LEADERS

Marine Fighter Attack Squadron (VMFA)-314, forward deployed to Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, Marine Aviation Logistics Squadron 12, and Japan Air Self-Defense Force participated in Operation Kibagata during the Komatsu Aviation Training Relocation exercise at Komatsu Air Base, Japan, March 12, 2016. Operation Kibagata, a community relations event designed to clean up the local community, brought U.S. and Japanese forces and their families together to clean Kibagata Park. Community relations events are an important aspect of strengthening the unique relationship between the U.S and Japan. - Marine Fighter Attack Squadron (VMFA)-314, forward deployed to Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, Marine Aviation Logistics Squadron 12, and Japan Air Self-Defense Force participated in Operation Kibagata during the Komatsu Aviation Training Relocation exercise at Komatsu Air Base, Japan, March 12, 2016. Operation Kibagata, a community relations event designed to clean up the local community, brought U.S. and Japanese forces and their families together to clean Kibagata Park. Community relations events are an important aspect of strengthening the unique relationship between the U.S and Japan.

U.S. Marines put out the last few spot fires on an engulfed aircraft during a training exercise with Royal Thai sailors as part of Exercise Cobra Gold 16 at Utapao, Thailand, Feb. 19, 2016. The Marines and Thai sailors trained together throughout the exercise to build relationships and skills. Cobra Gold is a multi-national exercise designed to increase cooperation and interoperability between participating nations in the Asia-Pacific. The Marines are with the aircraft rescue and firefighting section with Marine Wing Support Squadron 172, Marine Aircraft Group 36. 1st Marines Aircraft Wing, III Marine Expeditionary Force. - U.S. Marines put out the last few spot fires on an engulfed aircraft during a training exercise with Royal Thai sailors as part of Exercise Cobra Gold 16 at Utapao, Thailand, Feb. 19, 2016. The Marines and Thai sailors trained together throughout the exercise to build relationships and skills. Cobra Gold is a multi-national exercise designed to increase cooperation and interoperability between participating nations in the Asia-Pacific. The Marines are with the aircraft rescue and firefighting section with Marine Wing Support Squadron 172, Marine Aircraft Group 36. 1st Marines Aircraft Wing, III Marine Expeditionary Force.

Left to right: Mr. Channa Eiumsang, governor of Trat Province; U.S. Marine Corps Brig. Gen. Russell Sanborn, commanding general of 1st Marine Aircraft Wing, III Marine Expeditionary Force; Royal Thai Army Gen. Wichien Sirisoonthorn, Royal Thai Armed Forces Headquarters; Malaysian Army Lt. Col. Made Trika, Malaysian Armed Forces. The distinguished visitors watched the dedication ceremony of a one-room multi-purpose educational building Feb. 18 at Ban Sa Yai, Trat, Thailand. The construction at Ban Sa Yai was one of six humanitarian civic action sites in which the Thai, U.S. and partner nation’s militaries will worked together on civic programs during Cobra Gold 2016. Cobra Gold, in its 35th iteration, demonstrates the commitment of the Kingdom of Thailand and the U.S. to our long-standing alliance and regional partnership toward advancing prosperity and security in the Indo-Asia Pacific region. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by SSgt. Jose O. Nava/Released) - Left to right: Mr. Channa Eiumsang, governor of Trat Province; U.S. Marine Corps Brig. Gen. Russell Sanborn, commanding general of 1st Marine Aircraft Wing, III Marine Expeditionary Force; Royal Thai Army Gen. Wichien Sirisoonthorn, Royal Thai Armed Forces Headquarters; Malaysian Army Lt. Col. Made Trika, Malaysian Armed Forces. The distinguished visitors watched the dedication ceremony of a one-room multi-purpose educational building Feb. 18 at Ban Sa Yai, Trat, Thailand. The construction at Ban Sa Yai was one of six humanitarian civic action sites in which the Thai, U.S. and partner nation’s militaries will worked together on civic programs during Cobra Gold 2016. Cobra Gold, in its 35th iteration, demonstrates the commitment of the Kingdom of Thailand and the U.S. to our long-standing alliance and regional partnership toward advancing prosperity and security in the Indo-Asia Pacific region. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by SSgt. Jose O. Nava/Released)

Japanese observers tour and examine a MV-22 Osprey during a noncombatant evacuation demonstration as part of exercise Cobra Gold 16 at Utapao, Thailand, February 17, 2016. U.S. Marines put an Osprey on static display during the demonstration while partner nations exercised their own evacuation capabilities. The Osprey provides a longer flight range and a bigger capacity for supplies compared to traditional helicopters, but allows service members to access smaller areas compared to traditional fixed-wing aircraft. Cobra Gold, in its 35th iteration, is a multi-national exercise designed to advance regional security and ensure effective responses to regional crises by bringing together a robust combined task force from partner nations sharing common goals and security commitments in the Asia-Pacific region. The Osprey is with Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron 262, Marine Aircraft Group 36, 1st Marine Aircraft Wing, III Marine Expeditionary Force. - Japanese observers tour and examine a MV-22 Osprey during a noncombatant evacuation demonstration as part of exercise Cobra Gold 16 at Utapao, Thailand, February 17, 2016. U.S. Marines put an Osprey on static display during the demonstration while partner nations exercised their own evacuation capabilities. The Osprey provides a longer flight range and a bigger capacity for supplies compared to traditional helicopters, but allows service members to access smaller areas compared to traditional fixed-wing aircraft. Cobra Gold, in its 35th iteration, is a multi-national exercise designed to advance regional security and ensure effective responses to regional crises by bringing together a robust combined task force from partner nations sharing common goals and security commitments in the Asia-Pacific region. The Osprey is with Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron 262, Marine Aircraft Group 36, 1st Marine Aircraft Wing, III Marine Expeditionary Force.

Marines with Marine Medium Helicopter Squadron 262 practice landing the MV-22B Osprey and taking off from the USS Ashland, during Cobra Gold 16 test flights at Utapao, Thailand, February 16, 2016. The MV-22B Osprey is a joint service multirole combat aircraft that is capable of moving troops or cargo at a high speed rate. Cobra Gold is designed to improve the quality of life and building on the commitment to bettering the Indo-Asia-Pacific. Marines are with VMM-262, Marine Aircraft Group 36, 1st Marine Aircraft Wing, III Marine Expeditionary Force. - Marines with Marine Medium Helicopter Squadron 262 practice landing the MV-22B Osprey and taking off from the USS Ashland, during Cobra Gold 16 test flights at Utapao, Thailand, February 16, 2016. The MV-22B Osprey is a joint service multirole combat aircraft that is capable of moving troops or cargo at a high speed rate. Cobra Gold is designed to improve the quality of life and building on the commitment to bettering the Indo-Asia-Pacific. Marines are with VMM-262, Marine Aircraft Group 36, 1st Marine Aircraft Wing, III Marine Expeditionary Force.

Two Marines work together to refuel a UH-1Y Huey before a flight during Exercise Cobra Gold in Utapao, Thailand, Feb. 16, 2016. Logistic and aviation units work together to practice the characteristics of a Marine Air-Ground Task Force. Cobra Gold is a multi-national exercise designed to build partnership and interoperability between participating nations. The Marines are with Marine Wing Support Squadron 172, Marine Aircraft Group 36. 1st Marine Aircraft Wing, III Marine Expeditionary Force. - Two Marines work together to refuel a UH-1Y Huey before a flight during Exercise Cobra Gold in Utapao, Thailand, Feb. 16, 2016. Logistic and aviation units work together to practice the characteristics of a Marine Air-Ground Task Force. Cobra Gold is a multi-national exercise designed to build partnership and interoperability between participating nations. The Marines are with Marine Wing Support Squadron 172, Marine Aircraft Group 36. 1st Marine Aircraft Wing, III Marine Expeditionary Force.

Sgt. Eric M. Ekelund prepares an MV-22B Osprey to land the tactical recovery of aircraft and personal force during a Cobra Gold 16 demonstration at Utapao, Thailand February 15. During the scenario-based training the MV-22B Osprey unloads the TRAP force personnel so they can continue on foot to rescue the simulated casualty. Cobra Gold is a multi-national exercise that focuses on increasing relationships and capabilities of participating countries by training to form solutions to common challenges. Ekelund, from Bay Shore, New York is with Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron 262, Marine Aircraft Group 36, 1st Marine Aircraft Wing, III Marine Expeditionary Force. - Sgt. Eric M. Ekelund prepares an MV-22B Osprey to land the tactical recovery of aircraft and personal force during a Cobra Gold 16 demonstration at Utapao, Thailand February 15. During the scenario-based training the MV-22B Osprey unloads the TRAP force personnel so they can continue on foot to rescue the simulated casualty. Cobra Gold is a multi-national exercise that focuses on increasing relationships and capabilities of participating countries by training to form solutions to common challenges. Ekelund, from Bay Shore, New York is with Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron 262, Marine Aircraft Group 36, 1st Marine Aircraft Wing, III Marine Expeditionary Force.

Sgt. Kyle J. Mohr (Left) and Cpl. Erik A. Dudley prepare a UH-1Y Huey for a flight mission during an amphibious demonstration as part of exercise Cobra Gold 16 in Utapao, Thailand, Feb. 12, 2016. Mohr and Dudley must prepare the aircraft for their pilot’s inspection, as well as perform their own inspections, before every flight. The amphibious demonstration is designed to increase naval interoperability and logistics capabilities. Dudley, a Bath, Maine, native, is an aerial observer and flight line mechanic. Mohr, a Two Rivers, Wis., native, is a crew chief. Both Marines are with Light Attack Helicopter Squadron 167, which is currently supporting Marine Aircraft Group 36, 1st Marine Aircraft Wing, III Marine Expeditionary Force, under the unit deployment program. - Sgt. Kyle J. Mohr (Left) and Cpl. Erik A. Dudley prepare a UH-1Y Huey for a flight mission during an amphibious demonstration as part of exercise Cobra Gold 16 in Utapao, Thailand, Feb. 12, 2016. Mohr and Dudley must prepare the aircraft for their pilot’s inspection, as well as perform their own inspections, before every flight. The amphibious demonstration is designed to increase naval interoperability and logistics capabilities. Dudley, a Bath, Maine, native, is an aerial observer and flight line mechanic. Mohr, a Two Rivers, Wis., native, is a crew chief. Both Marines are with Light Attack Helicopter Squadron 167, which is currently supporting Marine Aircraft Group 36, 1st Marine Aircraft Wing, III Marine Expeditionary Force, under the unit deployment program.