Master Gunnery Sgt. Lars M. Luther, 47, operations chief afloat, III Marine Expeditionary Force, and native of Templeton, Calif., looks out over the Pacific Ocean aboard the USS Blue Ridge at sea Aug. 27, during exercise Ulchi Freedom Guardian 2013. Luther has almost 30 years of accumulated service with the Marine Corps and will be retiring in a few short months. Luther joined the Marine Corps on Feb 13, 1984, entering recruit training in San Diego, Calif., when he was just 17-years-old. He is a Marine with many years of experience behind him, has the keen eye of a senior leader, and is a mentor, teacher and a father figure to those around him, according to those with whom he’s served. - Master Gunnery Sgt. Lars M. Luther, 47, operations chief afloat, III Marine Expeditionary Force, and native of Templeton, Calif., looks out over the Pacific Ocean aboard the USS Blue Ridge at sea Aug. 27, during exercise Ulchi Freedom Guardian 2013. Luther has almost 30 years of accumulated service with the Marine Corps and will be retiring in a few short months. Luther joined the Marine Corps on Feb 13, 1984, entering recruit training in San Diego, Calif., when he was just 17-years-old. He is a Marine with many years of experience behind him, has the keen eye of a senior leader, and is a mentor, teacher and a father figure to those around him, according to those with whom he’s served.
Lt. Col. Larry G. Brown salutes the Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron 262 unit colors as they pass in review Aug. 30 during a redesignation ceremony at Marine Corps Air Station Futenma. The squadron, previously Marine Medium Helicopter Squadron 262, was redesignated to reflect the replacement of the squadron's CH-46E Sea Knight helicopters with MV-22B Osprey tiltrotor aircraft. The Osprey will increase the operational range, agility and load-carrying capabilities of VMM-262, providing III Marine Expeditionary Force with improved rapid-response ability throughout the Asia-Pacific region. VMM-262 is a part of Marine Aircraft Group 36, 1st Marine Aircraft Wing, III MEF. Brown is the commanding officer of VMM-262. - Lt. Col. Larry G. Brown salutes the Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron 262 unit colors as they pass in review Aug. 30 during a redesignation ceremony at Marine Corps Air Station Futenma. The squadron, previously Marine Medium Helicopter Squadron 262, was redesignated to reflect the replacement of the squadron's CH-46E Sea Knight helicopters with MV-22B Osprey tiltrotor aircraft. The Osprey will increase the operational range, agility and load-carrying capabilities of VMM-262, providing III Marine Expeditionary Force with improved rapid-response ability throughout the Asia-Pacific region. VMM-262 is a part of Marine Aircraft Group 36, 1st Marine Aircraft Wing, III MEF. Brown is the commanding officer of VMM-262.
Heita Kawakatsu discusses disaster relief preparation Sept. 1 at the Togami sports field during the 2013 Shizuoka Disaster Preparedness Drill. Kawakatsu, the Shizuoka prefectural governor, stressed the importance of the community preparing to help one another as well as accepting help from the U.S. military and the local government in advance of a natural disaster. - Heita Kawakatsu discusses disaster relief preparation Sept. 1 at the Togami sports field during the 2013 Shizuoka Disaster Preparedness Drill. Kawakatsu, the Shizuoka prefectural governor, stressed the importance of the community preparing to help one another as well as accepting help from the U.S. military and the local government in advance of a natural disaster.
Members of the Okinawa community move out of the tsunami hazard zone to a safer location Sept. 4 during a disaster relief drill performed at Camp Foster. The participants entered through Camp Foster’s gate five allowing them to move directly through the camp to safety. The drill is scheduled to be performed twice a year. - Members of the Okinawa community move out of the tsunami hazard zone to a safer location Sept. 4 during a disaster relief drill performed at Camp Foster. The participants entered through Camp Foster’s gate five allowing them to move directly through the camp to safety. The drill is scheduled to be performed twice a year.
Marines and sailors rush a mock casualty onto a Japan Ground Self-Defense Force helicopter Aug. 31 during medical evacuation training at the Ojojihara Maneuver Area. The training was in preparation for the live-fire artillery scheduled to take place during Artillery Relocation Training Program 13-2. The Marines and sailors are with 1st Battalion, 12th Marine Regiment, currently assigned to 3rd Battalion, 12th Marines, 3rd Marine Division, III Marine Expeditionary Force, under the unit deployment program. - Marines and sailors rush a mock casualty onto a Japan Ground Self-Defense Force helicopter Aug. 31 during medical evacuation training at the Ojojihara Maneuver Area. The training was in preparation for the live-fire artillery scheduled to take place during Artillery Relocation Training Program 13-2. The Marines and sailors are with 1st Battalion, 12th Marine Regiment, currently assigned to 3rd Battalion, 12th Marines, 3rd Marine Division, III Marine Expeditionary Force, under the unit deployment program.
Cpl. Dustin K. Campbell walks the perimeter of the area with his military workingdog Aug. 28 at Camp Kinser in support of various exercises. Campbell is a militaryworking dog handler with 3rd Law Enforcement Battalion, III Marine ExpeditionaryForce Headquarters Group, III MEF. - Cpl. Dustin K. Campbell walks the perimeter of the area with his military working dog Aug. 28 at Camp Kinser in support of various exercises. Campbell is a military working dog handler with 3rd Law Enforcement Battalion, III Marine Expeditionary Force Headquarters Group, III MEF.
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 Marine Expeditionary Force for units using the facility by providing increased access for rotary-wing aircraft such as helicopters and MV-22B Osprey tiltrotor aircraft. MWSS 172 is part of Marine Aircraft Group 36, 1st Marine Air Wing, III Marine Expeditionary Force. - 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 Marine Expeditionary Force for units using the facility by providing increased access for rotary-wing aircraft such as helicopters and MV-22B Osprey tiltrotor aircraft. MWSS 172 is part of Marine Aircraft Group 36, 1st Marine Air Wing, III Marine Expeditionary Force.
Combat engineers completed a demolitions training evolution employing several types of explosives like C-4, dynamite, TNT, Bangalore torpedoes and various shaped charges Aug. 27-29 at a demo range in the Central Training Area. - Combat engineers completed a demolitions training evolution employing several types of explosives like C-4, dynamite, TNT, Bangalore torpedoes and various shaped charges Aug. 27-29 at a demo range in the Central Training Area.
Pfc. Tracey Rodriguez, left, teaches English to Ao Nishino, center, and Anna Matayoshi Aug. 15 during the Camp Courtney English Camp. The camp, which lasted from Aug. 11–16, brings Uruma City students together with Marine volunteers to learn English and interact with one another. Rodriguez is a civil affairs noncommissioned officer with G-3, Civil Affairs, III Marine Expeditionary Force. - Pfc. Tracey Rodriguez, left, teaches English to Ao Nishino, center, and Anna Matayoshi Aug. 15 during the Camp Courtney English Camp. The camp, which lasted from Aug. 11–16, brings Uruma City students together with Marine volunteers to learn English and interact with one another. Rodriguez is a civil affairs noncommissioned officer with G-3, Civil Affairs, III Marine Expeditionary Force.
Ryoko Yamada teaches Pfc. Nigel T. Carroll how to play the san shin, a traditional Okinawa instrument, during an Okinawa-themed evening Aug. 31, at the USO on Camp Hansen. The USO is a nonprofit organization that provides programs, services and live entertainment for United States troops and their families. This non-government agency currently operates 160 centers worldwide. Yamada is a student at the Nikkei Business College in Naha. Carroll is an electrician with 9th Engineer Support Battalion, 3rd Marine Logistics Group, III Marine Expeditionary Force. - Ryoko Yamada teaches Pfc. Nigel T. Carroll how to play the san shin, a traditional Okinawa instrument, during an Okinawa-themed evening Aug. 31, at the USO on Camp Hansen. The USO is a nonprofit organization that provides programs, services and live entertainment for United States troops and their families. This non-government agency currently operates 160 centers worldwide. Yamada is a student at the Nikkei Business College in Naha. Carroll is an electrician with 9th Engineer Support Battalion, 3rd Marine Logistics Group, III Marine Expeditionary Force.