Lt. Gen. Tim Keating, center, takes a photo with the graduating class of the Defence Force Command and Staff College, Wellington, New Zealand, Nov. 19, 2015. Sgt. Maj. Christian L. Charkowski, in the second row, third from left, was the first U.S. Marine and second U.S. service member to graduate from the course. He attended the Joint Warrant Officers’ Advanced Course, where the objectives were to prepare senior level leaders for senior strategic advisory positions, increase the students’ knowledge of regional security for the Pacific Southwest, and provide insight into the workings of the government. Charkowski, from Madison, Wisconsin, is the battalion sergeant major for 3rd Combat Assault Battalion, 3rd Marine Division, III Marine Expeditionary Force. Keating is the chief of defence for the New Zealand Defence Force. (Marine Corps. photo by Cpl. Tyler S. Giguere/Released) - Lt. Gen. Tim Keating, center, takes a photo with the graduating class of the Defence Force Command and Staff College, Wellington, New Zealand, Nov. 19, 2015. Sgt. Maj. Christian L. Charkowski, in the second row, third from left, was the first U.S. Marine and second U.S. service member to graduate from the course. He attended the Joint Warrant Officers’ Advanced Course, where the objectives were to prepare senior level leaders for senior strategic advisory positions, increase the students’ knowledge of regional security for the Pacific Southwest, and provide insight into the workings of the government. Charkowski, from Madison, Wisconsin, is the battalion sergeant major for 3rd Combat Assault Battalion, 3rd Marine Division, III Marine Expeditionary Force. Keating is the chief of defence for the New Zealand Defence Force. (Marine Corps. photo by Cpl. Tyler S. Giguere/Released)

WATERS OFF OKINAWA, Japan – Amphibious assault vehicles wait in the well deck of the amphibious dock landing ship USS Germantown (LSD 42) before launching to head ashore for a personnel swap during exercise Blue Chromite (BC) 16. BC 16 is a U.S. only exercise designed to increase amphibious proficiency between the Navy and Marine Corps. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Will Gaskill/Released) - WATERS OFF OKINAWA, Japan – Amphibious assault vehicles wait in the well deck of the amphibious dock landing ship USS Germantown (LSD 42) before launching to head ashore for a personnel swap during exercise Blue Chromite (BC) 16. BC 16 is a U.S. only exercise designed to increase amphibious proficiency between the Navy and Marine Corps. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Will Gaskill/Released)

Two hundred newly promoted or selected-to-be Marine staff sergeants participate in an open discussion with (from left to right) Sergeants Maj. Vincent Santiago, Mario Marquez, Michael Hendges and Robert Williamson at the end of III Marine Expeditionary Force's Staff Sergeant Indoctrination Course at Camp Schwab, Okinawa, Oct. 28, 2015. The course provided the attendees a place to learn from centuries of cumulative experience of the senior enlisted leaders within III MEF. Santiago is the sergeant major for 3rd Marine Division. Marquez is the sergeant major for 1st Marine Aircraft Wing. Hendges is the sergeant major for 3rd Marine Logistics Group. Williamson is the sergeant major for Marine Corps Installations Pacific. - Two hundred newly promoted or selected-to-be Marine staff sergeants participate in an open discussion with (from left to right) Sergeants Maj. Vincent Santiago, Mario Marquez, Michael Hendges and Robert Williamson at the end of III Marine Expeditionary Force's Staff Sergeant Indoctrination Course at Camp Schwab, Okinawa, Oct. 28, 2015. The course provided the attendees a place to learn from centuries of cumulative experience of the senior enlisted leaders within III MEF. Santiago is the sergeant major for 3rd Marine Division. Marquez is the sergeant major for 1st Marine Aircraft Wing. Hendges is the sergeant major for 3rd Marine Logistics Group. Williamson is the sergeant major for Marine Corps Installations Pacific.

A landing craft air cushion-class hovercraft approaches Kin Blue, Okinawa, Japan, for a beach landing exercise, Oct. 27, 2015, during Blue Chromite 2016. Blue Chromite is a large-scale, cost effective on-island training event lead by 4th Marine Regiment, 3rd Marine division, III Marine Expeditionary Force. - A landing craft air cushion-class hovercraft approaches Kin Blue, Okinawa, Japan, for a beach landing exercise, Oct. 27, 2015, during Blue Chromite 2016. Blue Chromite is a large-scale, cost effective on-island training event lead by 4th Marine Regiment, 3rd Marine division, III Marine Expeditionary Force.

Flares from a C-130 Hercules transportation aircraft illuminate the landing zone for an incoming CH-53 Super Stallion helicopter during a fire support coordination exercise that kicked off Blue Chromite 2016, at Okinawa, Japan, today. Blue Chromite is large-scale air-ground training exercise that builds upon the Marine Corps’ sea-borne, rapid-reaction capabilities while maintaining the Corps’ strategic presence in the Pacific. The principle units involved in the ongoing exercise are 3rd Marine Division, 1st Marine Aircraft Wing and 3rd Marine Logistics Group, all subordinate commands of III Marine Expeditionary Force. - Flares from a C-130 Hercules transportation aircraft illuminate the landing zone for an incoming CH-53 Super Stallion helicopter during a fire support coordination exercise that kicked off Blue Chromite 2016, at Okinawa, Japan, today. Blue Chromite is large-scale air-ground training exercise that builds upon the Marine Corps’ sea-borne, rapid-reaction capabilities while maintaining the Corps’ strategic presence in the Pacific. The principle units involved in the ongoing exercise are 3rd Marine Division, 1st Marine Aircraft Wing and 3rd Marine Logistics Group, all subordinate commands of III Marine Expeditionary Force.