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Archive: June, 2024

Participants pose for a group photo during a Host Nation Summer Program event on Camp Kinser, Okinawa, Japan, June 22, 2024. This program hosted a cultural exchange that included challenges and games for U.S. Marine volunteers from the Kinser Single Marine Program, local Okinawa volunteers from Kaiho High School and Lions Clubs International, students from Kinser Elementary School, and participants from Akata Town Children’s Club. This was the second year that local Okinawa participants joined the program hosted by Kinser Elementary School. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Jesse Davis) - Participants pose for a group photo during a Host Nation Summer Program event on Camp Kinser, Okinawa, Japan, June 22, 2024. This program hosted a cultural exchange that included challenges and games for U.S. Marine volunteers from the Kinser Single Marine Program, local Okinawa volunteers from Kaiho High School and Lions Clubs International, students from Kinser Elementary School, and participants from Akata Town Children’s Club. This was the second year that local Okinawa participants joined the program hosted by Kinser Elementary School. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Jesse Davis)

Camp Kinser Host Nation Summer Program

Kinser Elementary School held the annual Host Nation Summer Program on Camp Kinser from June 11 to 28. This program is a series of morning classes that facilitates a cultural exchange between elementary school students from both the U.S. and local Okinawa communities, held with the support of Camp Kinser and Marine Corps Installations Pacific’s G-7, Government and External Affairs Branch.

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U.S. Marines and base residents with Marine Corps Air Station Futenma watch a video during a Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. celebration on MCAS Futenma, Okinawa, Japan, Jan. 17, 2023. During the celebration, Marines learned about Dr. King and the political movements of his time through videos and songs addressing racial injustice and the hope for a better future. After taking a pledge to promote equal opportunity, the Marines linked arms and sang together, showing their unity and commitment to equality. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Jonathan Beauchamp) - U.S. Marines and base residents with Marine Corps Air Station Futenma watch a video during a Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. celebration on MCAS Futenma, Okinawa, Japan, Jan. 17, 2023. During the celebration, Marines learned about Dr. King and the political movements of his time through videos and songs addressing racial injustice and the hope for a better future. After taking a pledge to promote equal opportunity, the Marines linked arms and sang together, showing their unity and commitment to equality. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Jonathan Beauchamp)

A Celebration of Diversity and Positive Change

On Jan. 17, Marine Corps Air Station Futenma hosted an event commemorating the legacy of Dr. King. During this time, base personnel gathered to pay homage to the values the civil rights leader campaigned for. This event highlighted the Corps' steadfast commitment to inclusivity, aligning with the principles outlined in Marine Administrative Message 014/24.

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U.S. Marine Corps Sgt. Yasmine Huley-Morris, the station station captain of Aircraft Rescue and Firefighting (ARFF), Headquarters and Headquarters Squadron (H&HS), Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, and a native of Virginia, stands in front of a fire truck for a picture at MCAS Iwakuni, Japan, June 4, 2024. Huley-Morris recently received the Military Firefighter of the Year award for all military services. The award recognizes the firefighters accomplishments of the preceding year for setting the example of professional activities and career development goals. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Dahkareo Pritchett) - U.S. Marine Corps Sgt. Yasmine Huley-Morris, the station station captain of Aircraft Rescue and Firefighting (ARFF), Headquarters and Headquarters Squadron (H&HS), Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, and a native of Virginia, stands in front of a fire truck for a picture at MCAS Iwakuni, Japan, June 4, 2024. Huley-Morris recently received the Military Firefighter of the Year award for all military services. The award recognizes the firefighters accomplishments of the preceding year for setting the example of professional activities and career development goals. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Dahkareo Pritchett)

2023 Firefighter of the Year

The Military Firefighter of the Year award is an annual award that recognizes the accomplishments of Fire and Emergency Services (FES), as well as Aircraft Rescue Firefighting (ARFF) service members who have demonstrated a consistently high level of performance throughout the previous year.

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U.S. Marine Corps LCpl. Madison Hart, left, and Cpl. Paige Brokopp, both musicians with the III Marine Expeditionary Force Band, perform in a parade during the 2024 Pohang International Fire and Light Festival at Pohang Young-il-dae Beach, South Korea, June 1, 2024. The festival is held annually and provides attendees the opportunity to learn and experience the South Korean culture. The III MEF Band performed during the festival to enhance relationships with Pohang citizens. Hart is a native of Georgia and Brokopp is a native of Florida. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Stephen Holland) - U.S. Marine Corps LCpl. Madison Hart, left, and Cpl. Paige Brokopp, both musicians with the III Marine Expeditionary Force Band, perform in a parade during the 2024 Pohang International Fire and Light Festival at Pohang Young-il-dae Beach, South Korea, June 1, 2024. The festival is held annually and provides attendees the opportunity to learn and experience the South Korean culture. The III MEF Band performed during the festival to enhance relationships with Pohang citizens. Hart is a native of Georgia and Brokopp is a native of Florida. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Stephen Holland)

Singing the Same Tune

The Republic of Korea hosts a three-day International Fire and Light Festival that has continued for over 20 years, attracting over 300,000 people per year. The main programs are the street parade, including 200 performance teams, and an international fireworks contest, in which visitors decide the winning team through an app. This year, for the first time, the firework drone show using 1,000 firework drones was held in the night sky and gained unprecedented popularity. The current Guinness record for firework drones is 1,063 units, and since Pohang is the city of ‘light’ and ‘fire,’ the goal is to present a larger-scale light drone show in the future.

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U.S. Marine Corps Capt. Sean O’Brien, a native of Illinois, and the station ordnance officer for Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, poses for a photo at MCAS Iwakuni, Japan, May 2, 2024. O’Brien was born and raised in Glen Ellyn, Illinois and originally did not think of the military as the correct career path for himself. Now, with over 22 years of service, O’Brien has spent much of his time in the military carving new career paths, leading Marines and Sailors, and building a family. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Isaac Orozco). - U.S. Marine Corps Capt. Sean O’Brien, a native of Illinois, and the station ordnance officer for Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, poses for a photo at MCAS Iwakuni, Japan, May 2, 2024. O’Brien was born and raised in Glen Ellyn, Illinois and originally did not think of the military as the correct career path for himself. Now, with over 22 years of service, O’Brien has spent much of his time in the military carving new career paths, leading Marines and Sailors, and building a family. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Isaac Orozco).

The Right Choice is Not Always the Clear Choice

Names are tremendously powerful. They represent culture, history, remembrance, and perhaps most importantly, family ties. A family’s name is one that connects each member of it to each other regardless of if they want to or not. Names can also command reverence if one's bloodline is highly respected and or did good deeds, or perhaps the opposite if they didn’t. For better or worse, one’s name is partly what makes up one’s identity.

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From left, U.S. Marine Corps Col. Marc Walker and Col. David Banning, the incoming and outgoing commanding officers of Headquarters and Support Battalion, Marine Corps Installations Pacific, shake hands during a change of command ceremony on Plaza Housing, Camp Foster, Okinawa, Japan, May 31, 2024. Banning served for two years as the commanding officer and was relieved by Walker, who previously served as the commanding officer of 3rd Network Battalion, MCIPAC, and most recently as the Assistant Chief of Staff G6. Banning is a native of Oregon and Walker is a native of Virginia. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Sgt. Maximiliano) - From left, U.S. Marine Corps Col. Marc Walker and Col. David Banning, the incoming and outgoing commanding officers of Headquarters and Support Battalion, Marine Corps Installations Pacific, shake hands during a change of command ceremony on Plaza Housing, Camp Foster, Okinawa, Japan, May 31, 2024. Banning served for two years as the commanding officer and was relieved by Walker, who previously served as the commanding officer of 3rd Network Battalion, MCIPAC, and most recently as the Assistant Chief of Staff G6. Banning is a native of Oregon and Walker is a native of Virginia. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Sgt. Maximiliano)

H&S Battalion change of command ceremony

Headquarters and Support Battalion, Marine Corps Installations Pacific, held a change of command ceremony for U.S. Marine Corps Col. David Banning, the outgoing commanding officer of H&S Battalion, MCIPAC, who was relieved by Col. Marc Walker, the oncoming commanding officer, on May 31.

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Children with Zukeran Elementary School play taiko drums during the 2024 Ages and Stages community event outside the Camp Foster Community Center on Okinawa, Japan, May 18, 2024. The Marine Corps Community Services New Parent Support branch hosted the event to showcase available parental resources, including parenting classes, briefings, and home visitations. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Jonathan Beauchamp) - Children with Zukeran Elementary School play taiko drums during the 2024 Ages and Stages community event outside the Camp Foster Community Center on Okinawa, Japan, May 18, 2024. The Marine Corps Community Services New Parent Support branch hosted the event to showcase available parental resources, including parenting classes, briefings, and home visitations. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Jonathan Beauchamp)

Camp Foster Ages and Stages Open House MCCS Okinawa

The event aimed to empower new and expecting parents by providing valuable resources, support, and educational workshops. It enhanced parents' knowledge and skills about various stages of child development through presentations, interactive activities, and informational booths.

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Staff noncommissioned officers attending the Advanced Course at the Camp Hansen Staff Noncommissioned Officer Academy (SNCOA) receive a brief before engaging in a littoral war game on Camp Hansen, Okinawa, Japan, July 29, 2021. Using predictive analytical tools, critical decision making, and feasibility of support, students attending the Advanced School at the SNCOA used a littoral war game to combine their diverse backgrounds and simulate various sea-based operations and strategies. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Alex Fairchild) - Staff noncommissioned officers attending the Advanced Course at the Camp Hansen Staff Noncommissioned Officer Academy (SNCOA) receive a brief before engaging in a littoral war game on Camp Hansen, Okinawa, Japan, July 29, 2021. Using predictive analytical tools, critical decision making, and feasibility of support, students attending the Advanced School at the SNCOA used a littoral war game to combine their diverse backgrounds and simulate various sea-based operations and strategies. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Alex Fairchild)

Camp Hansen Staff Noncommissioned Officer Academy strives for excellence in developing senior leaders and its faculty advisors

“One of the biggest professional takeaways from being a faculty advisor is my sharpened ability in public speaking,” said U.S. Marine Corps Gunnery Sgt. Matthew Brassard, the academics officer with the SNCOA Okinawa. “As a former schoolhouse instructor for my original military occupational specialty, I only spoke in front of around 20 Marines. Here at the SNCOA, I speak in front of groups as large as 120.”