3d Marine Division

U.S. Marines with 2d Battalion, 2d Marines conduct urban operations within the Central Training Area on Okinawa, Japan, April 8, 2021. This dynamic training provided small unit leaders with the opportunity to improve their tactical decision making skills in offensive and defensive operations. 2/2 is forward-deployed in the Indo-Pacific under 4th Marines, 3d Marine Division as a part of the Unit Deployment Program. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Scott Aubuchon) Click here for more photos

Spartan Fury 21.1: Alpha Battery at PMRF

U.S. Marine Corps Cpl. Colton Ferrin, a section chief with Alpha Battery, 1st Battalion, 12th Marines, sits on his M777A2 Howitzer during exercise Spartan Fury 21.1, Pacific Missile Range Facility, Kauai, Hawaii, March 10, 2021. Exercise Spartan Fury demonstrates 1/12’s ability to conduct distributed operations inside an adversary’s sensors and weapons engagement zone, attain and defend key maritime terrain, and conduct sea denial in support of fleet operations. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Brandon Aultman)

3d Battalion, 3d Marine Regiment conducts aerial sniper training

U.S. Marine Corps Cpl. Ryan Lauritsen, a scout sniper with 3d Battalion, 3d Marine Regiment, engages a target during aerial sniper training at Camp Hansen, Okinawa, Japan, March 17, 2021. The training increased the Marines’ precision from a moving aircraft. 3/3 is forward-deployed in the Indo-Pacific under 4th Marine Regiment, 3d Marine Division. Lauritsen is a native of Pontiac, Illinois. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Staff Sgt. David Staten) Click here to see more photos

U.S. Marines with 3d Battalion, 3d Marines conduct experimentation in littoral defense operations during Castaway 21.1 around Okinawa, Japan, March 18, 2021. Castaway 21.1 demonstrated the Marine Corps’ ability to integrate with the joint force to seize and defend key maritime terrain, provide low-signature sustainment, and execute long-range precision fires in support of naval operations from an expeditionary advanced base. 3/3 is part of 3d Marine Division, forward-deployed in the Indo-Pacific. (U.S Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Joshua Brittenham) Click to see more photos

U.S. Marines with 3d Reconnaissance Battalion, 3d Marine Division conduct a military freefall infiltration during Castaway 21.1 on Ie Shima, Okinawa, Japan, March 9, 2021. The exercise demonstrated the Marine Corps’ ability to integrate with the joint force to seize and defend key maritime terrain, provide low-signature sustainment, and execute long-range precision fires in support of naval operations from an expeditionary advanced base. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Scott Aubuchon) Click to see more photos

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

U.S. Marines, joint partners test networked EABO from Japan to Hawaii By Capt. Nicholas Royer | March 18, 2021 OKINAWA, Japan – U.S. Marine Corps exercises have, historically, featured hundreds of Marines storming ashore under cover of aircraft, with Navy ships looming ominously on the horizon, and the roar of gunfire, smoke and shouted commands permeating every aspect of a forced landing en masse. By contrast, the most recent operations led by 3d Marine Division looked and sounded like nothing – then the shooting began. MORE

How to save a life: Marines learn casualty care By Lance Cpl. Jackson Dukes | February 1, 2021 Using a true-to-life mannequin that mimics a casualty in pain, complete with screams and fake blood, Marines with 3d Marine Division trained to save lives during a Level II Tactical Combat Casualty Care (TCCC) certification course on Camp Hansen, Okinawa, Japan. MORE

Seizing and defending islands: U.S. Marines, Japan Ground Self-Defense Force strengthen integrated capabilities during exercise Forest Light By Capt. Nicholas Royer | December 18, 2020 NIIGATA PREFECTURE, Japan – With MV-22 Ospreys and CH-47 aircraft operating overhead, U.S. Marines and Japanese soldiers manned machine guns, managed interlinked sensor screens, and provided targeting information for long-range fires assets in preparation to defend against an amphibious assault and enable a fast-hitting counterattack into enemy-held territory. MORE

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

3d Marine Division Leaders