Pacific Marines Stories

Marines with Marine Rotational Force - Darwin board two MV-22B Ospreys with Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron 265, 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit, here, Aug. 28. A total of four Ospreys flew the Marines to Bradshaw Field Training Area for Exercise Koolendong. During this exercise, Marines with MRF-D and the 31st MEU will work bilaterally with Australian soldiers from Bravo Company, 5th Battalion, Royal Australian Regiment. - Marines with Marine Rotational Force - Darwin board two MV-22B Ospreys with Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron 265, 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit, here, Aug. 28. A total of four Ospreys flew the Marines to Bradshaw Field Training Area for Exercise Koolendong. During this exercise, Marines with MRF-D and the 31st MEU will work bilaterally with Australian soldiers from Bravo Company, 5th Battalion, Royal Australian Regiment.

Lt. Gen. Ts. Byambajav, Chief of General Staff, Mongolian Armed Forces; U.S. Ambassador to Mongolia Piper Campbell; and Brig. Gen. Richard Simcock, deputy commander for U.S. Marine Corps Forces, Pacific; react to a demonstrator being stunned by an X26 Taser at Five Hills Training Area, Mongolia, Aug. 26. The demonstration was part of a ceremony marking the conclusion of the field training exercise and start of the leadership portion during the Non-Lethal Weapons Executive Seminar. NOLES is hosted annually in the Pacific region and led this year by U.S. Marines with 3rd Law Enforcement Battalion, III Marine Expeditionary Force. Mongolia, a regular participant, is hosting NOLES for the third time in 12 years. MarForPac serves as the executive agent for the exercise every year. - Lt. Gen. Ts. Byambajav, Chief of General Staff, Mongolian Armed Forces; U.S. Ambassador to Mongolia Piper Campbell; and Brig. Gen. Richard Simcock, deputy commander for U.S. Marine Corps Forces, Pacific; react to a demonstrator being stunned by an X26 Taser at Five Hills Training Area, Mongolia, Aug. 26. The demonstration was part of a ceremony marking the conclusion of the field training exercise and start of the leadership portion during the Non-Lethal Weapons Executive Seminar. NOLES is hosted annually in the Pacific region and led this year by U.S. Marines with 3rd Law Enforcement Battalion, III Marine Expeditionary Force. Mongolia, a regular participant, is hosting NOLES for the third time in 12 years. MarForPac serves as the executive agent for the exercise every year.

Cpl. Luis Vasquez, automotive mechanic, Lima Company, 3rd Battalion, 3rd Marine Regiment, Marine Rotational Force - Darwin, and an Australian Army classmate, complete moving pushups during a Combat Fitness Leadership Course physical training session at the Northern Gym, here, Aug. 20. The course teaches students to lead physical training techniques. Two MRF-D Marines are attending the month-long course. This is the first time Marines have participated in an Australian Army training course here. - Cpl. Luis Vasquez, automotive mechanic, Lima Company, 3rd Battalion, 3rd Marine Regiment, Marine Rotational Force - Darwin, and an Australian Army classmate, complete moving pushups during a Combat Fitness Leadership Course physical training session at the Northern Gym, here, Aug. 20. The course teaches students to lead physical training techniques. Two MRF-D Marines are attending the month-long course. This is the first time Marines have participated in an Australian Army training course here.

Members of a Mongolian Armed Forces ceremonial band march past an international delegation during the closing ceremony for Khaan Quest 2013, Aug. 14. The multinational peacekeeping exercise is hosted annually by the Mongolian Armed Forces and co-sponsored by U.S. Marine Corps Forces Pacific and U.S. Army Pacific, and designed to promote regional peace and security. The intent of Khaan Quest 2013 was to enhance military-to-military interoperability in peacekeeping operations and increase multinational cooperation. In addition to Mongolia and the United States, military personnel from Australia, Canada, France, Germany, Japan, India, Nepal, South Korea, Tajikistan, United Kingdom and Vietnam also participated in the exercise. MARFORPAC served as the U.S. executive agent for this year’s exercise. - Members of a Mongolian Armed Forces ceremonial band march past an international delegation during the closing ceremony for Khaan Quest 2013, Aug. 14. The multinational peacekeeping exercise is hosted annually by the Mongolian Armed Forces and co-sponsored by U.S. Marine Corps Forces Pacific and U.S. Army Pacific, and designed to promote regional peace and security. The intent of Khaan Quest 2013 was to enhance military-to-military interoperability in peacekeeping operations and increase multinational cooperation. In addition to Mongolia and the United States, military personnel from Australia, Canada, France, Germany, Japan, India, Nepal, South Korea, Tajikistan, United Kingdom and Vietnam also participated in the exercise. MARFORPAC served as the U.S. executive agent for this year’s exercise.

(From right) Maj. Gen. B. Bayarmagnai, deputy chief of general staff for the Mongolian Armed Forces, U.S. Ambassador to Mongolia Piper Campbell and Maj. Gen. Gary Hara, deputy commanding general of the Army National Guard for U.S. Army Pacific, cut the ribbon for newly renovated Erdmiin Orgil School in Nalaikh district, Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia, Aug. 13. The project took place as part of exercise Khaan Quest 2013. Engineers from the U.S., Mongolia and Canada worked side-by-side to replace the roof, windows, front stairs and interior doors, "re-stucco" the exterior walls, apply emulsion and repaint the building. They also tore down a structurally unsound concrete awning at the main entrance and built a handicap-accessible ramp at the front of the school. - (From right) Maj. Gen. B. Bayarmagnai, deputy chief of general staff for the Mongolian Armed Forces, U.S. Ambassador to Mongolia Piper Campbell and Maj. Gen. Gary Hara, deputy commanding general of the Army National Guard for U.S. Army Pacific, cut the ribbon for newly renovated Erdmiin Orgil School in Nalaikh district, Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia, Aug. 13. The project took place as part of exercise Khaan Quest 2013. Engineers from the U.S., Mongolia and Canada worked side-by-side to replace the roof, windows, front stairs and interior doors, "re-stucco" the exterior walls, apply emulsion and repaint the building. They also tore down a structurally unsound concrete awning at the main entrance and built a handicap-accessible ramp at the front of the school.

U.S. Marine Capt. Albert Bellamy and Republic of Korea Army Col. Seoko Yoon listen to a brief during Khaan Quest's command post exercise, Aug. 12. Khaan Quest, a multinational peacekeeping exercise hosted annually by the Mongolian Armed Forces and co-sponsored by U.S. Marine Corps Forces Pacific and U.S. Army Pacific, is the latest in a continuing series of exercises designed to promote regional peace and security. MARFORPAC is the U.S. executive for this year’s exercise, which has been taking place since 2003. Khaan Quest 2013 officially ended Aug. 14. Bellamy, serving as a battalion operations officer for 2nd Battalion, 11th Marine Regiment during the CPX, is from Wadsworth, Ohio. Yoon served as the civil-military affairs officer for the multinational brigade's headquarters. - U.S. Marine Capt. Albert Bellamy and Republic of Korea Army Col. Seoko Yoon listen to a brief during Khaan Quest's command post exercise, Aug. 12. Khaan Quest, a multinational peacekeeping exercise hosted annually by the Mongolian Armed Forces and co-sponsored by U.S. Marine Corps Forces Pacific and U.S. Army Pacific, is the latest in a continuing series of exercises designed to promote regional peace and security. MARFORPAC is the U.S. executive for this year’s exercise, which has been taking place since 2003. Khaan Quest 2013 officially ended Aug. 14. Bellamy, serving as a battalion operations officer for 2nd Battalion, 11th Marine Regiment during the CPX, is from Wadsworth, Ohio. Yoon served as the civil-military affairs officer for the multinational brigade's headquarters.

1st Lt. Ryan Trunk and Gunnery Sgt. Alexander Orellana render a salute alongside Lt. Col. D. Javklanbayar, senior staff officer for the Peace Support Operations Department, General Staff, Mongolian Armed Forces, during the opening ceremony for the Non-Lethal Weapons Executive Seminar (NOLES) 2013 at Five Hills Training Area, Mongolia, Aug. 17. NOLES is a regularly scheduled field training exercise and leadership seminar sponsored by U.S. Marine Corps Forces Pacific, and hosted annually by various nations throughout Asia-Pacific. In its 12th iteration, this multinational training event is designed to promote awareness and effective use of non-lethal weapons as a tool to maintain order in low-intensity conflict situations or during incidents of civil unrest. Mongolia, a regular participant, is hosting NOLES for the third time. Trunk, training officer with Law Enforcement Battalion, 3rd Marine Expeditionary Force Headquarters Group and officer-in-charge of the Marine detachment during the exercise is from Brookline, Mass. Orellana, company gunnery sergeant with Company B, LE Battalion, is from New York. - 1st Lt. Ryan Trunk and Gunnery Sgt. Alexander Orellana render a salute alongside Lt. Col. D. Javklanbayar, senior staff officer for the Peace Support Operations Department, General Staff, Mongolian Armed Forces, during the opening ceremony for the Non-Lethal Weapons Executive Seminar (NOLES) 2013 at Five Hills Training Area, Mongolia, Aug. 17. NOLES is a regularly scheduled field training exercise and leadership seminar sponsored by U.S. Marine Corps Forces Pacific, and hosted annually by various nations throughout Asia-Pacific. In its 12th iteration, this multinational training event is designed to promote awareness and effective use of non-lethal weapons as a tool to maintain order in low-intensity conflict situations or during incidents of civil unrest. Mongolia, a regular participant, is hosting NOLES for the third time. Trunk, training officer with Law Enforcement Battalion, 3rd Marine Expeditionary Force Headquarters Group and officer-in-charge of the Marine detachment during the exercise is from Brookline, Mass. Orellana, company gunnery sergeant with Company B, LE Battalion, is from New York.

Surgeons from the Mongolian Armed Forces and the Republic of Korea operate on a patient at the MAF's Central Clinical Hospital in Ulaanbaatar during exercise Khaan Quest's Subject Matter Expert Exchange, Aug. 9. The SMEE and Cooperative Health Engagement in nearby Nalaikh district brought a multinational team of medical officers together in both classroom and clinical settings to gain experience, enhance interoperability and be exposed to different tactics, techniques and procedures in the military medical field. Khaan Quest is a peacekeeping operations-focused, combined training event between U.S. Marine Corps Forces Pacific, U.S. Army Pacific, and the MAF. MARFORPAC and USARPAC have conducted similar training with MAF since 2003, and this exercise marks the 11th iteration of the exercise. - Surgeons from the Mongolian Armed Forces and the Republic of Korea operate on a patient at the MAF's Central Clinical Hospital in Ulaanbaatar during exercise Khaan Quest's Subject Matter Expert Exchange, Aug. 9. The SMEE and Cooperative Health Engagement in nearby Nalaikh district brought a multinational team of medical officers together in both classroom and clinical settings to gain experience, enhance interoperability and be exposed to different tactics, techniques and procedures in the military medical field. Khaan Quest is a peacekeeping operations-focused, combined training event between U.S. Marine Corps Forces Pacific, U.S. Army Pacific, and the MAF. MARFORPAC and USARPAC have conducted similar training with MAF since 2003, and this exercise marks the 11th iteration of the exercise.

Cpl. Justin Haish, an instructor for the Khaan Quest 2013 survival course and member of the Jungle Warfare Training Center in Camp Gonsalves, Okinawa, Japan, dismounts during a rope corral demonstration for Mongolian Armed Forces soldiers and U.S. Marines, Aug. 7. Khaan Quest is a peacekeeping operations-focused, combined training event between U.S. Marine Corps Forces Pacific, U.S. Army Pacific, and the MAF. MARFORPAC and USARPAC have conducted similar training with MAF since 2003, and this exercise marks the 11th iteration of Khaan Quest. Military personnel from Australia, Canada, France, Germany, Japan, India, Nepal, Republic of Korea, Tajikistan, United Kingdom and Vietnam are also participating in the exercise. Haish, currently part of the unit deployment program with Kilo Company, 3rd Battalion, 3rd Marine Regiment, is from Kailua, Hawaii. - Cpl. Justin Haish, an instructor for the Khaan Quest 2013 survival course and member of the Jungle Warfare Training Center in Camp Gonsalves, Okinawa, Japan, dismounts during a rope corral demonstration for Mongolian Armed Forces soldiers and U.S. Marines, Aug. 7. Khaan Quest is a peacekeeping operations-focused, combined training event between U.S. Marine Corps Forces Pacific, U.S. Army Pacific, and the MAF. MARFORPAC and USARPAC have conducted similar training with MAF since 2003, and this exercise marks the 11th iteration of Khaan Quest. Military personnel from Australia, Canada, France, Germany, Japan, India, Nepal, Republic of Korea, Tajikistan, United Kingdom and Vietnam are also participating in the exercise. Haish, currently part of the unit deployment program with Kilo Company, 3rd Battalion, 3rd Marine Regiment, is from Kailua, Hawaii.