Pacific Marines Stories

U.S. Marines with Company B, 1st Battalion, 4th Marine Regiment, Marine Rotational Force – Darwin, conduct patrol-based operations and engage in platoon-level attacks with troops from His Majesty’s Armed Forces of Tonga, the New Zealand Defence Force, the French Army of New Caledonia and the Tongan Royal Guards during their culminating event for Exercise Tafakula 15 Sept. 9-11 on Tongatapu Island, Tonga. Each military force split into integrated platoons for the event that comprised of 72 hours of patrolling, land navigation and attacking mock enemy positions. The rotational deployment of U.S. Marines in Darwin affords unprecedented combined training opportunities such as Exercise Tafakula and improves interoperability between the involved forces. - U.S. Marines with Company B, 1st Battalion, 4th Marine Regiment, Marine Rotational Force – Darwin, conduct patrol-based operations and engage in platoon-level attacks with troops from His Majesty’s Armed Forces of Tonga, the New Zealand Defence Force, the French Army of New Caledonia and the Tongan Royal Guards during their culminating event for Exercise Tafakula 15 Sept. 9-11 on Tongatapu Island, Tonga. Each military force split into integrated platoons for the event that comprised of 72 hours of patrolling, land navigation and attacking mock enemy positions. The rotational deployment of U.S. Marines in Darwin affords unprecedented combined training opportunities such as Exercise Tafakula and improves interoperability between the involved forces.

U.S. Army Maj. Gen. Todd McCaffrey, chief of staff , U.S. Army Pacific (far right) and U.S. Marine Corps Col. Daniel Masur, officer in charge of the Forward Coordination Element, Marine Rotational Force – Darwin (far left) pose with soldiers from the 25th Infantry Division, USARPAC and Marines with 1st Battalion, 4th Marine Regiment, MRF-D after the Exercise Kowari 2015 closing ceremony Sept. 12, 2015 at Larrakeyah Barracks, Darwin, Northern Territory, Australia. In its second iteration, Kowari 15 was a trilateral environmental survival training opportunity hosted by Australia and included forces from the U.S., Australia and China simultaneously. - U.S. Army Maj. Gen. Todd McCaffrey, chief of staff , U.S. Army Pacific (far right) and U.S. Marine Corps Col. Daniel Masur, officer in charge of the Forward Coordination Element, Marine Rotational Force – Darwin (far left) pose with soldiers from the 25th Infantry Division, USARPAC and Marines with 1st Battalion, 4th Marine Regiment, MRF-D after the Exercise Kowari 2015 closing ceremony Sept. 12, 2015 at Larrakeyah Barracks, Darwin, Northern Territory, Australia. In its second iteration, Kowari 15 was a trilateral environmental survival training opportunity hosted by Australia and included forces from the U.S., Australia and China simultaneously.

U.S. Marine Corps Cpl. Clarissa Verastegui and Cpl. Jordy Reyna place wreaths at the unveiling of a giant clam conservation awareness display Sept. 7 at the Territory Wildlife Park, Berry Springs, Northern Territory, Australia. Marines and sailors with Marine Rotational Force – Darwin volunteered since the beginning of their six-month rotation in Australia to contribute to the park as part of their involvement with the local community. Beyond purely military training, Marines’ participation in engagements throughout the Northern Territory shows their appreciation for Australia’s welcome. Verastegui is a warehouse clerk with Combat Logistics Detachment – 1, MRF-D, and a native of Laredo, Texas. Reyna is a flight equipment technician with Marine Heavy Helicopter Squadron 463, MRF-D and a native of Humble, Texas. - U.S. Marine Corps Cpl. Clarissa Verastegui and Cpl. Jordy Reyna place wreaths at the unveiling of a giant clam conservation awareness display Sept. 7 at the Territory Wildlife Park, Berry Springs, Northern Territory, Australia. Marines and sailors with Marine Rotational Force – Darwin volunteered since the beginning of their six-month rotation in Australia to contribute to the park as part of their involvement with the local community. Beyond purely military training, Marines’ participation in engagements throughout the Northern Territory shows their appreciation for Australia’s welcome. Verastegui is a warehouse clerk with Combat Logistics Detachment – 1, MRF-D, and a native of Laredo, Texas. Reyna is a flight equipment technician with Marine Heavy Helicopter Squadron 463, MRF-D and a native of Humble, Texas.