Community News

CAMP HANSEN, OKINAWA, Japan (Nov. 20, 2017) – 1st Marine Battalion, 1st Marine Regiment, 1st Marine Division, joined the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit in Okinawa, Japan, Nov. 20, 2017. This is the first time Battalion Landing Team, 1st Battalion, 1st Marines, will deploy as the Ground Combat Element of the 31st MEU.

U.S. Army Gen. Vincent K. Brooks, the Commander of United States Forces Korea, stands with U.S. Marines from Marine Medium Tilt-rotor Squadron 262 aboard Marine Corps Air Station Futenma in Okinawa, Japan, Nov. 17, 2017. Brooks met with the Marines and spoke about the U.S. alliance with the Republic of Korea in the Asia-Pacific region.

A member of the 31st Rescue Squadron provides rides to attendees of the 2017 Rescue Fest, Nov. 18, 2017, at Kadena Air Base, Japan. Airmen demonstrate rescue capabilities of the 31st and 33rd Rescue Squadrons during Rescue Fest, an annual event held to educate members and their families on rescue tactics.

KADENA AIR BASE, Japan -- U.S. Air Force 1st Lt. David Moore, 34th Fighter Squadron F-35 pilot, goes through pre-flight procedures Nov. 16, 2017, at Kadena Air Base, Japan. The F-35A provides the warfighter unprecedented situational awareness and the required survivability to fight and win in highly contested environments.

A set of human bones thought to be 27,000 years old was found on Okinawa’s Ishigaki Island in 2016. This is thought to be the oldest human set of bones ever found in Japan. Prior to that discovery, an estimated 22,000-yearold bones were found on Okinawa’s main island and deemed to be the oldest in the country at the time.

William Hagerty, U.S. Ambassador to Japan, lands at Camp Schwab, Okinawa, Japan, November 14, 2017 after flying in an MV-22B Osprey attached to Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron 262.

Hagerty visited Okinawa Prefecture, where he met with Japanese government and U.S. military officials.