CAMP COURTNEY, Okinawa, Japan - An award ceremony was held June 13, 2016, at Camp Courtney, Okinawa, Japan. Marine Col. Eric M. Mellinger received an award from Japanese Ground Self-Defense Force Col. Shusei Hotta for significantly contributing to increasing training opportunities for the JGSDF by advancing co-use of Marine Corps training facilities on Okinawa and expanding III Marine Expeditionary Force efforts to participate in alliance/bilateral exercises. Hotta, the deputy chief of Policy and Programs Division, Ground Staff Office, JGSDF, presented the award on behalf of Gen. Kiyofumi

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CAMP COURTNEY, Okinawa, Japan - An award ceremony was held June 13, 2016, at Camp Courtney, Okinawa, Japan. Marine Col. Eric M. Mellinger received an award from Japanese Ground Self-Defense Force Col. Shusei Hotta for significantly contributing to increasing training opportunities for the JGSDF by advancing co-use of Marine Corps training facilities on Okinawa and expanding III Marine Expeditionary Force efforts to participate in alliance/bilateral exercises. Hotta, the deputy chief of Policy and Programs Division, Ground Staff Office, JGSDF, presented the award on behalf of Gen. Kiyofumi Iwata, the JGSDF chief of staff. Mellinger is the III MEF chief of staff.

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Keywords: alliance, allies, appreciation, award, ceremony, certificate, corps, exercise, japan, marine, military, okinawa, partnership, training, usmc