U.S. Marine Sgt. Jesus Contreras, a Fabens, Texas, native, yanks on a rope attached to a fuse to pull it out of an inert bomb during Exercise Dragon Crab, a three-day exercise, June 26 at the Rodriguez Live-Fire Complex, Republic of Korea. The procedure is called a tape and line, and enables explosive ordnance disposal technicians to defuse a bomb from a safe distance. The scenario is one of eight meant to test the skills of EOD technicians from the U.S. Marine Corps and Army. Contreras is an EOD technician with Marine Wing Support Squadron 172, Marine Wing Support Group 17, 1st Marine Aircraft Wing, III Marine Expeditionary Force. (U.S. Marine Photo by Lance Cpl. Abbey Perria/Released) - U.S. Marine Sgt. Jesus Contreras, a Fabens, Texas, native, yanks on a rope attached to a fuse to pull it out of an inert bomb during Exercise Dragon Crab, a three-day exercise, June 26 at the Rodriguez Live-Fire Complex, Republic of Korea. The procedure is called a tape and line, and enables explosive ordnance disposal technicians to defuse a bomb from a safe distance. The scenario is one of eight meant to test the skills of EOD technicians from the U.S. Marine Corps and Army. Contreras is an EOD technician with Marine Wing Support Squadron 172, Marine Wing Support Group 17, 1st Marine Aircraft Wing, III Marine Expeditionary Force. (U.S. Marine Photo by Lance Cpl. Abbey Perria/Released)

Okinawa residents and U.S Marines stationed at Camp Schwab pose for a group photo following the completion of a fence cleaning project July 2 near Camp Schwab. During the event, participants removed ribbons and litter from the fence line. The Marines are volunteers with various units stationed at Camp Schwab. The event showcased local support for U.S. military forces stationed on the island and demonstrated the good relationship between the Okinawa community and the U.S. Marines on Camp Schwab. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Matt Myers/Released) - Okinawa residents and U.S Marines stationed at Camp Schwab pose for a group photo following the completion of a fence cleaning project July 2 near Camp Schwab. During the event, participants removed ribbons and litter from the fence line. The Marines are volunteers with various units stationed at Camp Schwab. The event showcased local support for U.S. military forces stationed on the island and demonstrated the good relationship between the Okinawa community and the U.S. Marines on Camp Schwab. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Matt Myers/Released)

Kin Town community leaders, Marines with Camp Hansen and the Traffic Safety Association attended a traffic safety campaign July 1 near Gate 1 at Camp Hansen. The campaign was part of Operation Eye Catch, a mission to eradicate drunk driving in Okinawa. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Tyler Ngiraswei/Released) - Kin Town community leaders, Marines with Camp Hansen and the Traffic Safety Association attended a traffic safety campaign July 1 near Gate 1 at Camp Hansen. The campaign was part of Operation Eye Catch, a mission to eradicate drunk driving in Okinawa. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Tyler Ngiraswei/Released)

Republic of Korea and U.S. Marines maneuver in Humvees while firing downrange during moving live-fire training June 18 as part of Korean Marine Exchange Program 14-8 at the Susungri Range in Pohang, South Korea. The range gave the Marines a better perspective on the difficulties of firing from moving vehicles. KMEP 14-8 is a combined, small-unit training exercise that enhances the combat readiness and interoperability of ROK and U.S. Marine Corps forces. The U.S. Marines are with 3rd Law Enforcement Battalion, III Marine Expeditionary Force Headquarters Group, III MEF. The ROK Marines are with Military Police Company, 1st ROK Marine Division. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Drew Tech/Released) - Republic of Korea and U.S. Marines maneuver in Humvees while firing downrange during moving live-fire training June 18 as part of Korean Marine Exchange Program 14-8 at the Susungri Range in Pohang, South Korea. The range gave the Marines a better perspective on the difficulties of firing from moving vehicles. KMEP 14-8 is a combined, small-unit training exercise that enhances the combat readiness and interoperability of ROK and U.S. Marine Corps forces. The U.S. Marines are with 3rd Law Enforcement Battalion, III Marine Expeditionary Force Headquarters Group, III MEF. The ROK Marines are with Military Police Company, 1st ROK Marine Division. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Drew Tech/Released)

CAMP FOSTER, OKINAWA, Japan — Lance Cpl. Viviana R. Martinez, a Yuba City, California, native, works at her desk July 3 at Camp Foster, Okinawa, Japan. Martinez was recently selected to participate in the Ground Combat Element Integrated Task Force, a battalion comprised of 500 Marines, a fourth of them being females, for a yearlong volunteer program designed to evaluate female Marines under combat arms predeployment conditions. The program will assess how women integrate into combat arms military occupational specialties. Martinez is slated to report to the School of Infantry-East to begin training July 22 at Camp Lejeune, North Carolina. Martinez is a supply administration and operations specialist with Marine Wing Communications Squadron 18, Marine Air Control Group 18, 1st Marine Aircraft Wing, III Marine Expeditionary Force. - CAMP FOSTER, OKINAWA, Japan — Lance Cpl. Viviana R. Martinez, a Yuba City, California, native, works at her desk July 3 at Camp Foster, Okinawa, Japan. Martinez was recently selected to participate in the Ground Combat Element Integrated Task Force, a battalion comprised of 500 Marines, a fourth of them being females, for a yearlong volunteer program designed to evaluate female Marines under combat arms predeployment conditions. The program will assess how women integrate into combat arms military occupational specialties. Martinez is slated to report to the School of Infantry-East to begin training July 22 at Camp Lejeune, North Carolina. Martinez is a supply administration and operations specialist with Marine Wing Communications Squadron 18, Marine Air Control Group 18, 1st Marine Aircraft Wing, III Marine Expeditionary Force.

Assault amphibious vehicles are staged during a live-fire training evolution June 25 at Camp Schwab. Marines fired weapons mounted on AAVs to prepare for a live-fire maneuver in July as part of the Korean Marine Exchange Program. The AAVs and crew members are with 3rd Assault Amphibian Battalion, currently assigned to Combat Assault Battalion, 3rd Marine Division, III Marine Expeditionary Force, under the unit deployment program. - Assault amphibious vehicles are staged during a live-fire training evolution June 25 at Camp Schwab. Marines fired weapons mounted on AAVs to prepare for a live-fire maneuver in July as part of the Korean Marine Exchange Program. The AAVs and crew members are with 3rd Assault Amphibian Battalion, currently assigned to Combat Assault Battalion, 3rd Marine Division, III Marine Expeditionary Force, under the unit deployment program.

Cutter, a military working dog, patrols along the side of a road July 2 in the Central Training Area. The MWD was taking part in improvised explosive device detection training, in which he and his handler patrolled through areas with odors typically associated with IEDs. The goal was to discover all indicators throughout the lane. Cutter is a specialized search dog with 3rd Law Enforcement Battalion, III Marine Expeditionary Force Headquarters Group, III MEF. - Cutter, a military working dog, patrols along the side of a road July 2 in the Central Training Area. The MWD was taking part in improvised explosive device detection training, in which he and his handler patrolled through areas with odors typically associated with IEDs. The goal was to discover all indicators throughout the lane. Cutter is a specialized search dog with 3rd Law Enforcement Battalion, III Marine Expeditionary Force Headquarters Group, III MEF.

From left to right, Caroline B. Kennedy, Edwin Schlossberg, Alfred R. Magleby and Lt. Gen. John Wissler greet distinguished guests while participating in a memorial ceremony June 23 at the Okinawa Peace Memorial Park in Itoman, Okinawa, Japan. Distinguished guests in attendance included Hirokazu Nakaima, the governor of Okinawa, and Shinzo Abe, the prime minister of Japan. The memorial service fostered the ongoing positive relationship between the two nations. Kennedy is the U.S. ambassador to Japan and daughter of the 35th president of the U.S., John F. Kennedy. Schlossberg is an author and husband of Kennedy. Magleby is the U.S. consul general, Naha. Wissler is the commanding general of III Marine Expeditionary Force. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Joey S. Holeman, Jr./Released) - From left to right, Caroline B. Kennedy, Edwin Schlossberg, Alfred R. Magleby and Lt. Gen. John Wissler greet distinguished guests while participating in a memorial ceremony June 23 at the Okinawa Peace Memorial Park in Itoman, Okinawa, Japan. Distinguished guests in attendance included Hirokazu Nakaima, the governor of Okinawa, and Shinzo Abe, the prime minister of Japan. The memorial service fostered the ongoing positive relationship between the two nations. Kennedy is the U.S. ambassador to Japan and daughter of the 35th president of the U.S., John F. Kennedy. Schlossberg is an author and husband of Kennedy. Magleby is the U.S. consul general, Naha. Wissler is the commanding general of III Marine Expeditionary Force. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Joey S. Holeman, Jr./Released)