Photo By Lance Cpl. Rachel Mason | U.S. Marines with 9th Engineer Support Battalion and U.S. Sailors with Naval Mobile...... read more read more
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CAMP HANSEN, Japan — U.S. Marines, Sailors and Japan Ground Self-Defense Force engineers participated in the 2026 Engineer Games hosted by 9th Engineer Support Battalion, 3rd Marine Logistics Group, on April 17, bringing together joint and bilateral forces for a day of competition and camaraderie.
The annual event, traditionally held in March to coincide with St. Patrick’s Day — the patron saint of engineers — was shifted to April due to operational commitments.
“The Engineer Games serve as an annual opportunity to recognize the engineer community and strengthen its identity across the force,” said Lt. Col. Dianna Zempel, commanding officer of 9th Engineer Support Battalion.
Zempel explained that while the tradition is most prominent within the Marine Corps, the event in Okinawa expands beyond a single service, emphasizing relationships across joint and allied partners.
“This is really about celebrating the engineer community across the joint force and our bilateral partners, and taking the opportunity to build camaraderie,” she said.
Participants included Marines from 9th ESB, 172nd Marine Wing Support Squadron and 12th Littoral Logistics Battalion; Sailors from Marine Corps Installations Pacific and Naval Mobile Construction Battalion 11; and service members from the Japan Ground Self-Defense Force’s 15th Engineer Unit, 15th Engineer Brigade.
Throughout the day, teams competed in a variety of engineer-focused and physically demanding events, including a hose reel race, concrete block breaking, tug of war, throne building, tire flipping, bomb suit racing and tractor pulling.
“Depending on where you are, there’s always going to be different kinds of games or competition,” Zempel said. “We have time-based events and head-to-head competitions.”
Some events directly tested occupational skills. In one challenge, participants used sledgehammers to break apart concrete blocks to retrieve embedded rebar, while others highlighted vertical construction capabilities or required teams to rapidly deploy and rewind fuel hose systems.
“We’ll also have a hose reel race,” Zempel said. “They have to string it out to a certain distance and then roll it back up, making sure it’s laid flat with no kinks. That’s where the competition can get really fun.”
Beyond competition, the event provided an opportunity for engineers from different nations and services to learn from one another in a collaborative environment.
“What’s really unique about the Engineer Games out here in Okinawa is it’s not just Marine Corps engineers,” Zempel said. “We have our Japanese partners and Seabees here as well. It’s really about coming together, seeing how we make each other better and building that camaraderie.”
Food trucks and support from organizations such as the United Service Organizations and Marine Corps Community Services contributed to the event atmosphere, reinforcing morale and community engagement.
Zempel emphasized that while the competitions were spirited, the ultimate goal remained unity within the engineer community.
“It’s about that friendly spirit of competition — making each other better and strengthening those relationships,” she concluded.
| Date Taken: | 12.31.1969 |
| Date Posted: | 04.22.2026 02:23 |
| Story ID: | 563190 |
| Location: | OKINAWA, JP |
| Web Views: | 17 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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