3d Marine Division

3d Marine Division joins the Marine Corps in celebrating 245 years of warfighting excellence and uncommon valor. United States Marines define the world's image of elite warriors. We take great pride in the legacy built by those who came before us and in carrying that legacy into the future. Capabilities, battlefields, and adversaries change, but Marines continue to adapt to every challenge - prepared to fight and win wherever and whenever our Nation calls. (U.S. Marine Corps video by Cpl. Josue Marquez and Staff Sgt. Albert J. Carls)

U.S. Marines with 12th Marine Regiment, 3d Marine Division, execute a High Mobility Artillery Rocket System rapid infiltration from a U.S. Army Logistics Support Vehicle as part of exercise Keen Sword at Kin Red, Okinawa, Japan, on Oct. 31, 2020. This operation demonstrated the ability of 3d Marine Division to deploy long-range, precision fire assets across a vast region in support of distributed operations in the littorals. Keen Sword is a bilateral exercise involving Marines from III Marine Expeditionary Force and Japan Self-Defense Forces strengthen readiness, interoperability, and deterrence in the Indo-Pacific region. (U.S. Marine Corps video by Cpl. Levi J. Guerra)

U.S. Marines with 12th Marine Regiment, 3d Marine Division, prepare to execute a High Mobility Artillery Rocket System rapid infiltration to Kin Red from U.S. Army Logistics Support Vehicles as part of joint exercise Keen Sword, Okinawa, Japan, on Oct. 31, 2020. After landing at Kin Red, the HIMARS swiftly debarked, moved to a firing position, and engaged targets. This operation demonstrated the ability of 3d Marine Division to deploy long-range, precision-fires assets across a vast region in support of distributed operations in the littorals. Keen Sword is a bilateral exercise involving Marines from III Marine Expeditionary Force and Japan Self-Defense Forces strengthening readiness, interoperability, and deterrence in the Indo-Pacific region. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl Donovan Massieperez) Click here for more photos

U.S. Marines and Japan Defense Forces Execute Keen Sword 21

U.S. Marines teamed up with Japan’s Amphibious Rapid Deployment Brigade to conduct an amphibious assault on Gaja Jima, a small island off the coast of mainland Japan, as part of Keen Sword Nov. 1, 2020. Japan Self-Defense Force CH-47JA Chinooks touched down delivering streams of ARDB troops while U.S. Marines hit the beach via small boats briskly navigating over the horizon from the USS Ashland. ARDB members took point alongside Marines with 1 Battalion, 3d Marine Regiment arriving from the air and sea in the amphibious operation. This mission showcased a combined ability to seize territory threatened by an adversary, defend key maritime terrain, and establish expeditionary advanced bases for follow-on operations through swift, integrated, and lethal action. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Scott Aubuchon) Click here for more photos

U.S. Marines teamed up with Japan’s Amphibious Rapid Deployment Brigade to conduct an amphibious assault on Gaja-Jima, a small uninhabited island off the coast of mainland Japan, as part of Keen Sword, Nov. 1, 2020. Japan Self-Defense Force CH-47JA Chinooks touched down delivering streams of ARDB troops while U.S. Marines hit the beach via small boats briskly navigating over the horizon from the USS Ashland. ARDB members took point alongside Marines with 1st Battalion, 3d Marine Regiment arriving from the air and sea in the amphibious operation. This mission showcased a combined ability to seize territory threatened by an adversary, defend key maritime terrain, and establish expeditionary advanced bases for follow-on operations through swift, integrated, and lethal action. (JSDF Courtesy Photo). Click here for more photos

U.S. Marine Corps Chief Warrant Officer 2 John Earney, assistant operations officer during exercise Keen Sword with 1st Battalion, 2d Marine Regiment and Capt. Kazunari Kadokura, executive officer with Japan Ground Self-Defense Force 15th Brigade exercised command and control through combined operations centers located on Camp Foster and Marine Corps Air Station Futenma, Okinawa, Japan, Nov. 2, 2020. While U.S. and Japan naval and expeditionary forces continued operations at sea and establishing advanced bases during exercise Keen Sword, 1st Bn., 2d Marines and 1st Bn., 3d Marines conducted a grueling force-on-force exercise stretching across the challenging terrain of the jungles in northern Okinawa. Keen Sword is a bilateral exercise taking place across Japan, providing realistic training opportunities to strengthen readiness and interoperability with the JSDF. (Photo by Sgt Staten, 3d Marine Division Communication Strategy and Operations). Click here for more photos

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Mission

On order, 3d Marine Division conducts amphibious, forcible entry operations or sustained, combined arms land operations with strategic partners and allies, as an integral part of III MEF within the Pacific Theater Area of Operations (AO) in support of national security objectives.

UNITS

Caltrap News

Fast, fluid, together: Japan, U.S. Marines exercise amphibious capabilities during Keen Sword 21 By Courtesy Story | November 4, 2020 OKINAWA, Japan – In the early hours of Nov. 1, 2020, the silence is broken by the sound of an amphibious assault featuring Japan Self-Defense Force CH-47JA Chinooks touching down and delivering streams of Amphibious Rapid Deployment Brigade troops while U.S. Marines hit the beach via small boats briskly navigating over the horizon from the USS Ashland to Gaja-Jima. As they disappear in fast-moving columns into the foliage of the small uninhabited island off the coast of Japan, their counterparts to the south are already preparing missile launchers and coordinating fire support against enemy targets on land and sea. MORE

Expeditionary advanced basing capabilities on display during Exercise Noble Fury By Courtesy Story | October 11, 2020 OKINAWA, Japan – Marines and Sailors with 3d Marine Division and 1st Marine Aircraft Wing showcased expeditionary advanced basing capabilities Oct. 7 to 8, 2020 as part of Exercise Noble Fury 21, from Okinawa to Ie Shima and across surrounding waters. MORE

Extending the range: Marines secure maritime terrain, deploy rocket system By Gunnery Sgt. Steve Cushman | September 30, 2020 OKINAWA, Japan – U.S. Marines refined their ability to rapidly deploy to remote regional islands in order to control key maritime terrain as 3d Marine Division and 3d Marine Logistics Group conducted operations Sept. 23 to 25 centered on the Okinawan island of Ie Shima. MORE

Command of Caltrap transfers from Jurney to Bierman By Courtesy Story | August 13, 2020 OKINAWA, Japan – Major General William M. Jurney transitioned command of 3d Marine Division to Major General James W. Bierman Aug. 13, 2020 at Camp Courtney, Okinawa, Japan. MORE

CALTRAP Sergeant Major Passes the Sword By 1st Lt. Brett Vannier | July 15, 2020 OKINAWA, Japan – Sgt. Maj. Dennis M. Bradley transfers the responsibility as the Sergeant Major for 3rd Marine Division to Sgt. Maj. Eric D. Cook on July 15, 2020 at the Division Headquarters on Camp Courtney. MORE

Marines Recognized for Victory in Squad Competition By 1st Lt. Gerard Callan | June 16, 2020 OKINAWA, Japan – U.S. Marines from 2nd Battalion, 3rd Marine Regiment, 3rd Marine Division, won the 3rd Marine Division Squad Competition after a week of events at Camps Hansen and Gonsalves, in Okinawa, Japan, March 15 - 20, 2020. MORE

3d Marine Division Leaders