Fireworks burst over Yokota Air Base, Japan, July 4, 2012, during a celebration event. Although many festivals include spectacular fireworks displays, personal fireworks shows are strictly prohibited for all St More
The III Marine Expeditionary Force Band was selected as the Marine Corps band of the year Dec. 18 by a panel of Headquarters Marine Corps judges. “We are all very proud of what we accomplished. We are very happ More
Lance Cpl. Zachary T. Jones sings for Republic of Korea Marines as part of the III Marine Expeditionary Force pop and rock band’s performance Jan. 13 at the ROKMC 1st Marine Division headquarters in Pohang, Rep More
Cpl. Richard L. Wilder, part of the forward command element staff for Exercise Guahan Shield, practices Marine Corps Martial Arts Program techniques Feb. 13, 2013, on NCTS, Guam. Exercise Guahan Shield will fac More
Cpl. Carlos H. Leza, Motor Transport Operator for Combat Logistics Detachment 39, holds the guide-on during a formation during Exercise Guahan Shield. Guahan Shield will facilitate multiservice engagements, se More
Marine Cpl. Vilma F. Selage, a water support technician with Combat Logistics Detachment 39, and Lance Cpl. Maricus D. Hubbard, a Heavy Equipment Operator also with CLD 39, change a water main Feb. 26 on Anders More
Roy W. Moore show Marines involved with Exercise Guahan shield under the hood of a Korean War-era truck Feb. 27 at the Pacific War Museum. Exercise Guahan Shield, an exercise that will facilitate multiservice More
Lance Cpl. Janine M. Nadal counts ammunition March 6 on Naval Computer and Telecommunications Area Master Station, Guam during Exercise Guahan Shield. Exercise Guahan Shield will facilitate multiservice engagem More
Lance Cpl. Janine M. Nadal counts ammunition March 4 on Naval Computer and Telecommunications Area Master Station, Guam during Exercise Guahan Shield. Exercise Guahan Shield will facilitate multiservice engagem More
Marine Pfc. Harley A. Boeck helps with a curb restoration project March 7 during Exercise Guahan Shield. Guahan Shield will facilitate multiservice engagements, set conditions for bilateral and multilateral tr More
A local resident rides his carabao into town March 9 during a celebration in the village of Umatac as a demonstration of how Chamorros used to travel before modernization. The festival, Discovery Day, is celebr More
Marines execute Military Operations on Urban Terrain training with Special Effects Small Arms Marking System rounds March 12 in NCTS abandoned housing units during Exercise Guahan Shield. MOUT training with SE More
Marine Pfc. Naim K. Olverson loads Special Effects Small Arms Marking System rounds March 13 during Military Operations on Urban Terrain training in abandoned military housing on NCTAMS during Exercise Guahan S More
Marines prepare to fast-rope from an MH-60S “Knighthawk” helicopter March 14 for “elevator ops” training on NCTS during Exercise Guahan Shield. Guahan Shield is an exercise designed to prepare for multiservice More
Gen. John M. Paxton Jr., Assistant Commandant of the Marine Corps, shakes hands with Maj. Rob Thomas, officer-in-charge of the forward command element, during Exercise Guahan Shield. Guahan Shield is an exercis More
Lance Cpl. Natavia Carpenter motivates a fellow Marine while his team pushes a Humvee March 15 during a field meet on NCTS. The Marines are part of Guahan Shield, an exercise designed to facilitate multiservic More
Marines make their way through the Guam jungle March 19 on NCTS during field training exercises during Guahan Shield. Guahan Shield is an exercise designed to facilitate multiservice engagements, set condition More
Marines team up with Airmen from Andersen Air Base March 21 for a pavement repair project on Andersen during Exercise Guahan Shield. Guahan Shield aims to facilitate multiservice engagements, set conditions for More
Area Knights of Columbus members lead the parade during the opening ceremonies of the 37th annual Special Olympics March 23 at Okkodo High School, Guam during Exercise Guahan Shield. ervice members from the is More
Participants march during the opening ceremony for the 37th annual Special Olympics March 23 at Okkodo High School, Guam during Exercise Guahan Shield. Service members from the island teamed up with the local More
Navy Lt. Sheila Mulligan signs in as a volunteer for the 37th annual Special Olympics March 23 at Okkodo High School, Guam during Exercise Guahan Shield. “It’s pretty awesome to get out here and interact with t More
Marines learn about Guam's history during a tour of its battle and historical sites March 26 as a part of Exercise Guahan Shield. Guahan Shield is designed to facilitate multiservice engagements, set conditions More
Marines and community members combine efforts March 28 to restore a Liguan Terrace park during Exercise Guahan Shield. The community members are part of the Islandwide Beautification Task Force and the Noncommu More
Marines conduct a “stress shoot” April 2 on NCTS during Exercise Guahan Shield. A stress shoot is combat marksmanship training consisting of quick movement and fast shot placement. Exercise Guahan Shield will More
Lance Cpl. Jeraco J. Jenkins shoots the M-27 “Infantry Automatic Rifle” April 4 on NCTS during Exercise Guahan Shield. The IAR design is based off of the M16 and M4 rifles service members have become familiar w More
Maj. Robert B. Thomas presents certificates to his graduates of the Marine Corps Martial Arts Program Instructor Course April 5 on NCTS during Exercise Guahan Shield. Exercise Guahan Shield will facilitate mul More
Lance Cpl. Joshua T. Van Hoose posts security April 8 during final field exercises on Andersen South during Exercise Guahan Shield. The exercises consisted mainly of raids and patrols in and around abandoned ho More
Lance Cpl. Jonathan A. Gonzalez takes a knee while his unit leader uses the radio April 10 during final field exercises on Andersen South during Exercise Guahan Shield. The exercises consisted mainly of raids a More
Cpl. Aaron Piccolo and Lance Cpl. Dylan M. Czoka provide security April 10 during final field exercises on Andersen South during Exercise Guahan Shield. The exercises consisted of many raids and patrols in and More
Marines repair a stage at Marcial A. Sublan Elementary School April 18 during Exercise Guahan Shield. Guahan Shield facilitated multiservice engagements, set conditions for bilateral and multilateral training o More
Lance Cpl. Elia Bloise posts security April 25 while conducting a field operation during Exercise Guahan Shield. Guahan Shield will facilitate multiservice engagement, set conditions for bilateral and multilate More
Garrett Agun prepares food for veterans and community members from the Nimitz Beach, Agat area, April 27 as they host Marines on Guam participating in Exercise Guahan Shield. The veterans got together with the More
Marines play volleyball with local veterans and community members April 27 at Nimitz Beach, Guam, during their third annual “Once a Marine, Always a Marine” barbecue. The veterans teamed up with the 3rd Marine More
The III Marine Expeditionary Force Band’s drum line performs June 1 at the Camp Foster Theater during the band’s Friendship Summer Concert. “We represent a small piece of the U.S., so I think the community real More
Compressed air tanks sit ready for pickup June 25 at Camp Foster’s Tsunami Scuba after being repaired and inspected. “Before going on a dive, ensure your air tanks are working properly and full of good air,” sa More
Cpl. Angie Pazmino, right, practices approaching a bayonet-armed assailant July 24 at Camp Foster during a martial arts instructor course. The course, facilitated by the Marine Corps martial arts program's Mart More
(From left to right) Master Chief Petty Officer David D. Jones, Petty Officer 1st Class Joseph S. De La Cruz, Brig. Gen. Steven R. Rudder and Petty Officer 1st Class Michael J. Pena pose Aug. 2 at Building 1 on More
Navy Capt. Richard D. Hayden, left, and Lt. j.g. Daniel L. Anderson cut a birthday cake Aug. 5 at U.S. Naval Hospital Okinawa in celebration of the 66th anniversary of the Medical Service Corps. The ceremony in More
Medal of Honor recipient Sgt. 1st Class Leroy A. Petry speaks Aug. 14 at Camp Foster's theater during a conference about some of the effects of combat stress. Petry's presentation, titled "Recovery after the sm More
Marines and sailors with Marine Wing Support Squadron 172 place sections of a landing pad into position Aug. 28 at Ie Shima training facility. The new landing pads help broaden the training opportunities III Ma More
JGSDF Sgt. Takanori Ikariyama hits a high note Sept. 14 at Okinawa Civic Hall in Okinawa City during the 18th Annual Combined Band Concert. Organizers of the popular concert ran-out of free tickets four days be More
Sending and receiving text messages while operating a vehicle is considered distracted driving and can lead to serious collisions. In 2011, 3,331 people were killed in crashes involving a distracted driver, com More
Lt. Gen John E. Wissler, center, and Brig. Gen. Niel E. Nelson share words of encouragement with members of Team Urasoe and the Ryukyu Ruckus Oct. 26 following a softball game at Camp Kinser. “It’s a good thing More
Capt. Lauren F. Reisinger poses her recently awarded Bronze Star and citation Nov. 4 at Camp Hansen. The award was for her service with the Office of Security Cooperation while deployed to Iraq in support of Op More
Left: Cpl. Amanda V. Davis with the III Marine Expeditionary Force Band sings Nov. 16 at the Nippon Budokan Arena in Tokyo during the 2013 Japan Self-Defense Force Marching Festival.
Lance Cpl. Angel Servin poses outside of his workspace Nov. 22 at Jungle Warfare Training Center, Camp Gonsalves, Marine Corps Installations Pacific. Servin recently performed lifesaving CPR on a local Okinawa More
Children of the Nagomi Nursing Home for Children draw on presents Dec. 23 at the home. The presents were donated by Marines of 3rd Intelligence Battalion. The participants purchased and labeled the gifts to eac More
Cpl. Giant C. Luque-Trejo instructs a land navigation class Jan. 24 at the Jungle Warfare Training Center, Camp Gonsalves during the Jungle Communications Course. The four-day course, which began Jan. 23, teach More
Lance Cpl. Jordarn P. Tice uses an oxy-acetylene cutting torch Jan. 28 at the Kin Blue Training Area, near Camp Hansen, during the Maintenance Exercise 14-1. The event gave Marines with 3rd Maintenance Battalio More
Lance Cpl. Jeffrey A. Sapp, Jr. fires an M9A1 9 mm service pistol Feb. 12 during a qualification course at Camp Hansen. The range hosted a marksmanship coach course Feb. 10 -14, which teaches Marines to coach o More
Mayor Atsushi Sakima, second from the right, talks with Col. James G. Flynn, second from the left, Feb. 22 at Marine Corps Air Station Futenma during a tsunami evacuation drill. Both men were integral in comple More
Shigeo Shimizu, center, discusses the layout of Marine Corps Air Station Futenma with a number of advisors Feb. 25 during a tour of the facilities there. Shimizu received an MCAS Futenma command briefing and wi More
Gunnery Sgt. Darrell W. Clark teaches a class during an Equal Opportunity Representative Course at the Ocean Breeze March 4 on Camp Foster. The class gave civilians, officers and staff noncommissioned officers More
Col. Jonathan D. Covington checks the instruments of his C-20 aircraft March 10 at Marine Corps Air Station Futenma following his final flight before retiring from the Marine Corps after more than 30 years of h More
Misa Sakurabayashi, far right, speaks with members of the Japan Ground Self-Defense Force May 15 at Camp Schwab during a tour of the installation. The visit included a formal briefing and informal sightseeing, More
Alicia R. Crotzer waits with her children for the arrival of her husband, Sgt. Randy T. Crotzer, May 19 at Camp Kinser following his six-month deployment to Camp Leatherneck, Afghanistan. “It’s absolutely fanta More
Children with the Nago Sakura Nursery School smile during a song performed by Fumio Iha May 21 at the school. Iha and Marine volunteers visit the school monthly to assist teachers with English lessons through m More
Brig. Gen. Niel E. Nelson offers words of encouragement to staff and officers stationed on Okinawa during a ceremony June 5 at the Camp Foster Community Center commemorating their graduation from either the Exp More
Petty Officer 1st Class Gregory S. Haywood listens intently June 17 during a command finance specialist seminar at the Marine and Family Life Counseling Center on Camp Foster. The seminar trained service member More
Cols. Katherine J. Estes, left, and Thomas A. Pecina, right, bow their heads June 30 during the invocation portion of their change of command ceremony at the Camp Foster Community Center. Estes, a Marceline, Mi More
A Marine Corps Color Guard stands in wait July 4 at the U.S. Consulate General, Naha, Okinawa, prior to an official Independence Day ceremony. The event brought local community leaders and members together with More
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 Stati More
Members of the III Marine Expeditionary Force Band march in formation July 18 at Roberts Field on Camp Kinser during a change of command ceremony. The event marked the end of Brig. Gen. Niel E. Nelson’s two-yea More
The Camp Kinser dragon boat team finishes the final portion of their race July 20 in Urasoe City, Okinawa. The race is part of a three-day annual festival called “Tedako Matsuri.” The event is named in honor of More
Japan Ground Self-Defense Force Capt. Takehiro Oishi, right, discusses responses to a simulated earthquake with U.S. Army Col. David W. Detata, left, and U.S. Marine Corps Lt. Col. Donald J. Presto during a moc More
Students practice a warrior pose in a mixed-level yoga class August 2 at Gunners Fitness Center on Camp Foster. The class is one of many programs organized by Marine Corps Community Services Okinawa’s Semper Fi More
Governor Hirokazu Nakaima, center-left, shakes hands with Col. Christopher B. Snyder, center-right, Sept. 6 during a day of humanitarian assistance and disaster relief training on and around Miyako Island. “And More
Commandant of the Marine Corps Gen. James F. Amos, center-left, talks with Lt. Gen. John Wissler, center-right, en-route to the mess hall here Sept. 11 during a tour of U.S. Marine Corps bases on Okinawa. The t More
Courtesy photo of a Sea Mango plant.
Gunnery Sgt. Shannon L. Farquhar conducts the III Marine Expeditionary Band Jan. 13 during the band’s performance at the Republic of Korea Marine Corps’ 1st Marine Division headquarters in Pohang, Republic of K More
Lance Cpl. Fiona Hoang, part of the forward command element staff for Exercise Guahan Shield, practices Marine Corps Martial Arts Program techniques Feb. 13, 2013, on NCTS, Guam. Exercise Guahan Shield will fac More
Marines with Combat Logistics Detachment 39, form up Feb. 14 on NCTS during exercise Guahan Shield. Guahan Shield will facilitate multiservice engagements, set conditions for bilateral and multilateral trainin More
Marines with Combat Logistics Detachment 39 work on trucks Feb. 27 at the Pacific War Museum, Hagatna, Guam. The Marines are part of Exercise Guahan Shield, an exercise that will facilitate multiservice engagem More
Marines build structures for infantry training March 4 on NCTS during Exercise Guahan Shield. Guahan Shield will facilitate multiservice engagements, set conditions for bilateral and multilateral training oppo More
Lance Cpl. Janine M. Nadal guards ammunition March 6 on Naval Computer and Telecommunications Area Master Station, Guam during Exercise Guahan Shield. Exercise Guahan Shield will facilitate multiservice engagem More
Marines carry a simulated casualty on a stretcher during unit PT March 8 on Naval Computer and Telecommunications Area Master Station during Exercise Guahan Shield. Guahan Shield is designed to facilitate mult More
Marines march through the village of Umatac March 9 to help kick-off Discovery Day, a celebration of Guam's discovery in 1521. The Marines are part of Exercise Guahan Shield, an exercise designed to facilitate More
Lance Cpl. Jose A. Cabrera cools off during a debrief from his platoon commander March 13 following Military Operations on Urban Terrain training on NCTS during Exercise Guahan Shield. Guahan Shield is an exer More
An MH-60S “Knighthawk” helicopter hovers silhouetted March 14 while conducting “elevator ops” training on NCTS during Exercise Guahan Shield. Guahan Shield is an exercise designed to prepare for multiservice e More
Petty Officer 3rd Class Brandon S. Bridges helps carry his teammate after a Humvee push March 15 during a field meet on NCTS. The Marines are part of Guahan Shield, an exercise designed to facilitate multiservi More
Gen. John M. Paxton Jr., Assistant Commandant of the Marine Corps, talks with Maj. Rob Thomas, officer-in-charge of the forward command element, during Exercise Guahan Shield. Guahan Shield is an exercise desig More
Marines team up with Airmen from Andersen Air Base March 21 for a pavement repair project on Andersen during Exercise Guahan Shield. Guahan Shield aims to facilitate multiservice engagements, set conditions fo More
Acting Gov. Ray Tenorio offers words of encouragement before the 37th annual Special Olympics March 23 at Okkodo High School, Guam during Exercise Guahan Shield. Service members from the island teamed up with More
Volunteers sign in for the 37th annual Special Olympics March 23 at Okkodo High School, Guam during Exercise Guahan Shield. Service members from the island teamed up with the local community to conduct the Gua More
Marines and community members combine efforts March 28 to clean up area green space during Exercise Guahan Shield. The community members are part of the Islandwide Beautification Task Force and the Noncommunica More
Marines simulate firing from underneath a vehicle while conducting dry-fire practice before a “stress shoot” April 2 on NCTS during Exercise Guahan Shield. A stress shoot is combat marksmanship training consis More
Lance Cpl. Jeraco J. Jenkins fires the M-27 “Infantry Automatic Rifle” on fully automatic mode April 4 on NCTS during Exercise Guahan Shield. The IAR design is based off of the M16 and M4 rifles service members More
A Machine Gunner provides suppressive fire with his M-240 Bravo machine gun April 8 during final field exercises on Andersen South during Exercise Guahan Shield. The exercises consisted mainly of raids and patr More
Lance Cpl. Hector Lopezlucero pauses while Staff Sgt. Phillip S. Clinton contacts another squad April 10 during final field exercises on Andersen South for Exercise Guahan Shield. The exercises consisted mainly More
Lance Cpl. Liane C. Montalvo and other Marines with her unit build framing for a new stage roof April 18 at Marcial A. Sublan Elementary School during Exercise Guahan Shield. The Marines rebuilt the roof and a More
Marines advance from house to house during Military Operations in Urban Terrain training April 25 while conducting a field operation during Exercise Guahan Shield. Guahan Shield will facilitate multiservice eng More
Marines play volleyball with local veterans and community members April 27 at Nimitz Beach, Guam, during the “Once a Marine, Always a Marine” barbecue. The 3rd annual cook-out was organized by local veterans wi More
Garrett Agun prepares food at Nimitz Beach, Guam, April 27 during their third annual “Once a Marine, Always a Marine” barbecue. As a way to show their appreciation, veterans and the 3rd Marine Division Associat More