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Ready at a moment’s notice: 1-1 ADA conducts bilateral training

Japan Ground Self-Defense Force members observe Soldiers of the 1st Battalion, 1st Air Defense Artillery Regiment load Patriot missile battery equipment onto a C-17 Globe Master III March 14, 2017, on Kadena Air Base, Japan. The Patriot missile system is a long-range air defense asset and can be broken down to be transported via plane anywhere in the world in a matter of hours.

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Marine helicopters soar farther than before with auxiliary fuel tanks

A UH-1Y Venom leads the way for an AH-1Z Viper flying by Mount Fuji, Shizuoka, Japan, March 12, 2017. Marine Light Attack Helicopter Squadron 267 validated the long-range capability of the auxiliary fuel tanks on their H-1 platform helicopters by flying more than 314 nautical miles during one leg of the four-day operation, March 10. These aircrafts’ extended range is crucial to maintaining a stronger, more capable forward-deployed force in the Indo-Asia-Pacific region. The Marines in the aircraft are with HMLA-267, currently assigned to Marine Aircraft Group 36, 1st Marine Aircraft Wing, III Marine Expeditionary Force through the unit deployment program. The squadron is based out of Camp Pendleton, California. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Andy Martinez)

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Marine helicopters soar farther than before with auxiliary fuel tanks

Marine Light Attack Helicopter Squadron 267 AH-1Z Viper and UH-1Y Venom helicopters past Mount Fuji, Shizuoka, Japan, March 12, 2017. The squadron, currently supporting Marine Aircraft Group 36, 1st Marine Aircraft Wing, III Marine Expeditionary Force through the unit deployment program, validated the long-range capability of auxiliary fuel tanks on their H-1 platform helicopters by flying 314 nautical miles during one leg of the four-day mission, March 10. These aircrafts’ extended range is crucial to maintaining a stronger, more capable forward-deployed force in readiness in the Indo-Asia-Pacific region. The squadron is based out of Camp Pendleton, California. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Andy Martinez)

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U.S. Leaders on Okinawa Invite Media for Information Exchange

Lt. Gen. Lawrence D. Nicholson calls on an Okinawan media representative to ask a question during the media round table on March 8, 2017, at Camp Foster, Okinawa, Japan. Nicholson and U.S. Consul General Mr. Joel Ehrendreich, spoke with approximately 18 Okinawan and mainland Japan media representatives to answer questions concerning the purpose and reach of the new Okinawa Orientation Overview brief given to newcomers, the actions taken to advance the U.S. and Japanese alliance, and flight policies set in place for U.S. military aircraft operating in and around Okinawa. Nicholson, from Toronto, Canada is the commanding general for III Marine Expeditionary Force. Ehrendreich is the consul general at the U.S. Consulate, Naha.

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Bonhomme Richard, 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit Depart Okinawa, Japan for Patrol

Sailors lower the jack staff on the flight deck of amphibious assault ship USS Bonhomme Richard (LHD 6) as the ship departs White Beach Naval Facility, Mar. 8, 2017. The jack staff is used for hoisting the Navy's First Jack Flag flown while the ship is moored in port. Bonhomme Richard, flagship of the Bonhomme Richard Expeditionary Strike Group, with embarked 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit, is on a routine patrol, operating in the Indo-Asia-Pacific region to enhance warfighting readiness and posture forward as a ready-response force for any type of contingency.

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PHIBRON 11 Arrives in Okinawa for Patrol Preparations

Tugboats guide amphibious assault ship USS Bonhomme Richard (LHD 6) as it arrives at White Beach Naval Facility for a scheduled port visit, Mar. 4, 2017. Bonhomme Richard is on a routine patrol, operating in the Indo-Asia-Pacific region to serve as a forward-capability for any type of contingency.

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Navy-Marine Corps Team Commences Patrol

The amphibious assault ship USS Bonhomme Richard (LHD 6) arrives at White Beach Naval Facility for a scheduled port visit, Mar. 4, 2017. During the visit, 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU) Marines will embark the ship and on-load cargo and equipment. Bonhomme Richard is on a routine patrol, operating in the Indo-Asia-Pacific region to serve as a forward-capability for any type of contingency.

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Starting off right: 18th MTF teaches maintainers core tasks

U.S. Air Force Tech. Sgt. Michael Hust, 44th Aircraft Maintenance Unit lead electrical and environmental specialist, demonstrates how to remove a panel from an F-15A Eagle Feb. 28, 2017, at Kadena Air Base, Japan. Hust helps instruct new electrical and environmental maintainers for the 18th Maintenance Training Flight’s new ENE core tasks course.

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Kadena employs sustainable, decisive airpower in the Pacific

An Air Force F-15 Eagle and Navy F/A-18 Super Hornets fly in formation after a training sortie Feb. 16, 2017, over the Pacific Ocean. The joint training bolstered communications and interoperability between the two services, which both serve to enhance peace and security throughout the Indo-Asia Pacific region. (U.S. Air Force photo/Staff Sgt. Peter Reft)

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Raptors in the night: USAF F-22s travel to Australia for training

A U.S. Air Force F-22 Raptor from the 90th Fighter Squadron lands at Kadena Air Base, Japan, while F-15 Eagles from the 67th Fighter Squadron taxi on the flightline Feb. 7, 2017. The F-22 Raptors stopped at Kadena AB before traveling on to Royal Australian Air Force Base, Tindal. As allies, the U.S. and Australia have agreed to more frequent movements of aircraft across the Indo-Asia-Pacific region.

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2/5 tackles JWTC

Cpl. Hector R. Marquez, a food service specialist, with Fox Company, Battalion Landing Team, 2nd Battalion, 5th Marines, 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit, participates in the Jungle Warfare Training Center endurance course at, Camp Gonsalves, Okinawa, Japan, Jan. 27, 2017. JWTC exposes Marines to training situations and environments unique to the Indo-Asia-Pacific region which sustain operational readiness and enhance forward deployed capabilities. As the Marine Corps’ only continuously forward deployed unit, the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit’s air-ground-logistics team provides a flexible force, ready to perform a wide range of military operations, from limited combat to humanitarian assistance operations, throughout the Indo-Asia- Pacific region.

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Marines raise combat standards for rifle range in hopes of more realistic training

Marines from various units within Okinawa prepare for their turn to fire the table two portion of the annual rifle range qualification, Jan. 12, 2017, at Camp Hansen, Okinawa, Japan. The Marine Corps revised table two of the marksmanship program October 2016 to increase marksmanship skill and realism in a combat environment. The Corps requires Marines to annually qualify at the range to determine their marksmanship skill.

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Humble Heroes rescue Japanese locals

Four U.S. Marines receive Navy Achievement Medals during a battalion formation Jan. 9, 2017, aboard Combined Arms Training Center Camp Fuji, Japan, for their instinctive response when a vehicle with five passengers fell from the fifth story of a parking garage in Yokosuka, a city in the Greater Tokyo Area, Dec. 31, 2016. Once the Marines arrived on scene, the group flipped the car in order to remove the passengers prior to Japanese Emergency Medical Services arriving. The Marines are riflemen assigned to 3rd Battalion, 1st Marine Regiment and forward-deployed to 3rd Marine Division, III Marine Expeditionary Force, based in Okinawa, Japan. U.S. Marines pictured left to right: Lance Cpl. Manaure Arellano, Lance Cpl. James Flores, Lance Cpl. Raheem Gilliam and Pfc. Jacob Boerner.

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F-35s Land in Japan, Launch New Aviation Era

An F-35B Lightning II with Marine Fighter Attack Squadron (VMFA) 121, 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing, conducts an aerial refuel while transiting the Pacific Northwest from Marine Corps Air Station Yuma, Ariz., to Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, Alaska, Jan. 9, 2017, its final destination being MCAS Iwakuni, Japan, to join 1st Marine Aircraft Wing. VMFA-121, originally an F/A-18 squadron, was redesignated as the Marine Corps’ first F-35 squadron in 2012.

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Like Clockwork

U.S. Air Force Airmen tie down and secure munitions to pallets during a Tactical Ammunition Rapid Response Package exercise Dec. 6, 2016, at Kadena Air Base, Japan. The TARRP exercise simulates how the squadron would rapidly prepare munition packages for transport downrange in times of war.

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MCAS Futenma hosts Japanese language class for service members, families

Takaatsu Sueyoshi, right, instructs students on Japanese pronunciation during a Survival Japanese Language Class Nov. 29 on Marine Corps Air Station Futenma, Okinawa, Japan. The class taught students basic speech, reading and writing skills to enrich their experience while stationed on Okinawa. During the class, the instructor demonstrated the three basic writing styles called hiragana, katakana and kanji. After the demonstration, participants practiced reading, writing and speaking basic Japanese words and phrases. Sueyoshi is a library technician and the instructor of the Survival Japanese Language class.

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U.S. Marines hold annual Warrior Challenge in Okinawa

Marines from 3d Reconnaissance Battalion, 3d Marine Division, III Marine Expeditionary Force, carry a rubber inflatable raft into the water to begin the "boating" station on Camp Schwab, Okinawa during their annual Warrior Challenge, Nov. 25, 2016. This event honors fallen Marines in the battalion and consists of nine stations to challenge the Marines mentally and physically.

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Special Forces Support Soldiers Get Tactical Tune-up at Two-Week Course

The 1st Battalion, 1st Special Forces Group is unique, in that it is one of two forward deployed battalions in the Special Forces' inventory. Their portfolio is as diverse and challenging as one would expect of Special Operations in the Pacific. For the enablers, this means being at the top of their game as the Green Berets they support serve far beyond the tip of the spear.

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Marine Osprey refueled by Japanese Defense Force

Sgt. Andrew Sturgress, a MV-22B Osprey tiltrotor aircraft crew chief assigned to Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron (VMM) 262, 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit, walks past Mr. Norio Tomonaga, the Mayor of Sasebo, and the Assemblymen of Defense for Sasebo City during take-off preparation from Sasebo, Nagasaki, Japan, Nov. 18, 2016. The aircraft flew from the island of Okinawa, conducted simulated humanitarian aid with the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force (JMSDF) at multiple locations and was refueled by JMSDF personnel before returning to Okinawa. Sturgess is a native of Sidney, Illinois.

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Keen Sword 17

An MC-130H Combat Talon II from the 1st Special Operations Squadron refuels an HH-60 Pave Hawk from the 943rd Rescue Group during Exercise Keen Sword 17 Nov. 7, 2016, near Okinawa, Japan. U.S. forces will conduct training with their Japan Self-Defense Force counterparts at military installations throughout mainland Japan, Okinawa and in the waters surrounding Japan.

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