3d Marine Division

U.S. Marines with 1st Battalion, 25th Marine Regiment, currently assigned to 4th Marine Regiment, 3rd Marine Division, under the Unit Deployment Program, conduct MV-22B Osprey drills alongside 8th Infantry Regiment, Japan Ground Self-Defense Force, during Forest Light Middle Army in Aibano Training Area, Shiga, Japan, Dec. 3, 2019. Forest Light Middle Army is an annual training exercise that is designed to enhance the collective defense capabilities of the United States and Japan Alliance by allowing infantry units to maintain their lethality and proficiency in infantry and combined arms tactics. (U.S. Marine Corps video by Cpl. Esgar Rojas)

U.S. Marines with 1st Battalion, 25th Marine Regiment, currently assigned to 4th Marine Regiment, 3rd Marine Division, under the Unit Deployment Program, and Soldiers with 8th Infantry Regiment, Japan Ground Self-Defense Force, conduct combat lifesaver drills during Forest Light Middle Army in Aibano Training Area, Shiga, Japan, Dec. 2, 2019. Forest Light Middle Army is an annual training exercise that is designed to enhance the collective defense capabilities of the United States and Japan Alliance by allowing infantry units to maintain their lethality and proficiency in infantry and combined arms tactics. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. D’Angelo Yanez) click here for more photos

Soldiers with 8th Infantry Regiment, Japan Ground Self-Defense Force, welcome Marines with 1st Battalion, 25th Marine Regiment, currently assigned to 4th Marine Regiment, 3rd Marine Division, under the Unit Deployment Program. The welcoming included dinner during the first day of Forest Light Middle Army in Aibano Training Area, Shiga, Japan, Dec. 1, 2019. Forest Light Middle Army is an annual training exercise that is designed to enhance the collective defense capabilities of the United States and Japan Alliance by allowing infantry units to maintain their lethality and proficiency in infantry and combined arms tactics. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. D’Angelo Yanez) click here for more photos

U.S. Marines and Sailors read and interact with elementary school students during Fuji Viper 20-2

U.S. Marines and Sailors draw and interact with students during exercise Fuji Viper 20-2 at Shirley Lanham Elementary School on Naval Air Facility Atsugi, Japan, Nov. 22, 2019. Fuji Viper is a regularly scheduled training evolution that allows infantry units to maintain their lethality and proficiency in infantry and combined arms tactics. This iteration of the exercise is executed by an activated reserve unit, 1st Battalion, 25th Marine Regiment, currently attached to 4th Marine Regiment, 3rd Marine Division, as part of the unit deployment program. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Ujian Gosun) click here for more photos

U.S. Marine Cpl. Javier Castilloibarra, a training non-commissioned officer with Headquarters Battalion, 3rd Marine Division, reenlists at the top of Mt. Suribachi on Iwo Jima, Japan, Nov. 26, 2019. The purpose of this trip is to educate participating Marines about the battle of Iwo Jima and provide an opportunity to strengthen core values and foster esprit de corps. (U.S Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Esgar Rojas) click here for more photos

Opening ceremony for Forest Light Middle Army

U.S. Marines with 1st Battalion, 25th Marine Regiment, currently assigned to 4th Marine Regiment, 3rd Marine Division, under the Unit Deployment Program, and Soldiers with 8th Infantry Regiment, Japan Ground Self-Defense Force, participate in an opening ceremony during Forest Light Middle Army in Aibano Training Area, Shiga, Japan, Dec. 1, 2019. Forest Light Middle Army is an annual training exercise that is designed to enhance the collective defense capabilities of the United States and Japan Alliance by allowing infantry units to maintain their lethality and proficiency in infantry and combined arms tactics. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. D’Angelo Yanez) click here for more photos

U.S. Marine Lt. Col. Clinton Cummings, commanding officer of 1st Battalion, 25th Marine Regiment, currently assigned to 4th Marine Regiment, 3rd Marine Division, under the Unit Deployment Program, and Col. Akamai Kazuo, commanding officer of 8th Infantry Regiment, Japan Ground Self-Defense Force, greet each other during Forest Light Middle Army in Aibano Training Area, Shiga, Japan, Dec. 1, 2019. Forest Light Middle Light is an annual training exercise that is designed to enhance the collective defense capabilities of the United States and Japan Alliance by allowing infantry units to maintain their lethality and proficiency in infantry and combined arms tactics. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. D’Angelo Yanez) click here for more photos

U.S. Marine Corps Gunnery Sgt. Ricardo Tapia with 1st Battalion, 25th Marine Regiment, currently assigned to 3rd Marine Division under the Unit Deployment Program, was pinned his current rank during a promotion ceremony in Aibano Training Area, Shiga, Japan, Dec. 1, 2019. The ceremony was held to recognize and honor Tapia for his hard work and dedication to the Marine Corps, as well as celebrate his promotion from staff sergeant to gunnery sergeant. Tapia is native of Oxnard, CA. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. D’Angelo Yanez) click here for more photos

U.S. Marines conduct urban breach demolition and explosives training during exercise Fuji Viper 20-2 on Camp Fuji, Japan, Nov. 27, 2019. Fuji Viper is a regularly scheduled training evolution that allows infantry units to maintain their lethality and proficiency in infantry and combined arms tactics. This iteration of the exercise is executed by an activated reserve unit, 1st Battalion, 25th Marine Regiment, currently attached to 4th Marine Regiment, 3rd Marine Division, as part of the unit deployment program. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Ujian Gosun) click here for more photos

U.S. Marine Lance Cpl. Daniel Lucy reads to students during exercise Fuji Viper 20-2 at Shirley Lanham Elementary School on Naval Air Facility Atsugi, Japan, Nov. 22, 2019. Fuji Viper is a regularly scheduled training evolution that allows infantry units to maintain their lethality and proficiency in infantry and combined arms tactics. This iteration of the exercise is executed by an activated reserve unit, 1st Battalion, 25th Marine Regiment, currently attached to 4th Marine Regiment, 3rd Marine Division, as part of the unit deployment program. Lucy, an Everett, Mass., native, is a company clerk with Weapons Company.(U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Ujian Gosun) click here for more photos

3rd Marine Division first sergeant is promoted to sergeant major

U.S Marine Corps 1st Sgt. Trevor Jennings, the first sergeant of Truck Company, Headquarters Battalion, 3rd Marine Division, reports to U.S. Marine Corps Col. Matthew Nation, the commanding officer of Headquarters Battalion, during his promotion ceremony to sergeant major on Camp Courtney, Okinawa, Japan, Nov. 25, 2019. Jennings was promoted to the rank of sergeant major and has served 22 years in the United States Marine Corps. (U.S. Marine Corps Photo by Lance Cpl. Jackson Dukes) Click here for more photos

UNITS

Caltrap News

Forest Light Middle Army Begins By 1st Lt. Brett Vannier | December 2, 2019 Shiga, Japan – U.S. Marines and Soldiers from Japan Ground Self-Defense Force will conduct training exercise Forest Light Middle Army at Aibano Training Area in the Shiga Prefecture of Japan from Dec. 1 to Dec. 13, 2019. MORE

3d Marine Division assists U.S. Army Vessel Harpers Ferry By Sgt. David Staten | November 25, 2019 U.S. NAVAL STATION WHITE BEACH, OKINAWA, Japan -- U.S. Marine Corps and Navy divers with 3rd Reconnaissance Battalion, 3rd Marine Division, conducted a dive operation to inspect U.S. Army Vessel Harpers Ferry, which was experiencing technical issues at Naval Station White Beach, Okinawa, Japan, Nov. 15, 2019. MORE

Tiger TRIUMPH: U.S. Sailor returns to India during inaugural exercise By Lance Cpl. Armando Elizalde | November 24, 2019 VISAKHAPATHNAM, India -- U.S. Marines and Sailors arrived aboard the USS Germantown (LSD 42) in Visakhapatnam, India, Nov. 13, 2019 to make history by participating in the first-ever tri-service exercise Tiger TRIUMPH between the U.S. and Indian. The exercise gave the U.S. and Indian forces the opportunity to exchange knowledge and learn from each other as well as establish personal and professional relationships. MORE

U.S. Marines and Sailors conduct exercise Fuji Viper 20-2 By Lance Cpl. Ujian Gosun | November 24, 2019 CAMP FUJI, GOTEMBA, Japan – U.S. Marines and Sailors with 1st Battalion, 25th Marine Regiment, currently attached to 4th Marine Regiment, 3rd Marine Division, as part of the Unit Deployment Program, are participating in Fuji Viper 20-2 at Camp Fuji, Gotemba, Japan, from Nov. 1 - Jan. 7, 2019. MORE

3rd Marine Division participates in the 46th Annual Henoko District Citizen’s Track and Field Meet Sports Day By Cpl. Josue Marquez | November 4, 2019 HENOKO, Japan -- U.S. Marines with 4th Marine Regiment, 3rd Marine Division, and Okinawa residents participated in the 46th Annual Henoko District Citizen’s Track and Field Meet Sports Day in Henoko, Okinawa, Japan, Nov. 3, 2019. MORE

Marine HIMARS and Army Landing Craft conduct joint amphibious training By 1st Lt. Christina Metzler | November 3, 2019 KIN, OKINAWA, Japan -- U.S. Marines with 12th Marine Regiment, 3rd Marine Division, and soldiers with 10th Support Group successfully embarked and disembarked a U.S. Marine High Mobility Artillery Rocket System onto a U.S. Army landing craft, utility, 2000, Oct. 31, 2019, in Okinawa, Japan. This marks the first time a Marine HIMARS was loaded on an Army landing craft in the Indo-Pacific. MORE

3d Marine Division Leaders

Major General William M. Jurney
Commanding General
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Colonel Mark H. Clingan
Assistant Division Commander
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Sergeant Major Dennis M. Bradley
Sergeant Major
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Command Master Chief Christopher T. Stone
Command Master Chief
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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.