MARINE CORPS AIR STATION IWAKUNI, Japan — A detachment from Marine Attack Squadron 311 stationed at Marine Corps Air Station Yuma, Ariz., arrived in Iwakuni last week for six months as part of the Marine Corps Unit Deployment Program.

The detachment is commanded by Maj. John H. Crane.

Approximately 100 personnel and six aircraft comprise the detachment in Iwakuni.

Unit completes craft readiness evaluations

SASEBO NAVAL BASE, Japan — Assault Craft Unit Five, Detachment Western Pacific, completed its annual craft readiness evaluation last week at the Sakibe Laydown Facility near Sasebo’s main base.

The evaluation was an extensive inspection of Landing Craft, Air Cushions, or LCACs, to determine readiness, stated a release Tuesday afternoon from Amphibious Task Force 76.

Inspectors from Assault Craft Unit Five in San Diego, the detachment’s parent command, checked engine maintenance, safety procedures and other proficiencies of the Sasebo-based LCACs (also known as hovercrafts) for the evaluation.

G-1/Adjutant General Corps merger planned

YONGSAN GARRISON, South Korea — The U.S. Army’s 8th Personnel Command will be inactivated and merged with 8th Army’s G-1 to create consolidated G-1/Adjutant General Corps, according to a news release.

Col. Michael J. Harris, 8th PERSCOM commander, and Command Sgt. Maj. Carlos Martinez-Rivera will “case” the command’s colors during a June 15 inactivation ceremony, according to the release.

Harris was quoted as saying the merger coincides with “several new personnel service support initiatives that capitalize on the latest information technology.”

“These initiatives will continue beyond our inactivation and allow the 8th United States Army to offer human resource services unlike anything available across the Department of Defense,” he was quoted as saying.

Marine killed in Afghanistan is identified

CAMP FOSTER, Okinawa — The Defense Department has identified a Marine who was killed in Afghanistan on May 8 as Lance Cpl. Nicholas Kirven of Richmond, Va.

His death occurred while his unit was conducting combat operations in Alishang in support of Operation Enduring Freedom, the Defense Department said.

Kirven, 21, was assigned to 3rd Battalion, 3rd Marine Regiment, based in Kaneohe Bay, Hawaii. The unit is part of III Marine Expeditionary Force.

Blood drives scheduled on Okinawa

CAMP FOSTER, Okinawa — The Armed Services Blood Bank Center has scheduled four blood drives on Okinawa over the next week.

All published blood drives are open to servicemembers, Department of Defense civilians and family members ages 17 and older.

The first blood drive will be on White Beach Naval Facility at the base clinic from 8 a.m. to noon Monday. The second drive is scheduled for Camp Shields in Building 8210 from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Tuesday. The last two drives are to take place on Marine Corps Air Station Futenma at the Futenma Chapel from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. Thursday and from 8 a.m. to noon Friday. Barbecues will be held at both MCAS Futenma blood drives.

Mission requirements may require canceling or rescheduling a blood drive. Donors may confirm a specific drive as it draws near by visiting www.oki.med.navy.mil and clicking on “info for patients and community,” then “blood donor program.”

Call C. Tracy Parmer, blood donor recruiter, at DSN 643-7710 or 643-7737, or e-mail parmerct@oki10.med.navy.mil for more information or to schedule a blood drive for your command.

Male chefs sought for charity fund-raiser

CAMP FOSTER, Okinawa — The fifth annual “Men Who Cook” scholarship fund-raiser is scheduled for 6 p.m. May 28 at the Butler Officer’s Club in the Plaza Housing area.

The event raises thousands of dollars, which will be awarded to college-bound high school seniors from Kubasaki and Kadena high schools.

Organizers are looking for “chefs” throughout the island to prepare appetizers, entrees and desserts. This year’s event will include two teams of “chefs in training” from the Kadena High School Culinary Arts Department. Chefs from various backgrounds, nationalities and culinary skills are being asked to prepare dishes big enough to make 30 small servings.

Those attending will be able to roam the venue, tasting each chef’s creation. They also will be able to vote for various awards for the chefs. Tickets cost $20; chefs’ entry is free.

The event is being sponsored by the Phi Omicron Omega Chapter of the Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority Inc. For more information, contact Andrea Mial at DSN 973-0097 or Levia Davis at LeviaD14@aol.com.

Halo 2 team tourney at Camp Foster

CAMP FOSTER, Okinawa — A Halo 2 team tournament has been scheduled for Saturday at the Globe and Anchor Enlisted Club on Camp Foster.

Teams must register by 11 a.m. and consist of four players. The free tournament is to begin at noon and will follow standard “slayer rules.”

The winning team will take home $500 from the tournament, which is being sponsored by the Camps Foster and Lester Association.

A magic show at 1 p.m. and 5 p.m. and a Taiko Dance performance at 4 p.m. also are planned.

For more information or to register, contact Eddie Erazo at erazoe@mcbbutler.usmc.mil.