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CAMP COURTNEY, Okinawa, Japan, - U.S. Marine Col. Eric M. Mellinger, right, shakes hands with Japanese Ground Self-Defense Force Col. Shusei Hotta, June 13, 2016, at Camp Courtney, Okinawa, Japan. Mellinger received a Defense Cooperation Medal from Gen. Kiyofumi Iwata for significantly contributing to increasing training opportunities for the JGSDF by advancing co-use of Marine Corps training facilities on Okinawa and expanding III Marine Expeditionary Force efforts to participate in alliance/bilateral exercises. Hotta is the deputy chief of Policy and Programs Division, Ground Staff Office, JGSDF. Iwata is the JGSDF chief of staff. Mellinger is III MEF chief of staff.