on Kadena Air Base. The event helped launch the new Special Delivery Program, in which the USO and the What to Expect Foundation host baby showers at military installations worldwide. Murkoff signed books for expectant mothers at the event. Murkoff is the What to Expect Foundation president and author of a popular book series, which provides information on the different stages of pregnancy and child development. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Devon Tindle/Released) - Heidi Murkoff writes a note and signs her book during a Special Delivery baby shower June 17 at the Kadena Officers’ Club on Kadena Air Base. The event helped launch the new Special Delivery Program, in which the USO and the What to Expect Foundation host baby showers at military installations worldwide. Murkoff signed books for expectant mothers at the event. Murkoff is the What to Expect Foundation president and author of a popular book series, which provides information on the different stages of pregnancy and child development. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Devon Tindle/Released)

Lance Cpl. Steven E. Martinez, a Ft. Lauderdale, Fla., native, observes the ground from the hatch of an MV-22B Osprey tiltrotor aircraft May 6 during routine training at Marine Corps Air Station Futenma. The crew executed confined aerial landings, giving them experience with landing in unfamiliar areas. Martinez is a tiltrotor crew chief with Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron 265, Marine Aircraft Group 36, 1st Marine Aircraft Wing, III Marine Expeditionary Force. - Lance Cpl. Steven E. Martinez, a Ft. Lauderdale, Fla., native, observes the ground from the hatch of an MV-22B Osprey tiltrotor aircraft May 6 during routine training at Marine Corps Air Station Futenma. The crew executed confined aerial landings, giving them experience with landing in unfamiliar areas. Martinez is a tiltrotor crew chief with Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron 265, Marine Aircraft Group 36, 1st Marine Aircraft Wing, III Marine Expeditionary Force.

Staff Sgt. Herbert M. Grose Jr., teaches students how to build a field expedient antenna as part of the recent Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics week at Stearley Heights Elementary School on Kadena Air Base. The students are third-graders at the school. Grose is a signals intelligence specialist with G-2, intelligence, Headquarters Battalion, 3rd Marine Division, III Marine Expeditionary Force. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Diamond N. Peden/Released) - Staff Sgt. Herbert M. Grose Jr., teaches students how to build a field expedient antenna as part of the recent Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics week at Stearley Heights Elementary School on Kadena Air Base. The students are third-graders at the school. Grose is a signals intelligence specialist with G-2, intelligence, Headquarters Battalion, 3rd Marine Division, III Marine Expeditionary Force. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Diamond N. Peden/Released)