Japanese Ground Self-Defense Force 1st Lt. Ryota Hasebe attached to 3rd Battalion 12th Marines, 3rd Marine Division, III Marine Expeditionary Force for two months starting Jan. 11 and ending March 13. During those two months Hasebe learned about U.S. Marine Corps Artillery and went to Twentynine Palms, California for Integrated Training Exercise 2-15. Hasebe, 28, studied Chinese Literature and graduated from Kokugakuin University in Tokyo before joining the JGSDF in 2011. Hasebe is now the battalion fire direction control officer for 1st Battalion, 4th Field Artillery Regiment in Fukuoka Japan. - Japanese Ground Self-Defense Force 1st Lt. Ryota Hasebe attached to 3rd Battalion 12th Marines, 3rd Marine Division, III Marine Expeditionary Force for two months starting Jan. 11 and ending March 13. During those two months Hasebe learned about U.S. Marine Corps Artillery and went to Twentynine Palms, California for Integrated Training Exercise 2-15. Hasebe, 28, studied Chinese Literature and graduated from Kokugakuin University in Tokyo before joining the JGSDF in 2011. Hasebe is now the battalion fire direction control officer for 1st Battalion, 4th Field Artillery Regiment in Fukuoka Japan.

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)

From left to right, Nanase Mori, Deirdre M. Erkman and Teiko Yoshida pose for a photo in front of the Ryukyu Shimpo Newspaper Museum July 24 in Naha, Okinawa. They spent the day learning about the history of the Ryukyu Shimpo newspaper and its production. Mori, Erkman, and Yoshida are interns with the G-7, government and external affairs office, Marine Corps Installations Pacific-Marine Corps Base Camp Butler, to learn about the different aspects of the Marine Corps’ role on Okinawa. Erkman is a senior at Tulane University, New Orleans, Louisiana. Mori is a senior at International Christian University, Tokyo, Japan. Yoshida is a senior at Senshu University, Tokyo, Japan. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Brittany A. James/Released) - From left to right, Nanase Mori, Deirdre M. Erkman and Teiko Yoshida pose for a photo in front of the Ryukyu Shimpo Newspaper Museum July 24 in Naha, Okinawa. They spent the day learning about the history of the Ryukyu Shimpo newspaper and its production. Mori, Erkman, and Yoshida are interns with the G-7, government and external affairs office, Marine Corps Installations Pacific-Marine Corps Base Camp Butler, to learn about the different aspects of the Marine Corps’ role on Okinawa. Erkman is a senior at Tulane University, New Orleans, Louisiana. Mori is a senior at International Christian University, Tokyo, Japan. Yoshida is a senior at Senshu University, Tokyo, Japan. (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)