Pacific Marines Stories

U.S. Marine Corps Sgt. Maj. Kevin Hopkins, left, the sergeant major of Marine Wing Support Squadron 174, Lt. Col. Matthew Schultz, center, the commanding officer of Marine Wing Support Squadron 174 and Maj. Randall Gregorius, a logistics officer with Marine Wing Support Squadron 174, dance with residents of Lal-lo at a ‘Barangay Fiesta’ held during Exercise Balikatan 24 at Dagupan Barangay Hall, Lal-lo, Cagayan, Philippines, April 24, 2024. BK 24 is an annual exercise between the Armed Forces of the Philippines and the U.S. military designed to strengthen bilateral interoperability, capabilities, trust and cooperation built over decades of shared experiences. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Trent A. Henry) - U.S. Marine Corps Sgt. Maj. Kevin Hopkins, left, the sergeant major of Marine Wing Support Squadron 174, Lt. Col. Matthew Schultz, center, the commanding officer of Marine Wing Support Squadron 174 and Maj. Randall Gregorius, a logistics officer with Marine Wing Support Squadron 174, dance with residents of Lal-lo at a ‘Barangay Fiesta’ held during Exercise Balikatan 24 at Dagupan Barangay Hall, Lal-lo, Cagayan, Philippines, April 24, 2024. BK 24 is an annual exercise between the Armed Forces of the Philippines and the U.S. military designed to strengthen bilateral interoperability, capabilities, trust and cooperation built over decades of shared experiences. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Trent A. Henry)

U.S. Marine Corps Col. Brian T. Mulvihill, center right, the commanding officer of Marine Rotational Force – Darwin 24.3, and Lt. Col. Scott Stafford, center left, the executive officer of MRF-D-24.3, salute during the 109th commemorative service in honor of Anzac Day at Darwin Cenotaph War Memorial, NT, Australia, April 25, 2024. Anzac Day marks the landings in Gallipoli of Australian and New Zealand Army Corps soldiers in 1915, and commemorates all Australian personnel who served and died in wars, conflicts, and peacekeeping operations. MRF-D 24.3 Marines and Sailors showed their support to the Australian Defence Force personnel commemorating Anzac Day through dawn services and other commemorative services. Mulvihill is a native of New York. Stafford is a native of Indiana. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Juan Torres) - U.S. Marine Corps Col. Brian T. Mulvihill, center right, the commanding officer of Marine Rotational Force – Darwin 24.3, and Lt. Col. Scott Stafford, center left, the executive officer of MRF-D-24.3, salute during the 109th commemorative service in honor of Anzac Day at Darwin Cenotaph War Memorial, NT, Australia, April 25, 2024. Anzac Day marks the landings in Gallipoli of Australian and New Zealand Army Corps soldiers in 1915, and commemorates all Australian personnel who served and died in wars, conflicts, and peacekeeping operations. MRF-D 24.3 Marines and Sailors showed their support to the Australian Defence Force personnel commemorating Anzac Day through dawn services and other commemorative services. Mulvihill is a native of New York. Stafford is a native of Indiana. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Juan Torres)

U.S. Marines assigned to Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron (VMM) 165 (Reinforced), 15th Marine Expeditionary Unit, prepare CH-53E Super Stallions attached to VMM-165 (Rein.), 15th MEU, for flight operations aboard the amphibious transport dock USS Somerset (LPD 25) in the South China Sea April 11, 2024. Somerset and embarked elements of the 15th MEU are conducting routine operations in the U.S. 7th Fleet area of operations. 7th Fleet is the U.S. Navy's largest forward-deployed numbered fleet, and routinely interacts and operates with allies and partners in preserving a free and open Indo-Pacific region. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Aidan Hekker) - U.S. Marines assigned to Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron (VMM) 165 (Reinforced), 15th Marine Expeditionary Unit, prepare CH-53E Super Stallions attached to VMM-165 (Rein.), 15th MEU, for flight operations aboard the amphibious transport dock USS Somerset (LPD 25) in the South China Sea April 11, 2024. Somerset and embarked elements of the 15th MEU are conducting routine operations in the U.S. 7th Fleet area of operations. 7th Fleet is the U.S. Navy's largest forward-deployed numbered fleet, and routinely interacts and operates with allies and partners in preserving a free and open Indo-Pacific region. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Aidan Hekker)

U.S. Navy Lt. Reena Mei Leech, an obstetrical and medical-surgical nurse with the Combined Joint Civil-Military Operations Task Force, engages with a local community member while discussing women’s health during a community health engagement held before Exercise Balikatan 24 at the Dingalan Municipal Gymnasium in Dingalan, Aurora, Philippines, April 5, 2024. BK 24 is an annual exercise between the Armed Forces of the Philippines and the U.S. military designed to strengthen bilateral interoperability, capabilities, trust, and cooperation built over decades of shared experiences. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Trent A. Henry) - U.S. Navy Lt. Reena Mei Leech, an obstetrical and medical-surgical nurse with the Combined Joint Civil-Military Operations Task Force, engages with a local community member while discussing women’s health during a community health engagement held before Exercise Balikatan 24 at the Dingalan Municipal Gymnasium in Dingalan, Aurora, Philippines, April 5, 2024. BK 24 is an annual exercise between the Armed Forces of the Philippines and the U.S. military designed to strengthen bilateral interoperability, capabilities, trust, and cooperation built over decades of shared experiences. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Trent A. Henry)

Philippine and U.S. service members pose for a photograph with barangay captains, religious leaders, San Fernando officials, La Union residents, San Agustin Elementary School faculty and staff, and students during a ‘Bundles of Joy’ event held before Exercise Balikatan 24 at San Agustin Elementary School in San Fernando, La Union, Philippines, April 13, 2024. The ‘Bundle of Joy’ delivery consisted of televisions, laptops, printers, and school supplies to improve the learning environment for students, staff, and San Agustin Elementary School faculty. BK 24 is an annual exercise between the Armed Forces of the Philippines and the U.S. military designed to strengthen bilateral interoperability, capabilities, trust, and cooperation built over decades of shared experiences. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Trent A. Henry) - Philippine and U.S. service members pose for a photograph with barangay captains, religious leaders, San Fernando officials, La Union residents, San Agustin Elementary School faculty and staff, and students during a ‘Bundles of Joy’ event held before Exercise Balikatan 24 at San Agustin Elementary School in San Fernando, La Union, Philippines, April 13, 2024. The ‘Bundle of Joy’ delivery consisted of televisions, laptops, printers, and school supplies to improve the learning environment for students, staff, and San Agustin Elementary School faculty. BK 24 is an annual exercise between the Armed Forces of the Philippines and the U.S. military designed to strengthen bilateral interoperability, capabilities, trust, and cooperation built over decades of shared experiences. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Trent A. Henry)

U.S. Navy Petty Officer 1st Class Ron Williams, a corpsman with the Combined Joint Civil-Military Operations Task Force, guides a local healthcare worker during a cardiopulmonary resuscitation practical application as part of a community health engagement held before Exercise Balikatan 24 at Davila Elementary School in Pasuquin, Ilocos Norte, Philippines, April 21, 2024. The Philippine and U.S. service members trained Ilocos Norte healthcare workers and residents on basic lifesaving skills such as cardiopulmonary resuscitation and tactical combat casualty care, increasing emergency care access and awareness. BK 24 is an annual exercise between the Armed Forces of the Philippines and the U.S. military designed to strengthen bilateral interoperability, capabilities, trust, and cooperation built over decades of shared experiences. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Trent A. Henry) - U.S. Navy Petty Officer 1st Class Ron Williams, a corpsman with the Combined Joint Civil-Military Operations Task Force, guides a local healthcare worker during a cardiopulmonary resuscitation practical application as part of a community health engagement held before Exercise Balikatan 24 at Davila Elementary School in Pasuquin, Ilocos Norte, Philippines, April 21, 2024. The Philippine and U.S. service members trained Ilocos Norte healthcare workers and residents on basic lifesaving skills such as cardiopulmonary resuscitation and tactical combat casualty care, increasing emergency care access and awareness. BK 24 is an annual exercise between the Armed Forces of the Philippines and the U.S. military designed to strengthen bilateral interoperability, capabilities, trust, and cooperation built over decades of shared experiences. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Trent A. Henry)

A U.S. Marine with 5th Air Naval Gunfire Liaison Company, III Marine Expeditionary Force Information Group, fires an M4 carbine during a Marine Corps Combat Marksmanship Program range as part of 2nd Brigade Platoon’s field exercise on Camp Hansen, Okinawa, Japan, Feb. 14, 2024. CMP allows Marines to maintain weapon proficiency by engaging targets in a competitive environment with primary and secondary weapon systems. 5th ANGLICO Marines refined their shooting fundamentals through advanced marksmanship training, enhancing their lethality. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Staff Sgt. Manuel A. Serrano) - A U.S. Marine with 5th Air Naval Gunfire Liaison Company, III Marine Expeditionary Force Information Group, fires an M4 carbine during a Marine Corps Combat Marksmanship Program range as part of 2nd Brigade Platoon’s field exercise on Camp Hansen, Okinawa, Japan, Feb. 14, 2024. CMP allows Marines to maintain weapon proficiency by engaging targets in a competitive environment with primary and secondary weapon systems. 5th ANGLICO Marines refined their shooting fundamentals through advanced marksmanship training, enhancing their lethality. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Staff Sgt. Manuel A. Serrano)