Pacific Marines Stories

U.S. Marine Corps Cpl. Adam Clyne, an assistant patrol leader with 2nd Battalion, 1st Marine Regiment, Marine Rotational Force – Darwin 25.3, and a Philippine Marine with 3rd Marine Brigade, Philippine Marine Corps, pose for a photo before a counter-landing live-fire rehearsal in support of Exercise Balikatan 25 at Rizal, Palawan, Philippines, April 27, 2025. - U.S. Marine Corps Cpl. Adam Clyne, an assistant patrol leader with 2nd Battalion, 1st Marine Regiment, Marine Rotational Force – Darwin 25.3, and a Philippine Marine with 3rd Marine Brigade, Philippine Marine Corps, pose for a photo before a counter-landing live-fire rehearsal in support of Exercise Balikatan 25 at Rizal, Palawan, Philippines, April 27, 2025. Balikatan is a longstanding annual exercise between the U.S. and Philippine armed forces designed to strengthen the alliance, showcase the capable combined force, and demonstrate the commitment to regional security and stability. Clyne is a native of Minnesota. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Keegan Jones)

Armed Forces of the Philippines, U.S. Marines, and Japan Self-Defense Forces service members and U.S. government officials pose for a group photo during a Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief Tabletop Exercise in support of Exercise Balikatan 25 at Camp Aguinaldo, Manila, Philippines, May 1, 2025. Balikatan is a longstanding annual exercise between the Armed Forces of the Philippines and the U.S. military designed to strengthen our ironclad alliance, improve our capable combined force and demonstrate our commitment to regional security and stability. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Carson Jeney) - Armed Forces of the Philippines, U.S. Marines, and Japan Self-Defense Forces service members and U.S. government officials pose for a group photo during a Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief Tabletop Exercise in support of Exercise Balikatan 25 at Camp Aguinaldo, Manila, Philippines, May 1, 2025. Balikatan is a longstanding annual exercise between the Armed Forces of the Philippines and the U.S. military designed to strengthen our ironclad alliance, improve our capable combined force and demonstrate our commitment to regional security and stability. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Carson Jeney)

U.S. Marines with 2nd Battalion, 1st Marine Regiment, Marine Rotational Force – Darwin 25.3 unload cargo from a U.S. Air Force C-130J. - U.S. Marines with 2nd Battalion, 1st Marine Regiment, Marine Rotational Force – Darwin 25.3 unload cargo from a U.S. Air Force C-130J with 36th Airlift Squadron, 374th Airlift Wing after their arrival to Puerto Princesa, Palawan, Philippines, from Mindanao for Balikatan 2025, April 15, 2025. Balikatan is a longstanding annual exercise between U.S. and Philippine armed forces designed to strengthen the alliance, showcase the capable combined force, and demonstrate the commitment to regional security and stability. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Sgt. Ezekieljay Correa)

Philippine and U.S. government and military representatives conduct the “crossing of hands” during the opening ceremony to commence Exercise Balikatan 25 at Camp Aguinaldo, Manila, Philippines, April 21, 2025 - Philippine and U.S. government and military representatives conduct the “crossing of hands” during the opening ceremony to commence Exercise Balikatan 25 at Camp Aguinaldo, Manila, Philippines, April 21, 2025. Balikatan is a longstanding annual exercise between the Armed Forces of the Philippines and the U.S. military designed to strengthen our ironclad alliance, improve our capable combined force and demonstrate our commitment to regional security and stability. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Erica Padgett)

Indian Army (IA) personnel from the 4/8 Gurkha Rifles Infantry Battalion, 91st Infantry Brigade, traverse the beach in an IA BMP-II Sarath amphibious infantry combat vehicle, left, with an IA Mahindra Armored Light Specialist Vehicle, along with two U.S. Army 11th Airborne Division personnel, while two landing craft mechanized (LCM-8), launched from Indian Navy amphibious transport dock INS Jalashwa (L41), pull away during a large-scale amphibious landing drill held as part of Exercise Tiger Triumph 2025, at Kakinada Beach, Andhra Pradesh, India, April 11. - KAKINADA, Andhra Pradesh, India (April 11, 2025) - Indian Army (IA) personnel from the 4/8 Gurkha Rifles Infantry Battalion, 91st Infantry Brigade, traverse the beach in an IA BMP-II Sarath amphibious infantry combat vehicle, left, with an IA Mahindra Armored Light Specialist Vehicle, along with two U.S. Army 11th Airborne Division personnel, while two landing craft mechanized (LCM-8), launched from Indian Navy amphibious transport dock INS Jalashwa (L41), pull away during a large-scale amphibious landing drill held as part of Exercise Tiger Triumph 2025, at Kakinada Beach, Andhra Pradesh, India, April 11. Tiger Triumph is a joint and combined U.S.-India exercise focused on humanitarian assistance and disaster response readiness and interoperability. Tiger Triumph enables U.S. and Indian armed forces to improve interoperability and bilateral, joint, and service readiness in the Indian Ocean region and beyond to support a free and open Indo-Pacific. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class Caroline H. Lui)

U.S. Marines with Marine Wing Support Squadron 174, Marine Aircraft Group 24, 1st Marine Aircraft Wing and Philippine Engineers with the 357th Air Engineering Squadron members pose for a team photo during Exercise Balikatan 25 at the Barangay Dagupan Multipurpose Gymnasium, Lal-lo, Cagayan, Philippines, April 8, 2025. - U.S. Marines with Marine Wing Support Squadron 174, Marine Aircraft Group 24, 1st Marine Aircraft Wing and Philippine Engineers with the 357th Air Engineering Squadron members pose for a team photo during Exercise Balikatan 25 at the Barangay Dagupan Multipurpose Gymnasium, Lal-lo, Cagayan, Philippines, April 8, 2025. Balikatan is a longstanding annual exercise between the Armed Forces of the Philippines and the U.S. military designed to strengthen our ironclad alliance, improve our capable combined force and demonstrate our commitment to regional security and stability (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Roger- Junior Annoh)

U.S. Marine Corps Lt. Col. Joshua Chambers, operational planner, Operations Division, G-3, U.S. Marine Corps Forces, Pacific, poses for a photo on Camp H.M. Smith, Hawaii, Apr. 1, 2025. Chambers recounts the story of how his great-grandfather, Col. Justice M. Chambers, received the Medal of Honor for his actions during the Battle of Iwo Jima. The Battle of Iwo Jima, fought from February 19 to March 26, 1945, was one of the deadliest campaigns undertaken by the United States Marine Corps during World War II. Joshua Chambers is a native of Austin, Texas. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Jose Villasenor) - U.S. Marine Corps Lt. Col. Joshua Chambers, operational planner, Operations Division, G-3, U.S. Marine Corps Forces, Pacific, poses for a photo on Camp H.M. Smith, Hawaii, Apr. 1, 2025. Chambers recounts the story of how his great-grandfather, Col. Justice M. Chambers, received the Medal of Honor for his actions during the Battle of Iwo Jima. The Battle of Iwo Jima, fought from February 19 to March 26, 1945, was one of the deadliest campaigns undertaken by the United States Marine Corps during World War II. Joshua Chambers is a native of Austin, Texas. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Jose Villasenor)

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)

VISAKHAPATNAM, Andhra Pradesh, India (April 1, 2025) - Indian Navy (IN) Rear Adm. Susheel Menon, Flag Officer Commanding Eastern Fleet (FOCEF), front, Rear Adm. Greg Newkirk, Commander, Task Force (CTF) 70, second from right, and other leaders representing U.S. and India joint forces salute during the national anthem on the flight deck aboard the IN amphibious transport dock INS Jalashwa (L41) during the opening ceremony of Exercise Tiger Triumph 2025, at the Naval Dockyard, Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh, India, April 1. Tiger Triumph is a joint and combined U.S.-India exercise focused on humanitarian assistance and disaster relief readiness and interoperability. Tiger Triumph enables U.S. and Indian armed forces to improve interoperability and bilateral, joint, and service readiness in the Indian Ocean region and beyond to support a free and open Indo-Pacific. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class Caroline H. Lui) - VISAKHAPATNAM, Andhra Pradesh, India (April 1, 2025) - Indian Navy (IN) Rear Adm. Susheel Menon, Flag Officer Commanding Eastern Fleet (FOCEF), front, Rear Adm. Greg Newkirk, Commander, Task Force (CTF) 70, second from right, and other leaders representing U.S. and India joint forces salute during the national anthem on the flight deck aboard the IN amphibious transport dock INS Jalashwa (L41) during the opening ceremony of Exercise Tiger Triumph 2025, at the Naval Dockyard, Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh, India, April 1. Tiger Triumph is a joint and combined U.S.-India exercise focused on humanitarian assistance and disaster relief readiness and interoperability. Tiger Triumph enables U.S. and Indian armed forces to improve interoperability and bilateral, joint, and service readiness in the Indian Ocean region and beyond to support a free and open Indo-Pacific. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class Caroline H. Lui)

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)