Lance Cpl. Logan S. Gray (prone) and Cpl. James M. Horton (kneeling, right) fire on simulated enemy targets during the rifle marksmanship portion of the 3rd Marine Division Rifle Squad Competition Sept. 27 at Camp Hansen. Rifle squads from the major subordinate elements of the division were selected to compete against each other to promote proficiency in infantry skills. Gray and Horton are riflemen with Company I, 3rd Battalion, 3rd Marine Regiment, 3rd Marine Division, III Marine Expeditionary Force. - Lance Cpl. Logan S. Gray (prone) and Cpl. James M. Horton (kneeling, right) fire on simulated enemy targets during the rifle marksmanship portion of the 3rd Marine Division Rifle Squad Competition Sept. 27 at Camp Hansen. Rifle squads from the major subordinate elements of the division were selected to compete against each other to promote proficiency in infantry skills. Gray and Horton are riflemen with Company I, 3rd Battalion, 3rd Marine Regiment, 3rd Marine Division, III Marine Expeditionary Force.

Maj. Gen. H. Stacy Clardy III, right, receives the traditional Mameluke sword before cutting a cake Sept. 16 at the 71st birthday of the 3rd Marine Division at Camp Courtney. Marine Corps tradition dictates that the first piece is presented to the commanding general and the second piece is shared between the Marines with the longest and shortest tenure in the unit. The passing of the cake signifies the passing on of knowledge and history from old to new. Clardy is the commanding general of 3rd Marine Division. - Maj. Gen. H. Stacy Clardy III, right, receives the traditional Mameluke sword before cutting a cake Sept. 16 at the 71st birthday of the 3rd Marine Division at Camp Courtney. Marine Corps tradition dictates that the first piece is presented to the commanding general and the second piece is shared between the Marines with the longest and shortest tenure in the unit. The passing of the cake signifies the passing on of knowledge and history from old to new. Clardy is the commanding general of 3rd Marine Division.

Marines make their way to a U.S. Army UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter Sept. 12 at Camp Schwab as part of the Exercise Lejeune II joint aerial assault training. The purpose of the training was to familiarize the Marines with helicopter-borne and landing zone security operations before conducting nighttime raids on an objective. The Marines are with 3rd Bn., 3rd Marines, currently assigned to 4th Marines, 3rd Marine Division, III MEF, under the UDP. - Marines make their way to a U.S. Army UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter Sept. 12 at Camp Schwab as part of the Exercise Lejeune II joint aerial assault training. The purpose of the training was to familiarize the Marines with helicopter-borne and landing zone security operations before conducting nighttime raids on an objective. The Marines are with 3rd Bn., 3rd Marines, currently assigned to 4th Marines, 3rd Marine Division, III MEF, under the UDP.

Marines fire an M777A2 lightweight howitzer during live-fire training Sept. 4 at the Ojojihara Maneuver Area in Miyagi prefecture, Japan, as part of Artillery Relocation Training Program 13-2. The training was conducted both day and night for six days. The Marines are with Battery C, 1st Battalion, 12th Marine Regiment, currently assigned to 3rd Battalion, 12th Marine Regiment, 3rd Marine Division, III Marine Expeditionary Force, under the unit deployment program - Marines fire an M777A2 lightweight howitzer during live-fire training Sept. 4 at the Ojojihara Maneuver Area in Miyagi prefecture, Japan, as part of Artillery Relocation Training Program 13-2. The training was conducted both day and night for six days. The Marines are with Battery C, 1st Battalion, 12th Marine Regiment, currently assigned to 3rd Battalion, 12th Marine Regiment, 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. - 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. Nikolas C. Wurdelman returns fire Aug. 15 during platoon-level military operations in urban terrain and counterinsurgency operations training at the Combat Town facility in the Central Training Area. Wurdelman is a team leader with Weapons Platoon, Company D, 3rd Light Armored Reconnaissance Battalion, currently assigned to LAR Company, Combat Assault Battalion, 3rd Marine Division, III Marine Expeditionary Force, under the unit deployment program. Photo by Lance Cpl. Brandon C. Suhr - Cpl. Nikolas C. Wurdelman returns fire Aug. 15 during platoon-level military operations in urban terrain and counterinsurgency operations training at the Combat Town facility in the Central Training Area. Wurdelman is a team leader with Weapons Platoon, Company D, 3rd Light Armored Reconnaissance Battalion, currently assigned to LAR Company, Combat Assault Battalion, 3rd Marine Division, III Marine Expeditionary Force, under the unit deployment program. Photo by Lance Cpl. Brandon C. Suhr

Marines watch as CH-46E Sea Knight helicopters fly over following insertion-and-extraction training July 30 at Landing Zone Falcon at the Central Training Area. The Marines were tasked with gathering enemy intelligence before calling for emergency evacuation from the area. - Marines watch as CH-46E Sea Knight helicopters fly over following insertion-and-extraction training July 30 at Landing Zone Falcon at the Central Training Area. The Marines were tasked with gathering enemy intelligence before calling for emergency evacuation from the area.

Cpl. John D. Huddleston Jr., left, tosses a hook to ensure there are no hidden explosive devices in the intended path of travel while Pfc. David J. Choppa provides security during fire and maneuver training July 22 at Range 10 near Camp Schwab. The evolution was part of Combat Assault Battalion’s field training exercise. Huddleston and Choppa are combat engineers with Combat Engineer Co., CAB, 3rd Marine Division, III MEF. Photo by Lance Cpl. Brandon C. Suhr - Cpl. John D. Huddleston Jr., left, tosses a hook to ensure there are no hidden explosive devices in the intended path of travel while Pfc. David J. Choppa provides security during fire and maneuver training July 22 at Range 10 near Camp Schwab. The evolution was part of Combat Assault Battalion’s field training exercise. Huddleston and Choppa are combat engineers with Combat Engineer Co., CAB, 3rd Marine Division, III MEF. Photo by Lance Cpl. Brandon C. Suhr

Lance Cpl. Zachary A. Chastain operates an assault amphibious vehicle during a training exercise July 15 near Camp Schwab. CAB provides 3rd Marine Division with engineers, assault amphibious vehicle support, and light-armored reconnaissance, motor transportation, heavy-equipment and communications capabilities, as well as, chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear defense assets all within one unit. Chastain is an assault amphibious vehicle crewman with AAV Company, CAB, 3rd Marine Division, III MEF. - Lance Cpl. Zachary A. Chastain operates an assault amphibious vehicle during a training exercise July 15 near Camp Schwab. CAB provides 3rd Marine Division with engineers, assault amphibious vehicle support, and light-armored reconnaissance, motor transportation, heavy-equipment and communications capabilities, as well as, chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear defense assets all within one unit. Chastain is an assault amphibious vehicle crewman with AAV Company, CAB, 3rd Marine Division, III MEF.