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.

Infantry Marines move to counter-attack the enemy’s attack in the later stage of the battalion assault course Feb. 10 at Marine Air Ground Combat Center Twentynine Palms, California, during Integrated Training Exercise 2-15. Infantry Marines use amphibious assault vehicles to move across the battle space faster and safer than on foot. The infantry Marines are with 1st Battalion, 4th Marine Regiment, 1st Marine Division, I Marine Expeditionary Force. The AAV operators are with Company D, 3rd Amphibious Assault Battalion, 1st Marine Division, I Marine Expeditionary Force. - Infantry Marines move to counter-attack the enemy’s attack in the later stage of the battalion assault course Feb. 10 at Marine Air Ground Combat Center Twentynine Palms, California, during Integrated Training Exercise 2-15. Infantry Marines use amphibious assault vehicles to move across the battle space faster and safer than on foot. The infantry Marines are with 1st Battalion, 4th Marine Regiment, 1st Marine Division, I Marine Expeditionary Force. The AAV operators are with Company D, 3rd Amphibious Assault Battalion, 1st Marine Division, I Marine Expeditionary Force.

Gunnery Sgt. Kevin D. Pirtle (right) and Capt. Jim C. Wang pose for a photo Jan. 8 at Marine Air Ground Combat Center Twentynine Palms during Integrated Training Exercsie 2-15. Pirtle and Wang spend a lot of time working together in Headquarters and Service Company. Pirtle, a Somerville, Tennessee, native, is an infantry unit leader and the company gunnery sergeant, and Wang, a Fayetteville, North Carolina native, is an infantry officer and company commander, both with Headquarters and Service Company, 2nd Battalion, 3rd Marine Regiment, 3rd Marine Division, III Marine Expeditionary Force. - Gunnery Sgt. Kevin D. Pirtle (right) and Capt. Jim C. Wang pose for a photo Jan. 8 at Marine Air Ground Combat Center Twentynine Palms during Integrated Training Exercsie 2-15. Pirtle and Wang spend a lot of time working together in Headquarters and Service Company. Pirtle, a Somerville, Tennessee, native, is an infantry unit leader and the company gunnery sergeant, and Wang, a Fayetteville, North Carolina native, is an infantry officer and company commander, both with Headquarters and Service Company, 2nd Battalion, 3rd 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.

Lance Cpl. Christian J. Hernandez cleans the breach of a M777A2 lightweight 155 mm howitzer Jan. 30 at Marine Air Ground Combat Center Twentynine Palms during Integrated Training Exercise 2-15 to keep the weapon firing properly. The howitzer is capable of firing high explosive, illuminating, smoke and satellite guided rounds. Hernandez, a Buford, Georgia, native, is a cannoneer with Alpha Battery, 1st Battalion, 12th Marine Regiment, currently assigned to 3rd Battalion, 12th Marines, 3rd Marine Division, III Marine Expeditionary Force for ITX 2-15 as part of the ground combat element of Special Purpose Marine Air-Ground Task Force 4. - Lance Cpl. Christian J. Hernandez cleans the breach of a M777A2 lightweight 155 mm howitzer Jan. 30 at Marine Air Ground Combat Center Twentynine Palms during Integrated Training Exercise 2-15 to keep the weapon firing properly. The howitzer is capable of firing high explosive, illuminating, smoke and satellite guided rounds. Hernandez, a Buford, Georgia, native, is a cannoneer with Alpha Battery, 1st Battalion, 12th Marine Regiment, currently assigned to 3rd Battalion, 12th Marines, 3rd Marine Division, III Marine Expeditionary Force for ITX 2-15 as part of the ground combat element of Special Purpose Marine Air-Ground Task Force 4.

Marines extend the legs of a canopy-style tent as part of the combat operations center for Integrated Training Exercise 2-15 Jan. 16 at Marine Air Ground Combat Center Twentynine Palms. It is important to set up the camouflage netting before putting up the tents because it makes the process a lot faster, according to Staff Sgt. Absalon A. Cabrera, an operations assistant with 4th Marine Regiment, 3rd Marine Division, III Marine Expeditionary Force, and Los Angeles, California, native. Marines working on the tent are also with 4th Marines. - Marines extend the legs of a canopy-style tent as part of the combat operations center for Integrated Training Exercise 2-15 Jan. 16 at Marine Air Ground Combat Center Twentynine Palms. It is important to set up the camouflage netting before putting up the tents because it makes the process a lot faster, according to Staff Sgt. Absalon A. Cabrera, an operations assistant with 4th Marine Regiment, 3rd Marine Division, III Marine Expeditionary Force, and Los Angeles, California, native. Marines working on the tent are also with 4th Marines.