Students of the College of Distance Education and Training’s Command and Staff School enjoy the graduate the two-year course, June 4 at the community center on Camp Foster, Okinawa, Japan. Students attended a three-hour class every week for two, eight-month, academic years while still fulfilling their duty as active service members. The students’ commitment to continuously improve personally and professionally was paramount to be successful in the course, according to James Hopkins, the regional director for the CDET, Marine Corps University, Okinawa. (U.S. Marine Corps Photo by Lance Cpl. Daniel Jean-Paul/Released) - Students of the College of Distance Education and Training’s Command and Staff School enjoy the graduate the two-year course, June 4 at the community center on Camp Foster, Okinawa, Japan. Students attended a three-hour class every week for two, eight-month, academic years while still fulfilling their duty as active service members. The students’ commitment to continuously improve personally and professionally was paramount to be successful in the course, according to James Hopkins, the regional director for the CDET, Marine Corps University, Okinawa. (U.S. Marine Corps Photo by Lance Cpl. Daniel Jean-Paul/Released)

Staff Sgt. Absalon A. Cabrera uses a radio to communicate with the 4th Marine Regiment’s combat operations center while transporting the commanding officer across the battle space Feb. 12 at Marine Air Ground Combat Center Twentynine Palms, California, during the battalion assault course as part of Integrated Training Exercise 2-15. “I am very proud of all of my Marines,” said Cabrera. “They have accomplished a lot and it has been seen at different levels out here.” ITX 2-15 is designed to integrate combined arms and improve war fighting capabilities. Cabrera, a Los Angeles, California, native and an infantry unit leader, is the jump team commander for Special Purpose Marine Air-Ground Task Force Four with Headquarters Company, 4th Marine Regiment, 3rd Marine Division, III Marine Expeditionary Force. - Staff Sgt. Absalon A. Cabrera uses a radio to communicate with the 4th Marine Regiment’s combat operations center while transporting the commanding officer across the battle space Feb. 12 at Marine Air Ground Combat Center Twentynine Palms, California, during the battalion assault course as part of Integrated Training Exercise 2-15. “I am very proud of all of my Marines,” said Cabrera. “They have accomplished a lot and it has been seen at different levels out here.” ITX 2-15 is designed to integrate combined arms and improve war fighting capabilities. Cabrera, a Los Angeles, California, native and an infantry unit leader, is the jump team commander for Special Purpose Marine Air-Ground Task Force Four with Headquarters Company, 4th Marine Regiment, 3rd Marine Division, III Marine Expeditionary Force.

Capt. Paul B. Kozick briefs Marines from Company D Feb. 1 on the plan for the Tank Mechanized Assault Course at Marine Air Ground Combat Center Twentynine Palms as part of Integrated Training Exercise 2-15. The TMAC is a training event used to bring multiple elements of the Marine Air-Ground Task Force together in one event. Kozick, a Dillsburg, Pennsylvania, native, is tank officer and the company commander for Company D, 1st Tank Battalion, 1st Marine Division, I Marine Expeditionary Force. The Marines are also with Company D. - Capt. Paul B. Kozick briefs Marines from Company D Feb. 1 on the plan for the Tank Mechanized Assault Course at Marine Air Ground Combat Center Twentynine Palms as part of Integrated Training Exercise 2-15. The TMAC is a training event used to bring multiple elements of the Marine Air-Ground Task Force together in one event. Kozick, a Dillsburg, Pennsylvania, native, is tank officer and the company commander for Company D, 1st Tank Battalion, 1st Marine Division, I Marine Expeditionary Force. The Marines are also with Company D.

Col. Preston W. Jones, from Harrisonburg, Virginia, gives opening remarks during the III Marine Expeditionary Force Exercise and Training Convention Nov. 25 at Camp Hansen. Jones spoke to the Marines about the intent of the convention and things they can expect to learn while there. The convention was set-up much like a job fair, in which Marines walked around from table to table and learned about training capabilities and limitations, points of contact, upcoming exercise plans, and training opportunities across the Marine Air Ground Task Force. Jones is the training and exercises commanding officer for III MEF. The Marines are with various units throughout III MEF. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Pfc. Cedric R. Haller II/Released) - Col. Preston W. Jones, from Harrisonburg, Virginia, gives opening remarks during the III Marine Expeditionary Force Exercise and Training Convention Nov. 25 at Camp Hansen. Jones spoke to the Marines about the intent of the convention and things they can expect to learn while there. The convention was set-up much like a job fair, in which Marines walked around from table to table and learned about training capabilities and limitations, points of contact, upcoming exercise plans, and training opportunities across the Marine Air Ground Task Force. Jones is the training and exercises commanding officer for III MEF. The Marines are with various units throughout III MEF. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Pfc. Cedric R. Haller II/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.