Cpl. Calvin V. Montgomery uses his whole body to pull the lanyard of an M777 Howitzer, firing a 155 mm round March 11 during Dragon Fire Exercise 15-2 at Pohakuloa Training Area, Hawaii. Howitzers are used by artillery batteries to provide suppressing fire for ground units. Montgomery, an Eatonton, Georgia, native, is a radio operator with Headquarters Battery, 12th Marine Regiment, 3rd Marine Division, III Marine Expeditionary Force. - Cpl. Calvin V. Montgomery uses his whole body to pull the lanyard of an M777 Howitzer, firing a 155 mm round March 11 during Dragon Fire Exercise 15-2 at Pohakuloa Training Area, Hawaii. Howitzers are used by artillery batteries to provide suppressing fire for ground units. Montgomery, an Eatonton, Georgia, native, is a radio operator with Headquarters Battery, 12th Marine Regiment, 3rd Marine Division, III Marine Expeditionary Force.

Sergeant Major of the Marine Corps Sgt. Maj. Ronald L. Green speaks to Marines March 26 during a visit to Okinawa. The commandant, Gen. Joseph F. Dunford, and the sergeant major traveled to the Marine bases on Okinawa from March 24-26 to talk with Marines about their expectations for the Marines and the Corps. “My priorities are to make sure we have the warfighting capabilities we need, to address the maturity of our leaders and to make sure they have the training, education and the experience that they need to be successful on the battlefield,” said Dunford. - Sergeant Major of the Marine Corps Sgt. Maj. Ronald L. Green speaks to Marines March 26 during a visit to Okinawa. The commandant, Gen. Joseph F. Dunford, and the sergeant major traveled to the Marine bases on Okinawa from March 24-26 to talk with Marines about their expectations for the Marines and the Corps. “My priorities are to make sure we have the warfighting capabilities we need, to address the maturity of our leaders and to make sure they have the training, education and the experience that they need to be successful on the battlefield,” said Dunford.

Yoshihisa Akena poses for a photo March 4 during the 15th annual Hijiki Harvest on Camp Courtney, Okinawa. The first day of this year’s harvest drew more than 250 residents. “Hijiki,” a type of seaweed, is a traditional Japanese food that is nutrient-dense and rich with iron. Many residents look forward to the Camp Courtney harvest because hijiki is scarce in other areas of Okinawa due to overharvesting. Akena said he attends the Camp Courtney Hijiki Harvest every year. Akena is an Uruma City native and a retired Japanese security guard who served the Camp Courtney Provost Marshal’s Office for 29 years. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Royce Dorman/Released) - Yoshihisa Akena poses for a photo March 4 during the 15th annual Hijiki Harvest on Camp Courtney, Okinawa. The first day of this year’s harvest drew more than 250 residents. “Hijiki,” a type of seaweed, is a traditional Japanese food that is nutrient-dense and rich with iron. Many residents look forward to the Camp Courtney harvest because hijiki is scarce in other areas of Okinawa due to overharvesting. Akena said he attends the Camp Courtney Hijiki Harvest every year. Akena is an Uruma City native and a retired Japanese security guard who served the Camp Courtney Provost Marshal’s Office for 29 years. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Royce Dorman/Released)

Marines with 3rd Intelligence Battalion play with preschoolers during the “Play in English Program” at the Suginoko Preschool in Kin Town, Okinawa. The children learned how to say how they feel, the Marines names and the sing/dance to ‘Head, Shoulders, Knees and Toes.’ The Marines volunteer for the preschool every month to help the students expand their English vocabulary, and also for the Marines to better understand the Japanese language. The Marines are with 3rd Intel Bn, III Marine Expeditionary Force Headquarters Group, III MEF - Marines with 3rd Intelligence Battalion play with preschoolers during the “Play in English Program” at the Suginoko Preschool in Kin Town, Okinawa. The children learned how to say how they feel, the Marines names and the sing/dance to ‘Head, Shoulders, Knees and Toes.’ The Marines volunteer for the preschool every month to help the students expand their English vocabulary, and also for the Marines to better understand the Japanese language. The Marines are with 3rd Intel Bn, III Marine Expeditionary Force Headquarters Group, III MEF

Cpl. Victor Santana, center, writes down clues to help Okinawa schoolchildren guess a word during an English word guessing game during the 2nd annual English Day Camp Feb. 28 at the Nago City Youth Center. Okinawa community volunteers and Marines assigned to Camp Schwab helped teach English to Okinawa schoolchildren as part of a Nago City Board of Education Program. Santana is a food service specialist assigned to 3rd Combat Assault Battalion, 3rd Marine Division, III Marine Expeditionary Force. - Cpl. Victor Santana, center, writes down clues to help Okinawa schoolchildren guess a word during an English word guessing game during the 2nd annual English Day Camp Feb. 28 at the Nago City Youth Center. Okinawa community volunteers and Marines assigned to Camp Schwab helped teach English to Okinawa schoolchildren as part of a Nago City Board of Education Program. Santana is a food service specialist assigned to 3rd Combat Assault Battalion, 3rd Marine Division, III Marine Expeditionary Force.

Cpl. John T. Riehl, left, hands Lt. Col. John C. Barry a socket wrench so he can put the last bolt in a Humvee March 13 on Marine Corps Air Station Futenma. The final bolt in the Humvee made Marine Air Control Squadron 4 the only unit in the Marine Corps to be at 100% equipment readiness. MACS-4 has over 140 pieces of equipment they must maintain. Riehl is an automotive organizational mechanic with MACS-4, Marine Air Control Group 18, 1st Marine Aircraft Wing, III Marine Expeditionary Force. Barry is the commanding officer of MACS-4. - Cpl. John T. Riehl, left, hands Lt. Col. John C. Barry a socket wrench so he can put the last bolt in a Humvee March 13 on Marine Corps Air Station Futenma. The final bolt in the Humvee made Marine Air Control Squadron 4 the only unit in the Marine Corps to be at 100% equipment readiness. MACS-4 has over 140 pieces of equipment they must maintain. Riehl is an automotive organizational mechanic with MACS-4, Marine Air Control Group 18, 1st Marine Aircraft Wing, III Marine Expeditionary Force. Barry is the commanding officer of MACS-4.

Lance Cpl. Isidro Johnsonsmith poses for a photo before being sprayed with oleoresin capsicum, left, and attempts to pose after, right, March 6 on Marine Corps Air Station Futenma, Okinawa. He and other Marines temporarily assigned to the security augment force for Marine Corps Installations Pacific- Marine Corps Base Camp Butler, Japan, were introduced to the visceral sensation of the irritant to understand its effects and how to operate if they were exposed while spraying an assailant. Johnsonsmith is a San Francisco, Calif., native and an aircraft mechanic with Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron 265, Marine Aircraft Group 36, 1st Marine Aircraft Wing, III Marine Expeditionary Force. - Lance Cpl. Isidro Johnsonsmith poses for a photo before being sprayed with oleoresin capsicum, left, and attempts to pose after, right, March 6 on Marine Corps Air Station Futenma, Okinawa. He and other Marines temporarily assigned to the security augment force for Marine Corps Installations Pacific- Marine Corps Base Camp Butler, Japan, were introduced to the visceral sensation of the irritant to understand its effects and how to operate if they were exposed while spraying an assailant. Johnsonsmith is a San Francisco, Calif., native and an aircraft mechanic with Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron 265, Marine Aircraft Group 36, 1st Marine Aircraft Wing, III Marine Expeditionary Force.

Gunnery Sgt. Terry D. Lewis reads a letter of appreciation Feb. 24 during a visit to Okito Taxi Company in Urasoe City, Okinawa. Marines with the Criminal Investigation Division of the Provost Marshal’s Office presented a letter of appreciation to the Okito Taxi Company, contracted with the Army and Air Force Exchange Service, not only for their assistance in solving a credit card fraud case, but also turning in items left in taxis by service members. Businesses do their part by staying vigilant and reporting suspicious activity to PMO, according to Lewis, a native of Fredericksburg, Va. Lewis is the central district chief and an investigator with CID, PMO, Marine Corps Installations Pacific-Marine Corps Base Camp Butler, Japan. - Gunnery Sgt. Terry D. Lewis reads a letter of appreciation Feb. 24 during a visit to Okito Taxi Company in Urasoe City, Okinawa. Marines with the Criminal Investigation Division of the Provost Marshal’s Office presented a letter of appreciation to the Okito Taxi Company, contracted with the Army and Air Force Exchange Service, not only for their assistance in solving a credit card fraud case, but also turning in items left in taxis by service members. Businesses do their part by staying vigilant and reporting suspicious activity to PMO, according to Lewis, a native of Fredericksburg, Va. Lewis is the central district chief and an investigator with CID, PMO, Marine Corps Installations Pacific-Marine Corps Base Camp Butler, Japan.

Marines set up their forward command element’s combat operations center during a night movement March 5 during Dragon Fire Exercise 15-2 at Pohakuloa Training Area. Marines use red lights, instead of white, at night to avoid giving away their position. Night movements provide Marines with cover and concealment and provide good practice for setting up combat operation centers. The Marines are with Headquarters Battery, 12th Marine Regiment, 3rd Marine Division, III Marine Expeditionary Force. - Marines set up their forward command element’s combat operations center during a night movement March 5 during Dragon Fire Exercise 15-2 at Pohakuloa Training Area. Marines use red lights, instead of white, at night to avoid giving away their position. Night movements provide Marines with cover and concealment and provide good practice for setting up combat operation centers. The Marines are with Headquarters Battery, 12th Marine Regiment, 3rd Marine Division, III Marine Expeditionary Force.

Marines enjoy a meal with cake served at the 12th Marines Mess Hall March 5 after being nominated for the Major General William Pendleton Thomas Hill Award at Camp Hansen, Okinawa, Japan. The inspection for the award was conducted by a three member team. The team included Jack L. Kleckner, Lt. Col. Richard D. Kohler and Master Gunnery Sgt. Brian M. Velloza. Steele, a native of Mt. Gilead, North Carolina is a mess manager with Headquarters Battery, 12th Marines, 3rd Marine Division, III Marine Expeditionary Force. Kleckner, a native of Richfield, Minnesota, is an evaluator for the National Restaurant Association. Kohler, a native of Marion, Ohio, is the director of food services with Marine Corps Installations Command, Headquarters Marine Corps. Velloza, a native of Ft. Lauderdale, Florida, is the food services occupational field specialist with Marine Corps Installations Command, Headquarters Marine Corps. - Marines enjoy a meal with cake served at the 12th Marines Mess Hall March 5 after being nominated for the Major General William Pendleton Thomas Hill Award at Camp Hansen, Okinawa, Japan. The inspection for the award was conducted by a three member team. The team included Jack L. Kleckner, Lt. Col. Richard D. Kohler and Master Gunnery Sgt. Brian M. Velloza. Steele, a native of Mt. Gilead, North Carolina is a mess manager with Headquarters Battery, 12th Marines, 3rd Marine Division, III Marine Expeditionary Force. Kleckner, a native of Richfield, Minnesota, is an evaluator for the National Restaurant Association. Kohler, a native of Marion, Ohio, is the director of food services with Marine Corps Installations Command, Headquarters Marine Corps. Velloza, a native of Ft. Lauderdale, Florida, is the food services occupational field specialist with Marine Corps Installations Command, Headquarters Marine Corps.