Marine Corps Installations Pacific

A family of Okinawa residents poses for a photo with Santa Claus Dec. 10 during 23rd Annual Camp Courtney Christmas and Holiday Festival aboard Camp Courtney, Okinawa, Japan. The festival provided the Marines and sailors of Camp Courtney with the opportunity to share holiday traditions with their neighbors in the local community. All photos were taken for free by the elves with the guests’ personal cell phones and cameras. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Pfc. Danielle R. Prentice)

Master Sgt. Anthony Camina, aka Santa Claus, talks to a child from Kin Town during the 2nd annual 3rd Intelligence Battalion Toy Drive Dec. 10, 2016 at the Kin Town Social Welfare Center, Kin Town, Okinawa, Japan. The event hosted the Single Parent Association of Kin, at which children received a party, gifts and candy from Marines with the goal of fostering community relations during the holiday season. Camina, a San Antonio, Texas, native is the community relations coordinator for 3rd Intelligence Battalion.

U.S. Marine Corps Lance Cpl. Jeffery Deal, aircraft rescue and firefighting specialist, passes a candy cane to May Yamane, a child with the local orphanage, during the ARFF Tsuta Orphanage Christmas party at Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, Japan, Dec. 10, 2016. ARFF holds the celebration annually to help spread holiday cheer to the orphans and to bring service members, their families and Japanese together. Marines volunteered their time and provided the children with a homemade, American meal. After dinner, a special guest came to greet the children. Santa Claus sat in a red sleigh passing out presents and candy canes to the kids. Marines were given the name, age and gender of a child from the orphanage, so they knew what kind of gift to buy for them. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Gabriela Garcia-Herrera)

Gunnery Sgt. Michael Stanley conducts the III Marine Expeditionary Force Brass and Percussion Ensemble Dec. 7 aboard Camp Foster, Okinawa, Japan. The concert was free for the military community and their guests to attend. Stanley is the enlisted conductor of the III MEF Band. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Pfc Danielle R. Prentice)

U.S. Marine Brig. Gen. Brian Cavanaugh, deputy commander, U.S. Marine Corps Forces, Pacific, salutes as a wreath is laid for fallen Marines at Barber's Point Golf Course in Kapolei, Hawaii, Dec. 6, 2016. The commemoration was to honor the four Marines killed in the attack at Marine Corps Air Station Ewa Dec. 7, 1941 during the attack on Pearl Harbor and Oahu. The U.S. military and the State of Hawaii are hosting a series of remembrance events to honor the courage and sacrifices of Pacific Theater veterans.

Guests and service members aboard Marine Corps S. D. Camp Butler, Okinawa, Japan, congregated at the Butler Officers' Club December 7, 2016, to honor 24 Master Labor Contract and Indirect Hire Agreement Japanese employees in their retirement. U.S. Marine Corps Major General Joaquin F. Malavet, commanding general of Marine Corps Installations Pacific, gave a speech expressing his gratitude and respect toward the retirees in their service to the MCIPAC.

Senior leaders from the Okinawa Police Department and U.S. Forces Japan pose with the 2016 Drugged and Drunk Driving Proclamation Dec 6, 2016 aboard Camp Foster, Okinawa, Japan. The proclamation signifies the start of a safety and awareness program designed to reduce the number of alcohol and drug-related automobile incidents on Okinawa. According to Lt. Gen. Larry Nicholson, the Okinawa Area Coordinator, although the number of drugged and drunk driving incidents is down from last year, it is important that safety and responsibility continue to be instilled in all service members.

Cmdr. Teague Suarez relieved Cmdr. Tony Chavez as the 34th Commanding Officer of HSM-37 at Hangar 103 aboard Marine Corps base Hawaii during a change of command ceremony on December 1, 2016. Cmdr. Suarez is looking forward to leading the "easyriders," and is extremely honored to be the next commanding officer. “Over the last year, our squadron has been extremely successful and we are poised to do more outstanding things in the near future," said Cmdr. Suarez, a San Antonio, Texas, native. "We will continue to put exceptional, combat-ready detachments to sea to support our nation’s missions across the globe.” (U.S. Navy by PO3 Aljohn Ponce)

The Second Annual Christmas Tree Lighting was held on Camp Schwab, Okinawa, Japan, Dec. 1, 2016 while III Marine Expeditionary Force Band members play Christmas music. The children from surrounding communities were invited to the ceremony join by Camp Schwab commanding officer, Col. Kevin A. Norton (left), Henoko District Mayor Kayo (middle), and Toyohara District Mayor Miyagi (right).

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. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Janessa K. Pon)

Service members from Camp Kinser serve a special Thanksgiving meal to Okinawa residents at the Promise Keepers Homeless Shelter Nov. 24 in Urasoe City, Okinawa, Japan. The event provided service members with the opportunity to positively impact the Okinawa community through food, fellowship and holiday celebration. During the dinner, Okinawan patrons and service members enjoyed a traditional Thanksgiving meal together. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Janessa K. Pon)

Col. Peter Lee poses for a photo with master labor contractors during the 241st Marine Corps Birthday celebration at the mess hall Nov. 9 on Marine Corps Air Station Futenma, Okinawa, Japan. The celebration was one of many held on installations across Okinawa to uphold the tradition of celebrating the Marine Corps’ birthday, which dates back to Nov. 10, 1775. The event featured a mouthwatering steak and lobster meal, a uniform pageant by Kubasaki High School Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps, and a live performance by the III Marine Expeditionary Force Band and was open to service members, civilian contractors, master labor contractors, and their families to celebrate together. Lee is the commanding officer of Marine Corps Air Station Futenma. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Janessa K. Pon/Released)

Scouts from Scout Association of Japan stand on platforms carried by Marine volunteers during the 23rd Boy Scouts of America-Scout Association of Japan Friendship Jamborette Nov. 5-6 aboard Camp Kinser, Okinawa, Japan. Scouts from both the SAJ and Boy Scouts of America experienced many Okinawan traditions such as tug-of-war, karate exhibitions, a sanshin performance and shishimai dance performance. The tug-of-war is can be traced back in Okinawan history as far back as the seventeenth century. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Daniel Jean-Paul / Released)

Scouts from Scout Association of Japan and the Boy Scouts of America participate in a tug-of-war during the 23rd Boy Scouts of America-Scout Association of Japan Friendship Jamborette Nov. 5-6 aboard Camp Kinser, Okinawa, Japan. According to Bockoras, these moments of camaraderie are crucial to Japan-U.S. relations. “These kids are going to be the future leaders for their countries one day,’ said Staff Sgt. Benjamin A. Bockoras. “So the fact that we’re able to foster these partnerships at an early age enhances an already fruitful partnership.” Bockoras is a radio chief with Headquarters Regiment, 3rd Marine Logistics Group, III Marine Expeditionary Force and a Port Alleghany, Pennsylvania, native. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Daniel Jean-Paul / Released)

Seaman Davis James prepares to collect a donor’s blood during the Pacific Command Armed Services Blood Bank Center library blood drive Nov. 3 aboard Camp Foster, Okinawa, Japan. The library drive is a periodic event hosted by the ASBBC to maintain the blood supply for medical facilities across Okinawa and support operations in the outer-lying areas. Although the blood bank center is located on Camp Foster, the single facility supports operations across the entire Asia-Pacific region with donations from Status of Forces Agreement personnel. James is a hospital corpsman with the ASBBC, U.S. Naval Hospital Okinawa and is a Goldsboro, North Carolina, native. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Janessa K. Pon / Released)