Pacific Marines Stories

U.S. veterans of the Battle of Iwo Jima pay their respects to the Reunion of Honor memorial during the Reunion of Honor ceremony at Iwo To, Japan, 29 March, 2025. The 80th Reunion of Honor is a milestone anniversary that commemorates the sacrifices made by both Japanese and American service members during the Battle of Iwo Jima, honoring their legacy and ensuring their stories are preserved for future generations. This milestone anniversary serves as a reminder of the enduring partnership between both nations and the progress made toward regional stability over the past 80 years. The U.S. Marine Corps was born on November 10th, 1775. From that day until the present, Marines have served with distinction in every clime and place, including the hallowed battle fields of Iwo Jima. This year, the U.S. Marine Corps celebrates 250 years of honor, courage, and commitment across the globe. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Jennifer Le) - U.S. veterans of the Battle of Iwo Jima pay their respects to the Reunion of Honor memorial during the Reunion of Honor ceremony at Iwo To, Japan, 29 March, 2025. The 80th Reunion of Honor is a milestone anniversary that commemorates the sacrifices made by both Japanese and American service members during the Battle of Iwo Jima, honoring their legacy and ensuring their stories are preserved for future generations. This milestone anniversary serves as a reminder of the enduring partnership between both nations and the progress made toward regional stability over the past 80 years. The U.S. Marine Corps was born on November 10th, 1775. From that day until the present, Marines have served with distinction in every clime and place, including the hallowed battle fields of Iwo Jima. This year, the U.S. Marine Corps celebrates 250 years of honor, courage, and commitment across the globe. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Jennifer Le)

Singapore Guardsman Lt. Col. Mohamad Fahrul Bin Saaid, left, the commanding officer for 3rd Battalion Singapore Guards and U.S. Marine Corps Capt. Louis Collins, a company commander with 1st Battalion, 5th Marine Regiment, 1st Marine Division, attached to Marine Rotational Force-Southeast Asia, pose for a photo during the closing ceremony for Valiant Mark 25 at SAFTI City training facility, Singapore, March 27, 2025. - Singapore Guardsman Lt. Col. Mohamad Fahrul Bin Saaid, left, the commanding officer for 3rd Battalion Singapore Guards and U.S. Marine Corps Capt. Louis Collins, a company commander with 1st Battalion, 5th Marine Regiment, 1st Marine Division, attached to Marine Rotational Force-Southeast Asia, pose for a photo during the closing ceremony for Valiant Mark 25 at SAFTI City training facility, Singapore, March 27, 2025. SAFTI City, the premier urban training facility in Southeast Asia, is one of the largest and most technologically advanced facilities of its kind in the world. U.S. Marines with MRF-SEA were the first foreign partner force to train at the facility during Valiant Mark 25. Valiant Mark is an annual, bilateral training exercise designed to enhance interoperability, build mutual defense capabilities, and strengthen military-to-military relationships between the U.S. Marine Corps and Singapore Armed Forces. MRF-SEA is a rotational unit derived from elements of I MEF executing a U.S. Marine Corps Forces, Pacific operational model that involves training events and exchanges with partner military subject matter experts, promotes security goals with Allied and partner nations, and ensures a persistent I MEF stand-in presence west of the international date line. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Sgt. Shaina Jupiter)

A U.S. Marine Corps UH-1Y Venom assigned to Marine Light Attack Helicopter Squadron (HMLA) 269, Marine Aircraft Group 29, 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing, prepares to depart with an Intrepid Tiger II (IT-II) electronic warfare system externally attached during the 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing Service Level Training Exercise 2-25 at Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center, Twentynine Palms, California, Feb. 20, 2025. Marines with 4th SSCT led the IT-II training to enhance electronic warfare integration across the Marine Corps, preparing forces for future missions in complex and contested environments. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by 2nd Lt. Brianna Tribou) - A U.S. Marine Corps UH-1Y Venom assigned to Marine Light Attack Helicopter Squadron (HMLA) 269, Marine Aircraft Group 29, 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing, prepares to depart with an Intrepid Tiger II (IT-II) electronic warfare system externally attached during the 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing Service Level Training Exercise 2-25 at Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center, Twentynine Palms, California, Feb. 20, 2025. Marines with 4th SSCT led the IT-II training to enhance electronic warfare integration across the Marine Corps, preparing forces for future missions in complex and contested environments. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by 2nd Lt. Brianna Tribou)

U.S. Marine Corps Cpl. Tristan Walker, a helicopter crew chief with Marine Light Attack Helicopter Squadron (HMLA) 267, Marine Aircraft Group 36, 1st Marine Aircraft Wing, sights in on an M2 machine gun during a simulated close air support (SIMCAS) exercise during Korean Marine Exchange Program 25.1, in South Korea, March 11, 2025. SIMCAS are training exercises to provide ground combat with aerial support. KMEP is a semi-annual exercise that provides iterative opportunities for Republic of Korea Marine Corps and U.S. Marine Corps units to train together, improving their combined capabilities to deter threats and maintain peace on the Korean Peninsula. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Yanisa Culp) - U.S. Marine Corps Cpl. Tristan Walker, a helicopter crew chief with Marine Light Attack Helicopter Squadron (HMLA) 267, Marine Aircraft Group 36, 1st Marine Aircraft Wing, sights in on an M2 machine gun during a simulated close air support (SIMCAS) exercise during Korean Marine Exchange Program 25.1, in South Korea, March 11, 2025. SIMCAS are training exercises to provide ground combat with aerial support. KMEP is a semi-annual exercise that provides iterative opportunities for Republic of Korea Marine Corps and U.S. Marine Corps units to train together, improving their combined capabilities to deter threats and maintain peace on the Korean Peninsula. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Yanisa Culp)

U.S. Marine Corps Capt. Louis Collins, left, a company commander with 1st Battalion, 5th Marine Regiment, attached to Marine Rotational Force-Southeast Asia, I Marine Expeditionary Force, and Singapore Guardsman Lt. Col. Mohamad Fahrul Bin Saaid, the commanding officer for 3rd Battalion Singapore Guards, pose for a photo during the opening ceremony for Valiant Mark 25 on Bedok Camp, Singapore, March 17, 2025. Valiant Mark is an annual, bilateral training exercise designed to enhance interoperability, build mutual defense capabilities, and strengthen military-to-military relationships between the U.S. Marine Corps and Singapore Armed Forces. MRF-SEA is a rotational unit derived from elements of I MEF executing a U.S. Marine Corps Forces, Pacific operational model that involves training events and exchanges with partner military subject matter experts, promotes security goals with Allied and partner nations, and ensures a persistent I MEF stand-in presence west of the international date line. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Sgt. Shaina Jupiter) - U.S. Marine Corps Capt. Louis Collins, left, a company commander with 1st Battalion, 5th Marine Regiment, attached to Marine Rotational Force-Southeast Asia, I Marine Expeditionary Force, and Singapore Guardsman Lt. Col. Mohamad Fahrul Bin Saaid, the commanding officer for 3rd Battalion Singapore Guards, pose for a photo during the opening ceremony for Valiant Mark 25 on Bedok Camp, Singapore, March 17, 2025. Valiant Mark is an annual, bilateral training exercise designed to enhance interoperability, build mutual defense capabilities, and strengthen military-to-military relationships between the U.S. Marine Corps and Singapore Armed Forces. MRF-SEA is a rotational unit derived from elements of I MEF executing a U.S. Marine Corps Forces, Pacific operational model that involves training events and exchanges with partner military subject matter experts, promotes security goals with Allied and partner nations, and ensures a persistent I MEF stand-in presence west of the international date line. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Sgt. Shaina Jupiter)

U.S. Marine Corps Maj. Gen. Thomas B. Savage, left, the commanding general of 1st Marine Division, gifts a 1st MARDIV coin and patch to Republic of Korea Marine Corps Maj. Gen. Lee Ho Jong, the commanding general of 1st Marine Division, ROK Marine Corps, during a meeting in Pohang, South Korea, March 7, 2025. - U.S. Marine Corps Maj. Gen. Thomas B. Savage, left, the commanding general of 1st Marine Division, gifts a 1st MARDIV coin and patch to Republic of Korea Marine Corps Maj. Gen. Lee Ho Jong, the commanding general of 1st Marine Division, ROK Marine Corps, during a meeting in Pohang, South Korea, March 7, 2025. Freedom Shield is an exercise that provides iterative opportunities for Republic of Korea Marine Corps and U.S. Marine Corps units to train together, improving their combined capabilities to deter threats and maintain peace on the Korean Peninsula. (Courtesy photo from Republic of Korea Marine Corps)

U.S. Marine Corps Col. Jason C. Armas, center, the commanding officer of Marine Rotational Force – Darwin 25.3, and Sgt. Maj. Michael T. Escobar, right, the sergeant major of MRF – D 25.3, pose for a photo with Group Captain Melissa Neilson, the commander of Northern Command, at Royal Australian Air Force Base Darwin, Northern Territory, Australia, March 17, 2025. - U.S. Marine Corps Col. Jason C. Armas, center, the commanding officer of Marine Rotational Force – Darwin 25.3, and Sgt. Maj. Michael T. Escobar, right, the sergeant major of MRF – D 25.3, pose for a photo with Group Captain Melissa Neilson, the commander of Northern Command, at Royal Australian Air Force Base Darwin, Northern Territory, Australia, March 17, 2025. MRF-D 25.3 is part of an annual six-month rotational deployment to enhance interoperability with the Australian Defence Force and allies and partners and provide a forward-postured crisis response force in the Indo-Pacific. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Sgt. Ezekieljay Correa)

U.S. Marines with 1st Light Armored Reconnaissance Battalion, attached to Marine Rotational Force-Southeast Asia, pose for a photo while disposing of mortar increments during the Marine final exercise at Ban Chan Khrem, Chanthaburi, Thailand, March 6, 2025, during Exercise Cobra Gold 2025. Cobra Gold is the largest joint and combined exercise in mainland Asia, held annually in Thailand, showcasing the U.S. commitment to the region by building interoperability, multilateral cooperative arrangements, and advancing common interests through a commitment to allies and partners in ensuring a free and open Indo-Pacific. MRF-SEA is a rotational unit derived from elements of I MEF executing a U.S. Marine Corps Forces, Pacific operational model that involves training events and exchanges with partner military subject matter experts, promotes security goals with allied and partner nations, and ensures a persistent I MEF stand-in presence west of the international date line. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Sgt. Shaina Jupiter) - U.S. Marines with 1st Light Armored Reconnaissance Battalion, attached to Marine Rotational Force-Southeast Asia, pose for a photo while disposing of mortar increments during the Marine final exercise at Ban Chan Khrem, Chanthaburi, Thailand, March 6, 2025, during Exercise Cobra Gold 2025. Cobra Gold is the largest joint and combined exercise in mainland Asia, held annually in Thailand, showcasing the U.S. commitment to the region by building interoperability, multilateral cooperative arrangements, and advancing common interests through a commitment to allies and partners in ensuring a free and open Indo-Pacific. MRF-SEA is a rotational unit derived from elements of I MEF executing a U.S. Marine Corps Forces, Pacific operational model that involves training events and exchanges with partner military subject matter experts, promotes security goals with allied and partner nations, and ensures a persistent I MEF stand-in presence west of the international date line. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Sgt. Shaina Jupiter)

U.S. Marines with 9th Communication Battalion, I Marine Expeditionary Force Information Group, alongside service members with the Royal Thai Armed Forces, Japan Ground Self-Defense Force, Malaysia, Indonesia, Singapore, Australia, and Republic of Korea Marines, participate in a cyber exercise during Exercise Cobra Gold 2025, March 4, 2025. - U.S. Marines with 9th Communication Battalion, I Marine Expeditionary Force Information Group, alongside service members with the Royal Thai Armed Forces, Japan Ground Self-Defense Force, Malaysia, Indonesia, Singapore, Australia, and Republic of Korea Marines, participate in a cyber exercise during Exercise Cobra Gold 2025, March 4, 2025. The exercise focused on building and improving basic defensive cyber capabilities critical for enabling integrated deterrence against threat cyber operations. Cobra Gold is the largest joint and combined exercise in mainland Asia, held annually in Thailand, showcasing the U.S. commitment to the region by building interoperability, multilateral cooperative arrangements, and advancing common interests through our commitment to allies and partners in ensuring a free and open Indo-Pacific. MRF-SEA is a rotational unit derived from elements of I MEF executing a U.S. Marine Corps Forces, Pacific operational model that involves training events and exchanges with partner military subject matter experts, promotes security goals with allied and partner nations, and ensures a persistent I MEF stand-in presence west of the international date line. (Courtesy Asset)