Pacific Marines Stories

Charles W. Beadling, left, director of the Center for Disaster and Humanitarian Assistance Medicine, greets Dante Lantin, (center) assistant secretary of the Philippine Department of Transportation and Communications, and Vincente F. Tomazar, director of Region 4A, Office of Civil Defense, during the Philippine Multi-sectoral Pandemic Disaster Exercise held in Makati, Philippines, Sept. 10. As with other bilateral exchanges, this event reinforces the mutual commitment shared between the Philippines and the U.S. to enhancing the effective response capabilities to regional threats. - Charles W. Beadling, left, director of the Center for Disaster and Humanitarian Assistance Medicine, greets Dante Lantin, (center) assistant secretary of the Philippine Department of Transportation and Communications, and Vincente F. Tomazar, director of Region 4A, Office of Civil Defense, during the Philippine Multi-sectoral Pandemic Disaster Exercise held in Makati, Philippines, Sept. 10. As with other bilateral exchanges, this event reinforces the mutual commitment shared between the Philippines and the U.S. to enhancing the effective response capabilities to regional threats.

Lance Cpl. Tory Martin, a rifleman with 3rd Platoon, India Company, 3rd Battalion, 3rd Marine Regiment, and 20-year-old native of Twentynine Palms, Calif., replaces the safety pin of a Stingball grenade after using it during a non-lethal weapons training scenario in a simulated urban village on Marine Corps Training Area Bellows, Hawaii, Aug. 15, 2012. The training was part of a two-week test readiness review fielded by the Quantico, Va.-based Joint Non-Lethal Weapons Directorate and the Marine Corps Forces, Pacific Experimentation Center. The DoD Non-Lethal Weapons Program, headed by Commandant of the Marine Corps Gen. James Amos, trains operating forces on escalation of force options to minimize casualties and collateral damage, said Kelley Hughes, a directorate spokesperson. - Lance Cpl. Tory Martin, a rifleman with 3rd Platoon, India Company, 3rd Battalion, 3rd Marine Regiment, and 20-year-old native of Twentynine Palms, Calif., replaces the safety pin of a Stingball grenade after using it during a non-lethal weapons training scenario in a simulated urban village on Marine Corps Training Area Bellows, Hawaii, Aug. 15, 2012. The training was part of a two-week test readiness review fielded by the Quantico, Va.-based Joint Non-Lethal Weapons Directorate and the Marine Corps Forces, Pacific Experimentation Center. The DoD Non-Lethal Weapons Program, headed by Commandant of the Marine Corps Gen. James Amos, trains operating forces on escalation of force options to minimize casualties and collateral damage, said Kelley Hughes, a directorate spokesperson.

Competitors begin running following the blare of the starting horn during the annual Camp Smith 5K Grueler here, July 28. More than 210 military and civilian runners of all ages, backgrounds and fitness levels participated in this year’s race. The event gave Marines in different work sections a chance to bond, as well as build esprit de corps, said Capt. Greg Wagner, commander of Headquarters Company, Headquarters and Service Battalion, U.S. Marine Corps Forces, Pacific. The large turnout allowed for some of the proceeds to offset ticket prices for junior service members during MarForPac’s Marine Corps birthday ball in November. - Competitors begin running following the blare of the starting horn during the annual Camp Smith 5K Grueler here, July 28. More than 210 military and civilian runners of all ages, backgrounds and fitness levels participated in this year’s race. The event gave Marines in different work sections a chance to bond, as well as build esprit de corps, said Capt. Greg Wagner, commander of Headquarters Company, Headquarters and Service Battalion, U.S. Marine Corps Forces, Pacific. The large turnout allowed for some of the proceeds to offset ticket prices for junior service members during MarForPac’s Marine Corps birthday ball in November.

Sgt. Maj. James R. Futrell (center), U.S. Marine Corps Forces, Pacific sergeant major, salutes Lt. Gen. Duane D. Thiessen (left), commander of MarForPac, before passing the noncommissioned officer sword during the relief, appointment and retirement ceremony at Dewey Square here July 19. The transfer of the NCO sword, a symbol of an NCO's ability and prestige as an enlisted leader, signifies the transfer of the sacred trust of the office from one sergeant major to another. Futrell was replaced by Sgt. Maj. William T. Stables (right). - Sgt. Maj. James R. Futrell (center), U.S. Marine Corps Forces, Pacific sergeant major, salutes Lt. Gen. Duane D. Thiessen (left), commander of MarForPac, before passing the noncommissioned officer sword during the relief, appointment and retirement ceremony at Dewey Square here July 19. The transfer of the NCO sword, a symbol of an NCO's ability and prestige as an enlisted leader, signifies the transfer of the sacred trust of the office from one sergeant major to another. Futrell was replaced by Sgt. Maj. William T. Stables (right).