iii marine expeditionary force and marine corps installations pacific
www.mcipac.marines.mil
april 26, 2013
Expo highlights training capabilities Lance Cpl. Nicholas S. Ranum okinawa marine staff
CAMP HANSEN — Marines and sailors with III Marine Expeditionary Force and Marine Corps Installations Pacific learned about various training devices available to them on Okinawa during the III MEF combat camera training device expo April 18 at Camp Hansen. The annual expo allows service members a rare opportunity to see how the Marine Corps is keeping pace with an ever-changing world, and
ever-changing adversaries. “The purpose of the expo is to inform operational units about training opportunities available to them,” said Herbert Gray, the director of the combat camera center, Marine Corps Installations Pacific. I n a te c h nolog ica l ly advanced world, service members have tools at their disposal designed to allow them to train while providing the most realistic sense of a combat situation. “Our company operates a six-vehicle convoy simulator
on Camp Hansen, allowing units to gain experience in simulated combat convoys,” said Steve Sapien, a site supervisor with Tatilek Training Services Incorporated. “We can simulate nearly any combat scenario, which allows service members to gain a sense of what combat feels like.” The development of these virtual trainers provides the Marine Corps with a safer and more cost effective capability to train America’s 911 force in readiness. see EXPO pg 5
Sgt. Jonathan D. Vanburen trains in a 7-ton truck simulator at the III Marine Expeditionary Force motor vehicle simulator facility April 23 at Camp Hansen. Vanburen is a maintenance management specialist with 2nd Battalion, 4th Marine Regiment. Photo by Lance Cpl. Anne K. Henry
Balikatan 2013 ends with blast 2013 road taxes
deadline nearing
SEE STORY AND PHOTOS ON PAGE 4
Lance Cpl. Nicholas S. Ranum okinawa marine staff
in this issue
Armed Forces of the Philippines Marines fire an M101 105 mm howitzer during artillery live-fire training April 12 at Crow Valley, Republic of the Philippines. Philippine and U.S. Marines took turns demonstrating their equipment, according to U.S. Marine Capt. Ricardo R. Bitanga, the executive officer of Alpha Battery, 1st Battalion, 10th Marine Regiment, currently assigned to 3rd Battalion, 12th Marine Regiment, under the unit deployment program. The training is part of Exercise Balikatan 2013, an annual bilateral exercise in its 29th iteration, which provides a venue for Armed Forces of the Philippines and U.S. military forces to develop and continue to enhance interoperability across a wide range of military actions. 3rd Bn., 12th Marines, is part of the 3rd Marine Division, III Marine Expeditionary Force Photo by Cpl. Courtney G. White
SHARING TIME WITH others
Marines SHARE LOVE OF MUSIC WITH Pacificarea STUDENTS
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Marines and sailors volunteer time at Nagomi Nursing Home for Children, bringing food and fun.
CAMP FOSTER — U.S.-Japan status of forces agreement personnel with registered vehicles must pay the 2013 road tax and display the road tax sticker on their vehicles by June 1. Road tax payment is required to legally operate vehicles while stationed on Okinawa and must be paid annually. Owners of vehicles not deregistered by April 1 must pay the tax. Payments can be made at multiple locations on various U.S. military installations. The joint service vehicle registration office will operate on-base collection points at the Surf Side on Camp Kinser, the Chapel annex on U.S. Army Garrison Torii Station, The Palms on Camp Hansen, the camp services building on Camp Schwab and the base theaters on Camps Foster and Courtney, and Keystone Theater on Kadena Air Base. All payments must be made in Japanese Yen. Credit cards, checks and U.S. dollars are not accepted. “Cars with ‘Y’ license plates are the see TAXES pg 5
REMOTE REFUELING
Marines establish mobile-forward refueling point for multiple aircraft on Ie Shima.
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for the MCCS Tours + Mother’s Day Dinner Cruise!