A security post stands inside the concertina wired perimeter of a forward operations base Feb. 3 on Ie Shima, Okinawa, Japan. Marines with 9th Engineer Support Battalion, 3rd Marine Logistics Group, III Marine Expeditionary Force performed a field training exercise Jan. 25 to Feb. 4. The purpose of the exercise was to test the unit’s ability to deploy and command and control ability over a wide area. Along with being physically exhausted, the Marines mental stamina were put to the test by standing constant security shifts. - A security post stands inside the concertina wired perimeter of a forward operations base Feb. 3 on Ie Shima, Okinawa, Japan. Marines with 9th Engineer Support Battalion, 3rd Marine Logistics Group, III Marine Expeditionary Force performed a field training exercise Jan. 25 to Feb. 4. The purpose of the exercise was to test the unit’s ability to deploy and command and control ability over a wide area. Along with being physically exhausted, the Marines mental stamina were put to the test by standing constant security shifts.

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.

U.S. Marines lead a foot patrol Dec. 9 during Forest Light 15-1 at the Oyanohara Training Area in Yamato, 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. The Marines are with 2nd Battalion, 9th Marine Regiment, currently attached to 4th Marine Regiment, 3rd Marine Division, III Marine Expeditionary Force, under the unit deployment program. - U.S. Marines lead a foot patrol Dec. 9 during Forest Light 15-1 at the Oyanohara Training Area in Yamato, 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. The Marines are with 2nd Battalion, 9th Marine Regiment, currently attached to 4th Marine Regiment, 3rd Marine Division, III Marine Expeditionary Force, under the unit deployment program.

U.S. Marine Staff Sgt. Ryan T. Watson, right, receives a bouquet of flowers from a student Dec. 5 at Chinzei High School in Kumamoto prefecture, Japan. Marines participating in Forest Light 15-1 took a day off from training to visit local high schools to exchange culture lessons with the student. 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 in a bilateral training environment. Watson, from Tulsa, Oklahoma, is an infantry unit leader with 2nd Battalion, 9th Marine Regiment, currently assigned to 4th Marine Regiment, 3rd Marine Division, III Marine Expeditionary Force, under the unit deployment program. - U.S. Marine Staff Sgt. Ryan T. Watson, right, receives a bouquet of flowers from a student Dec. 5 at Chinzei High School in Kumamoto prefecture, Japan. Marines participating in Forest Light 15-1 took a day off from training to visit local high schools to exchange culture lessons with the student. 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 in a bilateral training environment. Watson, from Tulsa, Oklahoma, is an infantry unit leader with 2nd Battalion, 9th Marine Regiment, currently assigned to 4th Marine Regiment, 3rd Marine Division, III Marine Expeditionary Force, under the unit deployment program.

U.S. Marine Lance Cpl. Jonas G. Dewald, right, instructs a Japan Ground Self-Defense Force member during sniper stalk lane training Dec. 2 in the Oyanohara Training Area in Yamato, Kumamoto prefecture, Japan. The training is part of Forest Light 15-1, a semi-annual, bilateral exercise consisting of a command post exercise and field training events conducted by elements of III Marine Expeditionary Force and the JGSDF to enhance the U.S. and Japan military partnership, solidify regional security agreements and improve individual and unit-level skills. Dewald, from Wilson, North Carolina, is a machine gunner with Weapons Company, 2nd Battalion, 9th Marine Regiment, currently attached to 4th Marine Regiment, 3rd Marine Division, III MEF, under the unit deployment program. The JGSDF member is with 42nd Regiment, 8th Division, Western Army, JGSDF. - U.S. Marine Lance Cpl. Jonas G. Dewald, right, instructs a Japan Ground Self-Defense Force member during sniper stalk lane training Dec. 2 in the Oyanohara Training Area in Yamato, Kumamoto prefecture, Japan. The training is part of Forest Light 15-1, a semi-annual, bilateral exercise consisting of a command post exercise and field training events conducted by elements of III Marine Expeditionary Force and the JGSDF to enhance the U.S. and Japan military partnership, solidify regional security agreements and improve individual and unit-level skills. Dewald, from Wilson, North Carolina, is a machine gunner with Weapons Company, 2nd Battalion, 9th Marine Regiment, currently attached to 4th Marine Regiment, 3rd Marine Division, III MEF, under the unit deployment program. The JGSDF member is with 42nd Regiment, 8th Division, Western Army, JGSDF.

Japan Ground Self-Defense Force Col. Hiroji Yamashita, left, and U.S. Marine Maj. Roy M. Draa salute their troops Dec. 1 during the opening ceremony for Forest Light 15-1 at the Oyanohara Training Area in Yamato, Kumamoto prefecture, Japan. Forest Light is a semi-annual, bilateral exercise consisting of a command post exercise and field training event conducted by elements of III Marine Expeditionary Force and the JGSDF. Yamashita is the commanding officer with 42nd Regiment, 8th Division, Western Army, JGSDF. Draa, from Baltimore, Maryland, is the executive officer with 2nd Battalion, 9th Marine Regiment, currently attached to 4th Marine Regiment, 3rd Marine Division, III MEF, under the unit deployment program. - Japan Ground Self-Defense Force Col. Hiroji Yamashita, left, and U.S. Marine Maj. Roy M. Draa salute their troops Dec. 1 during the opening ceremony for Forest Light 15-1 at the Oyanohara Training Area in Yamato, Kumamoto prefecture, Japan. Forest Light is a semi-annual, bilateral exercise consisting of a command post exercise and field training event conducted by elements of III Marine Expeditionary Force and the JGSDF. Yamashita is the commanding officer with 42nd Regiment, 8th Division, Western Army, JGSDF. Draa, from Baltimore, Maryland, is the executive officer with 2nd Battalion, 9th Marine Regiment, currently attached to 4th Marine Regiment, 3rd Marine Division, III MEF, under the unit deployment program.

Marines and sailors execute advanced live-fire training with the M16A4 service rifle and M4 carbine June 11 at Combined Arms Training Center Camp Fuji as part of Exercise Fuji Warrior. The training better prepares the service members to rapidly react to hostile contact should they deploy to a regional contingency or crisis. The Marines and sailors are with Combat Logistics Regiments 35 and 37, 3rd Marine Logistics Group, III Marine Expeditionary Force. - Marines and sailors execute advanced live-fire training with the M16A4 service rifle and M4 carbine June 11 at Combined Arms Training Center Camp Fuji as part of Exercise Fuji Warrior. The training better prepares the service members to rapidly react to hostile contact should they deploy to a regional contingency or crisis. The Marines and sailors are with Combat Logistics Regiments 35 and 37, 3rd Marine Logistics Group, III Marine Expeditionary Force.

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.

A corpsman with 3rd Medical Battalion, 3rd Marine Logistics Group, takes down notes about a simulated patient’s status during a field training exercise May 1 at the Central Training Area. The exercise introduced corpsmen to medical care in a field environment along with immediate actions during combat patrols. The corpsmen are with 3rd Med. Bn., 3rd MLG, III Marine Expeditionary Force. (U.S. Marine Photo by Lance Cpl. Wes J. Lucko/Released) - A corpsman with 3rd Medical Battalion, 3rd Marine Logistics Group, takes down notes about a simulated patient’s status during a field training exercise May 1 at the Central Training Area. The exercise introduced corpsmen to medical care in a field environment along with immediate actions during combat patrols. The corpsmen are with 3rd Med. Bn., 3rd MLG, III Marine Expeditionary Force. (U.S. Marine Photo by Lance Cpl. Wes J. Lucko/Released)

Lance Cpl. Jordan C. Caserta operates a fuel pump at Landing Zone Hawk in the Central Training Area March 27 during a field training exercise. Pump operators ensure the 600-gallon-per-minute pump functions properly while maintaining security. Caserta is a bulk fuel specialist with Bulk Fuel Company, 9th Engineer Support Battalion, 3rd Marine Logistics Group, III Marine Expeditionary Force. - Lance Cpl. Jordan C. Caserta operates a fuel pump at Landing Zone Hawk in the Central Training Area March 27 during a field training exercise. Pump operators ensure the 600-gallon-per-minute pump functions properly while maintaining security. Caserta is a bulk fuel specialist with Bulk Fuel Company, 9th Engineer Support Battalion, 3rd Marine Logistics Group, III Marine Expeditionary Force.