U.S. Marine Corps

Lt. Gen. Eric M. Smith, right, and Lt. Gen. H. Stacy Clardy, III, salute the colors during a pass and review as part of the III Marine Expeditionary Force change of command ceremony at Camp Courtney, Okinawa, Japan, May 31, 2019. Smith passed his duties as the commanding general of III MEF onto Lt. Gen. H. Stacy Clardy, III. Smith said the U.S.-Japan alliance is fortunate to have a veteran of Japan come back as the commanding general. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Pfc. Francesca de la Reza)
Read on Stripes.com
Community News
Cuisine:

III MEF Commanding General Change of Command

Lt. Gen. Eric M. Smith relinquished command of III Marine Expeditionary Force to Lt. Gen. H. Stacy Clardy, III, May 31, 2019 at Camp Courtney, Okinawa, Japan.
Read on Stripes.com
Travel
Cuisine:

See what's happening on your base!

Check out all the great things happening on your base. Events are as accurate as possible at press time. Since times or event schedules can change, please verify events before attending. (This was updated May 18)
An F-35B Lightning II with Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 121 departs Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, Japan, Sept. 18, 2017. An F-35B with the same squadron was damaged by a birdstrike at Iwakuni on May 7, 2019. (AARON HENSON/U.S. MARINE CORPS)
Read on Stripes.com
Community News
Cuisine:

F-35B bird strike at Marine air station in Japan does over $2 million in damage

A bird strike has caused more than $2 million damage to a Japan-based Marine Corps F-35B Lightning II fighter, according to a U.S. military spokesman.
Photo by Staff Sgt. Lucas Vega
Read on Stripes.com
Community News
Cuisine:

MCIPAC Marines break bread at Bravo Company Mess Night

U.S. Marines with Bravo Company, Headquarters and Support Battalion, Marine Corps Installations Pacific – Marine Corps Base Smedley D. Butler, applaud following the conclusion of the Bravo Company Mess Night May 9, 2019 at the Butler Officer’s Club, Okinawa, Japan.
U.S. Marine Corps, Army and Navy World War II veterans render honors during the 74th Annual Reunion of Honor ceremony March 23, 2019 at Iwo To, Japan. Dozens of WWII veterans and veterans of the Battle of Iwo Jima took part in the ceremony. The Reunion of Honor ceremony is held annually to commemorate the heroism and sacrifices made by service members during the Battle of Iwo Jima in World War II. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Sgt. Tiffany Edwards)
Read on Stripes.com
Community News
Cuisine:

74th Reunion of Honor: Marines, Japan honor those who fought in Battle of Iwo Jima

Veterans, their family members, and distinguished guests from the U.S. and Japan will gather on Iwo To March 23, 2019 to pay tribute to one another and those lost during the battle of Iwo Jima.
Sgt. Robert Huber with the Target Acquisition Platoon, counter-battery radar at 11th Marines inspects a newly-fielded Ground/Air Task Oriented Radar Block 2 radar system at Camp Pendleton, California. Program Executive Officer Land Systems recently started fielding the G/ATOR Block 2, which supports MAGTF counter-fire and counterbattery missions. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Ashley Calingo)
Read on Stripes.com
Community News
Cuisine:

Artillery Marines’ new radar brings the distance on the battlefield

G/ATOR, an expeditionary, three-dimensional medium-range radar system, is being developed and fielded in three blocks that will support the Marine Air-Ground Task Force across the range of its capabilities.
U.S. Marine Corps Lance Cpl. Johnathan Delgado, a field artillery Marine with 3rd Battalion, 12th Marine Regiment, 3rd Marine Division, fires a M777 Howitzer in the Ojojihara Maneuver Area, Miyagi Prefecture, Japan, Feb. 10, 2019. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Christian Ayers)
Read on Stripes.com
Community News
Cuisine:

Artillery Relocation Training Program 18-4

3rd Battalion, 12th Marine Regiment participates in the Artillery Relocation Training Program 18-4 from Jan. 31 to Feb. 26 in the Ojojihara Maneuver Area, Miyagi Prefecture, Japan.
U.S. Marine Corps photo by Gunnery Sgt. T. T. Parish/Released
Sgt. Jeff Gajeras
Spotlight
Cuisine:

CLB-31's unsung heroes keep Marines on the road – 'It's a tough job, but it's worth it'

Sgt. Jeff Gajeras, a light armored vehicle mechanic with Combat Logistics Battalion 31, greases a tie rod at Camp Hansen, Okinawa, Japan, Feb. 26, 2019.
MARINE CORPS BASE QUANTICO, Virginia - Marines with Marine Corps Recruiting Command G3 Team develop user stories for the Marine Corps Recruiting Information Support System II Feb. 8, in Stafford, Virginia. Marine Corps Systems Command has partnered with Marine Corps Recruiting Command to develop MCRISS II with the goal of making the job of recruiters a little easier. (Photo by Joseph Neigh)
Read on Stripes.com
Community News
Cuisine:

Marine Corps modernizes how Marine recruiters capture data with new mobile tool

Marine Corps Systems Command has partnered with Marine Corps Recruiting Command to develop a new tool with the goal of making the job of recruiters a little easier.
First Lt. Daniel Asheim watches Marines perform maneuvers using a bridge-erection boat during licensing operations at Naha, Okinawa, Tuesday, Jan. 29, 2019. (CARLOS VAZQUEZ/STARS AND STRIPES)
Read on Stripes.com
Community News
Cuisine:

Okinawa-based Marines practice building bridges in a pinch

Marine combat engineers recently practiced their bridge-building skills at Naha Military Port, demonstrating how to quickly erect a span up to 328 feet long in as little as a half-hour.
Read on Stripes.com
Food & Drink
Cuisine: Japanese

Restaurant Gen: Try variety of Japanese dishes in Chatan

If you want to enjoy a large selection and portions of Japanese cuisine at reasonable prices, Gen restaurant is the place for you.
Read on Stripes.com
Food & Drink
Cuisine:

10 Must-try Spicy Japanese Snacks

Unlike in South Korea or Bhutan, winter in Okinawa doesn’t take a lot of spicy hot-pot-type dishes to get through. That may be one reason why the subtropical island didn’t offer many spicy foods in the past.
Read on Stripes.com
Food & Drink
Cuisine: American

Wing King makes your taste buds soar on Okinawa

The Wing King in Chatan is popular spot for anyone craving that classic taste of American-style chicken wing. This restaurant even specializes everyone’s favorite – buffalo wing – which can be ordered in or enjoyed as takeout.
The Death Taco Rice plate at Hapi Tapi in Onna Village is a generous serving of food and plenty of hot sauce. Photos by Shoji Kudaka
Read on Stripes.com
Food & Drink
Cuisine: Mexican

HAPI TAPI serves up spicy taco rice and cool cocktail

It was by accident that we stumbled across Café & Bar HAPI TAPI. On our way back from a snorkeling tour at Blue Cave, we were headed to a sandwich joint in Onna Village, but their parking was full. Instead, we drove a block down to a different restaurant inside thatt could have easily been just another nice beach house on this stretch of road.
Read on Stripes.com
Food & Drink
Cuisine:

Speakin' Japanese: Restaurant Talk

Sushi, tempura, savory ‘okonomiyaki’ pancakes – there are so many yummy edibles in Japan that you shouldn’t miss during your stay. Sample some of this lingo the next time you’re at a local restaurant to experience some of these specialties.
Read on Stripes.com
Food & Drink
Cuisine: Japanese

Marugame Udon: A good change of pace when it comes to noodles

If you are “ramened” out and looking for a different style of noodle, you should try Marugame Udon. What is “udon” anyways? You might ask. Udon is one the Japanese traditional thick wheat noodles and Japanese people LOVE it.