Marines secure gear onto a pallet Nov. 10 at Marine Corps Air Station Futenma during preparation for a humanitarian assistance and disaster relief mission to the Philippines. A forward command element and humanitarian assistance survey team, led by Brig. Gen. Paul Kennedy, the deputy commander of III Marine Expeditionary Force and the commanding general of the 3rd Marine Expeditionary Brigade, are deploying to the Philippines from Okinawa to provide an initial assessment on the support required. The initial focus of U.S. relief efforts includes surface maritime search and rescue (SAR), airborne maritime SAR, medium-heavy helicopter lift support, fixed-wing lift support and logistics enablers. MCAS Futenma is a mission ready air station capable of continuous aviation and base operating support for tenant organizations and follow-on U.S., Allied, and United Nations forces during combat or contingency operations in the Western Pacific Theater of operations, to include U.S. Pacific Command, Marine Corps Forces Pacific and Marine Corps Installations Pacific.