From left to right, Toshihisa Takata, Atsushi Sakima, Brig. Gen. Paul J. Kennedy, Vice Gov. Kurayoshi Takara, Hirofumi Takida and Lt. Col. Matthew W. Stover shake hands July 15 at Marine Corps Air Station Futenma during the squadron’s take off ceremony. The ceremony commemorates the beginning of VMGR-152’s transfer to MCAS Iwakuni. Takata is the ambassador in charge of Okinawan Affairs, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan. Sakima is the mayor of Ginowan City. Kennedy is the deputy commanding general of III Marine Expeditionary Force and commanding general of 3rd Marine Expeditionary Brigade. Takara is the vice governor of Okinawa prefecture. Takida is the Director General of the Okinawa Defense Bureau. Stover is the commanding officer of VMGR-152, Marine Aircraft Group 36, 1st Marine Aircraft Wing, III MEF. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Natalie M. Rostran/Released) - From left to right, Toshihisa Takata, Atsushi Sakima, Brig. Gen. Paul J. Kennedy, Vice Gov. Kurayoshi Takara, Hirofumi Takida and Lt. Col. Matthew W. Stover shake hands July 15 at Marine Corps Air Station Futenma during the squadron’s take off ceremony. The ceremony commemorates the beginning of VMGR-152’s transfer to MCAS Iwakuni. Takata is the ambassador in charge of Okinawan Affairs, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan. Sakima is the mayor of Ginowan City. Kennedy is the deputy commanding general of III Marine Expeditionary Force and commanding general of 3rd Marine Expeditionary Brigade. Takara is the vice governor of Okinawa prefecture. Takida is the Director General of the Okinawa Defense Bureau. Stover is the commanding officer of VMGR-152, Marine Aircraft Group 36, 1st Marine Aircraft Wing, III MEF. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Natalie M. Rostran/Released)

U.S. Marine Col. Scott F. Stebbins, right, discusses the U.S. Army Patriot missile launcher’s capabilities with a group of soldiers June 17 on Marine Corps Air Station Futenma. The Patriot missile launcher’s early warning system helps detect what planes are in the air, identify potential threats and then determine the whether hostile missiles have been launched. Stebbins is a Northglenn, Colorado, native and commanding officer of Marine Air Control Group 18, 1st Marine Aircraft Wing, III Marine Expeditionary Force. The soldiers are with Battery D, 1st Battalion, 1st Air Defense Artillery Regiment, 94th Army Air and Missile Defense Command. - U.S. Marine Col. Scott F. Stebbins, right, discusses the U.S. Army Patriot missile launcher’s capabilities with a group of soldiers June 17 on Marine Corps Air Station Futenma. The Patriot missile launcher’s early warning system helps detect what planes are in the air, identify potential threats and then determine the whether hostile missiles have been launched. Stebbins is a Northglenn, Colorado, native and commanding officer of Marine Air Control Group 18, 1st Marine Aircraft Wing, III Marine Expeditionary Force. The soldiers are with Battery D, 1st Battalion, 1st Air Defense Artillery Regiment, 94th Army Air and Missile Defense Command.

Marines with Force Reconnaissance Company, 3rd Reconnaissance Battalion, fast-rope out of the center of a CH-53E Super Stallion helicopter, fully equipped for combat June 17 at the Central Training Area near Camp Schwab. The training prepared Marines for an upcoming deployment with the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit. The Marines are reconnaissance men with Force Recon Company, 3rd Recon Bn., 3rd Marine Division, III Marine Expeditionary Force. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Brittany A. James/Released) - Marines with Force Reconnaissance Company, 3rd Reconnaissance Battalion, fast-rope out of the center of a CH-53E Super Stallion helicopter, fully equipped for combat June 17 at the Central Training Area near Camp Schwab. The training prepared Marines for an upcoming deployment with the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit. The Marines are reconnaissance men with Force Recon Company, 3rd Recon Bn., 3rd Marine Division, III Marine Expeditionary Force. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Brittany A. James/Released)

Misa Sakurabayashi, right, listens to a question-and-answer session with members of the Japan Ground Self-Defense Force May 15 during a tour of Marine Corps Air Station Futenma and Camp Schwab. The visit included a formal briefing and informal sightseeing at each installation, along with a hands-on experience in an MV-22B Osprey tiltrotor aircraft flight simulator. Sakurabayashi is a defense journalist for Japan defense policy and has written numerous works concerning the Japan Self-Defense Force. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Pete Sanders/Released) - Misa Sakurabayashi, right, listens to a question-and-answer session with members of the Japan Ground Self-Defense Force May 15 during a tour of Marine Corps Air Station Futenma and Camp Schwab. The visit included a formal briefing and informal sightseeing at each installation, along with a hands-on experience in an MV-22B Osprey tiltrotor aircraft flight simulator. Sakurabayashi is a defense journalist for Japan defense policy and has written numerous works concerning the Japan Self-Defense Force. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Pete Sanders/Released)

A squad receives instruction on assembling the PRC-117 radio during the battalion super-squad competition Jan. 23 at Range 15 on Camp Hansen. Camp Hansen’s afternoon events consisted of a two-mile hike, an Intermediate Combat Rifle Marksmanship live-fire, a memory exercise, and assembly of a radio to transmit a medical evacuation request. The Marines are legal service specialists representing H&S Bn., Legal Services section. - A squad receives instruction on assembling the PRC-117 radio during the battalion super-squad competition Jan. 23 at Range 15 on Camp Hansen. Camp Hansen’s afternoon events consisted of a two-mile hike, an Intermediate Combat Rifle Marksmanship live-fire, a memory exercise, and assembly of a radio to transmit a medical evacuation request. The Marines are legal service specialists representing H&S Bn., Legal Services section.

A CH-53E Super Stallion touches down at Landing Zone Falcon Jan. 3 during confined area landing training in the Central Training Area. The helicopter and crew are with Marine Heavy Helicopter Squadron 463, currently assigned to Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron 265 (Reinforced), 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit, III Marine Expeditionary Force. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. David N. Hersey/Released) - A CH-53E Super Stallion touches down at Landing Zone Falcon Jan. 3 during confined area landing training in the Central Training Area. The helicopter and crew are with Marine Heavy Helicopter Squadron 463, currently assigned to Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron 265 (Reinforced), 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit, III Marine Expeditionary Force. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. David N. Hersey/Released)

Lance Cpl. Philip A. Rickenbach, right, locks Bryan S. Caldwell’s arm in a hold Jan. 4 during the Futenma Athletics Open Wrestling Tournament at Marine Corps Air Station Futenma’s Semper Fit Gym. The referees used the International Federation of Associated Wrestling Styles as their rulebook and guide to supervise and score the tournament, which was sponsored by Marine Corps Community Services. Caldwell is a maintenance worker for Shogun Inn at Kadena Lodging. Rickenbach is an aerial gunner with Marine Heavy Helicopter Squadron 463, Marine Aircraft Group 24, 1st Marine Aircraft Wing, currently assigned to Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron 265 (Reinforced), 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit, III Marine Expeditionary Force, under the unit deployment program. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Diamond N. Peden/Released) - Lance Cpl. Philip A. Rickenbach, right, locks Bryan S. Caldwell’s arm in a hold Jan. 4 during the Futenma Athletics Open Wrestling Tournament at Marine Corps Air Station Futenma’s Semper Fit Gym. The referees used the International Federation of Associated Wrestling Styles as their rulebook and guide to supervise and score the tournament, which was sponsored by Marine Corps Community Services. Caldwell is a maintenance worker for Shogun Inn at Kadena Lodging. Rickenbach is an aerial gunner with Marine Heavy Helicopter Squadron 463, Marine Aircraft Group 24, 1st Marine Aircraft Wing, currently assigned to Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron 265 (Reinforced), 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit, III Marine Expeditionary Force, under the unit deployment program. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Diamond N. Peden/Released)