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Cobra Gold 18 | 1st MAW arrives to Thailand in support of CG18

U.S. Marines with Marine Heavy Helicopter Squadron 466 ‘Wolfpack’ unload a CH-53E Super Stallion on the runway at U-Tapao International Airport, Kingdom of Thailand, Feb. 10, 2018. HMH-466 ‘Wolfpack’ arrive to the Kingdom of Thailand to participate in the 37th iteration of Cobra Gold as part of the U.S. Marine Corps Aviation Combat Element. The Super Stallion is assigned to HMH-466, Marine Aircraft Group 16, 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing, currently forward deployed under the unit deployment program with MAG-36, 1st MAW, based out of Okinawa, Japan. Exercise Cobra Gold 2018 is an annual exercise conducted in the Kingdom of Thailand held from Feb. 13-23 with seven full participating nations.

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Okinawa-based Marines refine skills during Exercise Samurai

U.S. Marine Lance Cpl. Carlie Castillo (left) and Lance Cpl. Nathan Peterson (right) escort a convoy Jan. 23, 2018 on Camp Hansen, Okinawa, Japan, during Exercise Samurai. During the exercise, Marines refine their skills to better support Division operations in an expeditionary environment. Castillo, a native of Marquette, Michigan, and Peterson, a native of Hamilton, Montana, are with Headquarters and Service Battalion, 3rd Marine Division.

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Marine awarded for saving local Okinawans from riptide

1st Lt. Aaron Cranford stands with Justin Kinjo and Yusuke Teruya, divers who almost lost their lives at the hands of a rip current, and Maj. John Mahler, former Headquarter and Support Company Commander, 3rd Reconnaissance Battalion, after receiving the Navy and Marine Corps Medal on Jan. 8, 2017, at the 3rd Reconnaissance Battalion Headquarters building on Camp Schwab, Okinawa, Japan. Cranford was awarded the Navy and Marine Corps Medal for risking his life while rescuing three divers and a local Okinawan who were caught in rip current during a recreational dive at Onna Point, Okinawa, Japan on April 23, 2017. Cranford, a native of Fort Worth, Texas, is a supply officer with Headquarters and Service Company, 3rd Reconnaissance Battalion, 3rd Marine Division.

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III MEF General Spreads Christmas Cheer to his Marines

Lt. Gen. Lawrence D. Nicholson, the commanding general of III Marine Expeditionary Force, hands out Christmas stockings to Marines at Camp Courtney, Okinawa, Japan, Dec. 22, 2017. Nicholson, alongside Santa Claus, wished the Marines happy holidays and provided gifts from volunteer organizations to the III MEF command element to spread Christmas cheer.

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Coalition in the classroom: JASDF Student Graduates NCOA

Japan Air Self-Defense Force Tech. Sgt. Masaaki Hayakawa, 701st Squadron, Special Airlift Group, prepares to graduate alongside his class Dec. 21, 2017, at Kadena Air Base, Japan. The Air Force hosts joint classes sometimes containing service members from different countries to promote bilateral ties and education

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31st MEU conducts training at range W-174

A U.S. Navy MH-60S Knighthawk with Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron 21 provides air support alongside Battalion Landing Team, 1st Battalion, 1st Marines, at range W-174, Okinawa, Japan, Dec. 19, 2017. BLT 1/1 is the Ground Combat Element of the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit. During the training BLT 1/1 worked alongside various aircraft to conduct close air support training. As the Marine Corps' only continuously forward-deployed MEU, the 31st MEU provides a flexible force ready to perform a wide range of military operations.

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31st MEU Marines remember Iwo Jima battle

Marines with III Marine Expeditionary Force climb the steep slope of the landing beaches during a trip to Iwo Jima, Japan, Dec. 19, 2017. Marines from across III MEF, the 31st MEU and Marine Corps Installations Pacific, flew some 850 miles east, from Okinawa, Japan, to visit the historic island, now called Iwo To, to tour the battle site and honor the men who fought there in February 1945.

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MACS-4 gets magical at exercise Voodoo Magic [Image 11 out of 12]

U.S. Marine Cpl. Daniel McGinness, an air traffic controller, aligns panels, which notify an aircraft where to land, on Iejima Island, Okinawa, Japan, December 15, 2017. Marines with Marine Air Control Squadron 4, Marine Air Control Group 18, 1st Marine Aircraft Wing, traveled to Iejima Island to be formally evaluated on their Marine Corps Air Traffic Control Mobile Team Mission Essential Tasks as part of the Marine Corps Combat Readiness Evaluation for exercise Voodoo Magic from December 4-15, 2017. This is the first time MACS-4 has conducted this evaluation. McGinness, a native of Orlando, is assigned to MACS-4, MACG-18, 1st MAW.

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Suicide Prevention | Eliminating the Stigma

*** Courtesy file photo ** This photograph is considered public domain and has been cleared for release. If you would like to republish please give the photographer appropriate credit. Further, any commercial or non-commercial use of this photograph or any other DoD image must be made in compliance with guidance found at http://www.dimoc.mil/resources/limitations.html , which pertains to intellectual property restrictions (e.g., copyright and trademark, including the use of official emblems, insignia, names and slogans), warnings regarding use of images of identifiable personnel, appearance of endorsement, and related matters.

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CLB-31 EOD Marines refine counter-IED tactics

Staff Sgt. Joshua Martinez, an explosive ordnance disposal technician with Combat Logistics Battalion 31, prepares to x-ray a simulated improvised explosive device during counter-IED training at Camp Hansen, Okinawa, Japan, Nov. 21, 2017. CLB-31, the Logistics Combat Element of the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit, ensures all elements of the MEU are logistically ready to respond to any crisis. Marines used protective equipment and specialized tools to safely disable IEDs during the training. The 31st MEU provides a flexible force ready to perform a wide range of military operations, from limited combat to humanitarian assistance, throughout the Indo-Asia-Pacific region as the Marine Corps’ only continuously forward-deployed MEU.

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Marines provide manufacturing capabilities to 3rd MLG

Cpl. Devin Perrell, a repair shop machinist and native of Bear Creek, N.C., removes a bolt stuck in a Humvee's pitman arm by drilling a hole through it and using an extractor to pull it out, Nov. 21, 2017, at Camp Kinser, Okinawa, Japan. The pitman arm is the piece of a vehicle that holds the wheel hub to the vehicle itself. The vehicle hardware was given to General Support Maintenance Company (GSM), 3rd Maintenance Battalion, 3rd Marine Logistics Group for repairs.

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Never stop improving; Team Kadena conducts CPI Course

U.S. Air Force Master Sgt. Eric Wize, 18th Civil Engineer Squadron fuel and fire systems maintainer, briefs his team and commander about how the 18th CES can save money by working with the Defense Logistics Agency during a continuous process improvement course Nov. 15, 2017, at Kadena Air Base, Japan. The CPI, often referred to as the Green Belt Course, is a program that instills knowledge, techniques and skills that help Airmen problem solve systems and processes in the workplace.

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A first for the ‘First of the First’ with the 31st MEU

Marines with Battalion Landing Team, 1st Battalion, 1st Marines, exit an airplane after arriving at Kadena Air Base, Okinawa, Japan, Nov. 14, 2017. BLT 1/1, garrisoned at Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, California, is the incoming Ground Combat Element of the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit. The 31st MEU provides a flexible force ready to perform a wide range of military operations, from limited combat to humanitarian assistance, throughout the Indo-Asia-Pacific region as the Marine Corps' only continuously forward-deployed MEU.

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USMC, JGSDF senior enlisted spread knowledge

U.S. Marine Sgt. Maj. Michael S. Payne, the Staff Noncommissioned Officer Academy director, presents a gift to Japan Ground Self Defense Force Warrant Officer Ito Souetsu, sergeant major of 21st Infantry Regiment, during an education event held for the JGSDF at Camp Hansen, Okinawa, Japan, Nov. 8, 2017. The event was held to educate JGSDF service members about the Marine Corps rank structure and the roles and duties of a senior enlisted service member.

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U.S. Marines conduct air assault in support of Blue Chromite

U.S. Marines perform a simulated night raid with multiple rifle squads during an air assault training event at Marine Corps Air Station Futenma, Okinawa, Japan, Oct. 31, 2017. Marines with Charlie Company, 1st Battalion, 3rd Marine Regiment were transported from Futenma to Ie Shima, where they carried out platoon attacks with medium machine guns in support during Blue Chromite. Exercise Blue Chromite prepared 1/3 for service as a forward-deployed force in the Pacific by training them to fight as a ground combat element in a Marine Air-Ground Task Force.

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U.S. Marines conduct air assault in support of Blue Chromite

U.S. Marines board a CH-53E Sea Stallion Oct. 31, 2017, aboard Marine Corps Air Station Futenma, Okinawa, Japan in support of Blue Chromite 18. The Marines conducted an air assault from Futenma to Ie Shima, where they carried out platoon attacks with machine gun emplacements in support of Blue Chromite. The central location of Blue Chromite allows the Navy-Marine Corps team to conduct high-level training without degrading its ability to rapidly respond to crises and disaster throughout the Indo-Asia- Pacific region. The Marines are with Charlie Co., 1st Battalion, 3rd Marine Regiment.

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MASS-2 completes DASC operations in South Korea

Marines with Marine Air Support Squadron 2, Marine Air Control Group 18, Marine Aircraft Group 36, 1st Marine Aircraft Wing, walk across a field in South Korea during exercise Midori Guardian 17, which was held from September 5 to October 15, 2017. Midori Guardian, a Unit Level Training event aimed at enhancing squadron readiness while in a field environment, utilizes simulated real-world scenarios focused on Direct Air Support Center and an Air Support Element operations, live-fire ranges, and Marine Corps Common Skills training to prepare the unit for future operations.

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MASS-2 completes DASC operations in South Korea

Marines with Marine Air Support Squadron 2, Marine Air Control Group 18, Marine Aircraft Group 36, 1st Marine Aircraft Wing, conduct training in South Korea during exercise Midori Guardian 17, which was held from September 5 to October 15, 2017. Midori Guardian, a Unit Level Training event aimed at enhancing squadron readiness while in a field environment, utilizes simulated real-world scenarios focused on Direct Air Support Center and an Air Support Element operations, live-fire ranges, and Marine Corps Common Skills training to prepare the unit for future operations.

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Naval Mobile Construction Battalion 4 assumes charge in Western Pacific

Naval Mobile Construction Battalion (NMCB) 4 Command Officer, Cmdr. James Cho (right) receives authority of Camp Shields in Okinawa, Japan from NMCB 3 Commanding Officer, Cmdr. Joseph Harder (left) during a Relief in Place/Transfer of Authority (RIP/TOA) ceremony in Okinawa, Japan. NMCB 4 is the forward deployed Pacific NMCB, ready to support major combat operations and to provide general engineering and civil support to Navy, Marine Corps and joint operational forces.

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Mission Oriented Protective Posture Up, be Ready

U.S. Air Force Capt. Chris Popham, 18th Medical Group medical control center team chief (left), assists U.S. Air Force Senior Airman Adam Henry, 18th MDG MCC member, adjust the hood of his Mission Oriented Protective Posture gear Oct. 12, 2017, at Kadena Air Base, Japan. Ensuring all personnel can safely wear all of their MOPP gear prepares Airmen to use it in the event their environment becomes hazardous.

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