Pacific Marines Stories

U.S. Marines with Marine Aerial Refueler Transport Squadron 152, 1st Marine Aircraft Wing, and Philippine Air Force service members offload Department of Social Welfare and Development family food packs from a KC-130J Super Hercules aircraft at Davao International Airport, Davao City, Philippines, Feb. 12, 2024. At the request of the Government of the Philippines, the U.S. Marines of III Marine Expeditionary Force are supporting the U.S. Agency for International Development in providing foreign humanitarian assistance to the ongoing disaster relief mission in Mindanao. The forward presence and ready posture of III MEF assets in the region facilitated rapid and effective response to crisis, demonstrating the U.S.’s commitment to Allies and partners during times of need. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Sgt. Savannah Mesimer) - U.S. Marines with Marine Aerial Refueler Transport Squadron 152, 1st Marine Aircraft Wing, and Philippine Air Force service members offload Department of Social Welfare and Development family food packs from a KC-130J Super Hercules aircraft at Davao International Airport, Davao City, Philippines, Feb. 12, 2024. At the request of the Government of the Philippines, the U.S. Marines of III Marine Expeditionary Force are supporting the U.S. Agency for International Development in providing foreign humanitarian assistance to the ongoing disaster relief mission in Mindanao. The forward presence and ready posture of III MEF assets in the region facilitated rapid and effective response to crisis, demonstrating the U.S.’s commitment to Allies and partners during times of need. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Sgt. Savannah Mesimer)

U.S. Marines and Sailors deliver presents during the holiday season to local children at Taguchi Nursery in Okinawa, Japan, Dec. 15, 2023. The Marines and Sailors of 2d Battalion, 2d Marine Regiment dedicated 770 hours to community service during their six-month deployment in Okinawa. The battalion contributed to the local community by cleaning up trash on local beaches, provided English lessons at local schools and sponsored a foster home during the holiday season. 2/2 is forward deployed in the Indo-Pacific under 4th Marine Regiment, 3d Marine Division as part of the Unit Deployment Program. (Courtesy Photo) - U.S. Marines and Sailors deliver presents during the holiday season to local children at Taguchi Nursery in Okinawa, Japan, Dec. 15, 2023. The Marines and Sailors of 2d Battalion, 2d Marine Regiment dedicated 770 hours to community service during their six-month deployment in Okinawa. The battalion contributed to the local community by cleaning up trash on local beaches, provided English lessons at local schools and sponsored a foster home during the holiday season. 2/2 is forward deployed in the Indo-Pacific under 4th Marine Regiment, 3d Marine Division as part of the Unit Deployment Program. (Courtesy Photo)

U.S. Marines with Marine Aerial Refueler Transport Squadron 152, 1st Marine Aircraft Wing, unload equipment from a KC-130J Super Hercules aircraft in preparation to transport Department of Social Welfare and Development family food packs at Villamor Airbase, Philippines, Feb. 11, 2024. At the request of the Government of the Philippines, the U.S. Marines of III Marine Expeditionary Force are supporting the U.S. Agency for International Development in providing foreign humanitarian assistance to the ongoing disaster relief mission in Mindanao. The forward presence and ready posture of III MEF assets in the region facilitated rapid and effective response to crisis, demonstrating the U.S.’s commitment to Allies and partners during times of need. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Sgt. Savannah Mesimer) - U.S. Marines with Marine Aerial Refueler Transport Squadron 152, 1st Marine Aircraft Wing, unload equipment from a KC-130J Super Hercules aircraft in preparation to transport Department of Social Welfare and Development family food packs at Villamor Airbase, Philippines, Feb. 11, 2024. At the request of the Government of the Philippines, the U.S. Marines of III Marine Expeditionary Force are supporting the U.S. Agency for International Development in providing foreign humanitarian assistance to the ongoing disaster relief mission in Mindanao. The forward presence and ready posture of III MEF assets in the region facilitated rapid and effective response to crisis, demonstrating the U.S.’s commitment to Allies and partners during times of need. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Sgt. Savannah Mesimer)

U.S. Marine Corps Lance Cpl. Rohman Papayev, a metal worker with Marine Wing Support Squadron (MWSS) 373, Marine Aircraft Group 38, 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing, cuts metal remains of the Bailey Bridge with an air carbon arc cutting system during a bridge demolition operation as part of phase I of Strategic Mobility Exercise (STRATMOBEX) II at San Clemente Island, California, Jan. 6, 2024. During phase I, MWSS-373 demolished a hazardous bridge that hindered range control’s ability to insert targets into the Shore Bombardment Area of San Clemente Island. Phase I set conditions for phases II and III of STRATMOBEX II, the construct of a shallow water crossing and follow on missions. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Jennifer Sanchez) - U.S. Marines with Marine Wing Support Squadron (MWSS) 373, Marine Air Control Group 38, 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing, detonate C4 to demolish the Bailey Bridge as part of phase I of Strategic Mobility Exercise (STRATMOBEX) II at San Clemente Island, California, Jan. 5, 2024. During phase I, MWSS-373 demolished a hazardous bridge that hindered range control’s ability to insert targets into the Shore Bombardment Area of San Clemente Island. Phase I set conditions for phases II and III of STRATMOBEX II, the construct of a shallow water crossing and follow on missions. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Jennifer Sanchez)

U.S. Marine Corps Capt. Eric Pak, a forward air controller officer with 5th Air Naval Gunfire Liaison Company, III Marine Expeditionary Force Information Group, observes the landing zone of a Japan Ground Self-Defense Force CH-47J Chinook during joint terminal attack controller training at Irisuna Island, Okinawa, Japan, Nov. 15, 2023. The training tested U.S. and Japanese service members’ ability to enhance and sustain tactics and procedures for terminal control of fires. 5th ANGLICO provides the Marine Air Ground Task Force Commander with a liaison capability to plan, coordinate, employ, and conduct terminal control of fires in support of joint, allied, and coalition forces. Pak is a native of Los Angeles. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. William Wallace) - U.S. Marine Corps Capt. Eric Pak, a forward air controller officer with 5th Air Naval Gunfire Liaison Company, III Marine Expeditionary Force Information Group, observes the landing zone of a Japan Ground Self-Defense Force CH-47J Chinook during joint terminal attack controller training at Irisuna Island, Okinawa, Japan, Nov. 15, 2023. The training tested U.S. and Japanese service members’ ability to enhance and sustain tactics and procedures for terminal control of fires. 5th ANGLICO provides the Marine Air Ground Task Force Commander with a liaison capability to plan, coordinate, employ, and conduct terminal control of fires in support of joint, allied, and coalition forces. Pak is a native of Los Angeles. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. William Wallace)

A U.S. Marine Corps F-35B Lightning II aircraft with Marine Fighter Attack Squadron (VMFA) 214, Marine Aircraft Group 13, 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing, taxis the runway during suppression of enemy air defense training in support of Exercise Steel Knight 23.2 at Marine Corps Air Station Yuma, Arizona, Dec. 7, 2023. SEAD training increases the ability of fifth-generation fighter pilots to enter the fight first, strike targets deep within an enemy air defense system, and enable follow on strikes by supporting weapons platforms. Steel Knight 23.2 is a three-phase exercise designed to train I Marine Expeditionary Force in the planning, deployment and command and control of a joint force against a peer or near-peer adversary combat force and enhance existing live-fire and maneuver capabilities of the Marine Air-Ground Task Force. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Elizabeth Gallagher) - A U.S. Marine Corps F-35B Lightning II aircraft with Marine Fighter Attack Squadron (VMFA) 214, Marine Aircraft Group 13, 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing, taxis the runway during suppression of enemy air defense training in support of Exercise Steel Knight 23.2 at Marine Corps Air Station Yuma, Arizona, Dec. 7, 2023. SEAD training increases the ability of fifth-generation fighter pilots to enter the fight first, strike targets deep within an enemy air defense system, and enable follow on strikes by supporting weapons platforms. Steel Knight 23.2 is a three-phase exercise designed to train I Marine Expeditionary Force in the planning, deployment and command and control of a joint force against a peer or near-peer adversary combat force and enhance existing live-fire and maneuver capabilities of the Marine Air-Ground Task Force. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Elizabeth Gallagher)

U.S. Marines with 4th Law Enforcement Battalion, Marine Forces Reserve, load snow machines onto a KC-130J Hercules assigned to Marine Aerial Refueler Transport Squadron (VMGR) 153, Marine Aircraft Group 24, 1st Marine Aircraft Wing to carry out the Toys for Tots mission in Kotzebue, Alaska, Dec. 13, 2023. VMGR-153 conducted combat assault transport and air delivery in support of Alaska Marines’ Toys for Tots mission which enhanced combat readiness and supported community relations in remote Alaskan villages. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Staff Sgt. Olivia Ortiz) - U.S. Marines with 4th Law Enforcement Battalion, Marine Forces Reserve, load snow machines onto a KC-130J Hercules assigned to Marine Aerial Refueler Transport Squadron (VMGR) 153, Marine Aircraft Group 24, 1st Marine Aircraft Wing to carry out the Toys for Tots mission in Kotzebue, Alaska, Dec. 13, 2023. VMGR-153 conducted combat assault transport and air delivery in support of Alaska Marines’ Toys for Tots mission which enhanced combat readiness and supported community relations in remote Alaskan villages. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Staff Sgt. Olivia Ortiz)