Pacific Marines Stories

Service members of the Philippine Marine Corps, and U.S. Marines with I Marine Expeditionary Force and 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing, pose for a photo during the Marine Aviation Support Activity 2024 opening ceremony at Fort Bonifacio, Manila, Philippines, June 3, 2024. MASA 24 is an annual Philippine-U.S. military exercise focused on mutual defense, strengthening relationships, and rehearsing emerging aviation concepts. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Sgt. Shaina Jupiter) - Service members of the Philippine Marine Corps, and U.S. Marines with I Marine Expeditionary Force and 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing, pose for a photo during the Marine Aviation Support Activity 2024 opening ceremony at Fort Bonifacio, Manila, Philippines, June 3, 2024. MASA 24 is an annual Philippine-U.S. military exercise focused on mutual defense, strengthening relationships, and rehearsing emerging aviation concepts. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Sgt. Shaina Jupiter)

Republic of Korea Marine Corps Commandant Lt. Gen. Kim Kye-Hwan, left, and U.S. Marine Corps Lt. Gen. William M. Jurney, commander, U.S. Marine Corps Forces, Pacific, await the commencement for the closing ceremony of the 10th iteration of the Pacific Amphibious Leaders Symposium, Seoul, South Korea, June 5, 2024. PALS brings together experts and leaders from across the Indo-Pacific to foster collaboration among Allied and partner amphibious and maritime forces, sharing knowledge and recent operational insights. This year's symposium hosts senior leaders from 24 participating nations who are committed to a free and open Indo-Pacific, with the objective of strengthening and developing regional relationships. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Matthew Benfield) - Republic of Korea Marine Corps Commandant Lt. Gen. Kim Kye-Hwan, left, and U.S. Marine Corps Lt. Gen. William M. Jurney, commander, U.S. Marine Corps Forces, Pacific, await the commencement for the closing ceremony of the 10th iteration of the Pacific Amphibious Leaders Symposium, Seoul, South Korea, June 5, 2024. PALS brings together experts and leaders from across the Indo-Pacific to foster collaboration among Allied and partner amphibious and maritime forces, sharing knowledge and recent operational insights. This year's symposium hosts senior leaders from 24 participating nations who are committed to a free and open Indo-Pacific, with the objective of strengthening and developing regional relationships. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Matthew Benfield)

Republic of Korea Marine Corps Commandant, Lt. Gen. Kim Kye-Hwan, left, Republic of Korea Navy Chief of Naval Operations, Adm. Yang Yong-mo, center, and U.S. Marine Corps Lt. Gen. William M. Jurney, commander, U.S. Marine Corps Forces, Pacific, pose for a photo during the opening ceremony of the 10th iteration of the Pacific Amphibious Leaders Symposium, Seoul, South Korea, June 3, 2024. Bringing together experts and leaders from across the Indo-Pacific, PALS fosters collaboration among Allied and partner amphibious and maritime forces to share knowledge and recent operational insights. This year's symposium hosts senior leaders from 24 participating nations who are committed to a free and open Indo-Pacific, with the objective of strengthening and developing regional relationships. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Matthew Benfield) - Republic of Korea Marine Corps Commandant, Lt. Gen. Kim Kye-Hwan, left, Republic of Korea Navy Chief of Naval Operations, Adm. Yang Yong-mo, center, and U.S. Marine Corps Lt. Gen. William M. Jurney, commander, U.S. Marine Corps Forces, Pacific, pose for a photo during the opening ceremony of the 10th iteration of the Pacific Amphibious Leaders Symposium, Seoul, South Korea, June 3, 2024. Bringing together experts and leaders from across the Indo-Pacific, PALS fosters collaboration among Allied and partner amphibious and maritime forces to share knowledge and recent operational insights. This year's symposium hosts senior leaders from 24 participating nations who are committed to a free and open Indo-Pacific, with the objective of strengthening and developing regional relationships. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Matthew Benfield)

U.S. Marine Corps Cpl. Ender Wichlacz, left, a team leader with 3rd Battalion, 1st Marine Regiment, 1st Marine Division, hikes alongside members of the United Arab Emirates Presidential Guard during a bilateral training exercise at Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, California, May 10, 2024. As part of the training, Marines and the Emirati soldiers conducted progressive training on reconnaissance tasks, counterinsurgency operations, and individual skills training in order to improve small unit tactical proficiency and interoperability, and maintain a bilateral military relationship. Wichlacz is a native of Minnesota. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Alexis Ballin) - U.S. Marine Corps Cpl. Ender Wichlacz, left, a team leader with 3rd Battalion, 1st Marine Regiment, 1st Marine Division, hikes alongside members of the United Arab Emirates Presidential Guard during a bilateral training exercise at Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, California, May 10, 2024. As part of the training, Marines and the Emirati soldiers conducted progressive training on reconnaissance tasks, counterinsurgency operations, and individual skills training in order to improve small unit tactical proficiency and interoperability, and maintain a bilateral military relationship. Wichlacz is a native of Minnesota. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Alexis Ballin)

U.S. Marine Corps Lance Cpl. Jonah Hendrickson, a rifleman assigned to Alpha Company, Battalion Landing Team 1/5, 15th Marine Expeditionary Unit, and native of Tennessee, patrols with U.S. Marines and Philippine Marines assigned to Marine Battalion Landing Team 3 during Archipelagic Costal Defense Continuum at San Vicente, Palawan, Philippines, May 21, 2024. ACDC is a series of bilateral exchanges and training opportunities between U.S. Marines and Philippine Marines aimed at bolstering the Philippine Marine Corps’ Coastal Defense strategy while supporting modernization efforts of the Armed Forces of the Philippines. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Joseph Helms) - U.S. Marine Corps Lance Cpl. Jonah Hendrickson, a rifleman assigned to Alpha Company, Battalion Landing Team 1/5, 15th Marine Expeditionary Unit, and native of Tennessee, patrols with U.S. Marines and Philippine Marines assigned to Marine Battalion Landing Team 3 during Archipelagic Costal Defense Continuum at San Vicente, Palawan, Philippines, May 21, 2024. ACDC is a series of bilateral exchanges and training opportunities between U.S. Marines and Philippine Marines aimed at bolstering the Philippine Marine Corps’ Coastal Defense strategy while supporting modernization efforts of the Armed Forces of the Philippines. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Joseph Helms)

U.S. Marine Corps Col. Sean Dynan, right, commanding officer of the 15th Marine Expeditionary Unit gifts his command challenge coin to Malaysia Army Lt. Col. Mohd Zaki, commanding officer of 18th Battalion, Royal Malay Regiment, 10th Brigade (Para), during a key leader engagement at Sri Pantai Camp, Kuala Terengganu, Malaysia, May 28, 2024. Tiger Strike is a bilateral exercise between U.S. and Malaysia armed forces designed to enhance communication and build combat readiness through combined amphibious operations and subject matter expert exchanges in support of a shared vision for security and stability in the region. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by 1st Lt. Robert Nanna) - U.S. Marine Corps Col. Sean Dynan, right, commanding officer of the 15th Marine Expeditionary Unit gifts his command challenge coin to Malaysia Army Lt. Col. Mohd Zaki, commanding officer of 18th Battalion, Royal Malay Regiment, 10th Brigade (Para), during a key leader engagement at Sri Pantai Camp, Kuala Terengganu, Malaysia, May 28, 2024. Tiger Strike is a bilateral exercise between U.S. and Malaysia armed forces designed to enhance communication and build combat readiness through combined amphibious operations and subject matter expert exchanges in support of a shared vision for security and stability in the region. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by 1st Lt. Robert Nanna)

U.S. Marines with 3rd Marine Littoral Regiment, 3rd Marine Division, conduct pre-flight checks on the Stalker VXE30 unmanned aerial system during the Littoral Zone Reconnaissance Cobra exercise for Archipelagic Coastal Defense Continuum at Camp Cape Bojeador, Philippines, May 20, 2024. LZR Cobra is a bilateral command post exercise between U.S. Marines with 3rd MLR and Philippine Marines with the Coastal Defense Regiment and 4th Marine Brigade aimed at enhancing interoperability, refining tactics, techniques, and procedures, and supporting combined and joint force maritime domain awareness. ACDC is a series of bilateral exchanges and training opportunities between U.S. Marines and Philippine Marines aimed at bolstering the Philippine Marine Corps’ Coastal Defense strategy while supporting the modernization efforts of the Armed Forces of the Philippines. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Eric Huynh) - U.S. Marines with 3rd Marine Littoral Regiment, 3rd Marine Division, conduct pre-flight checks on the Stalker VXE30 unmanned aerial system during the Littoral Zone Reconnaissance Cobra exercise for Archipelagic Coastal Defense Continuum at Camp Cape Bojeador, Philippines, May 20, 2024. LZR Cobra is a bilateral command post exercise between U.S. Marines with 3rd MLR and Philippine Marines with the Coastal Defense Regiment and 4th Marine Brigade aimed at enhancing interoperability, refining tactics, techniques, and procedures, and supporting combined and joint force maritime domain awareness. ACDC is a series of bilateral exchanges and training opportunities between U.S. Marines and Philippine Marines aimed at bolstering the Philippine Marine Corps’ Coastal Defense strategy while supporting the modernization efforts of the Armed Forces of the Philippines. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Eric Huynh)

Explosive ordnance disposal technicians with the Philippine Marine Corps, Philippine Navy Special Operations Command, and U.S. Marine Corps transport a “Floating Freddy” towards a C-4 charge during underwater unexploded ordnance disposal demolitions off the coast of Caballo Island, Philippines, during Archipelagic Coastal Defense Continuum May 14, 2024. ACDC is a series of bilateral exchanges and training opportunities between U.S. Marines and Philippine Marines aimed at bolstering the Philippine Marine Corps’ Coastal Defense strategy while supporting the modernization efforts of the Armed Forces of the Philippines. This event marked the first time in U.S. Marine Corps EOD history that dive and demolition training on live underwater ordnance was conducted outside the continental United States. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Staff Sgt. Dana Beesley) - Explosive ordnance disposal technicians with the Philippine Marine Corps, Philippine Navy Special Operations Command, and U.S. Marine Corps transport a “Floating Freddy” towards a C-4 charge during underwater unexploded ordnance disposal demolitions off the coast of Caballo Island, Philippines, during Archipelagic Coastal Defense Continuum May 14, 2024. ACDC is a series of bilateral exchanges and training opportunities between U.S. Marines and Philippine Marines aimed at bolstering the Philippine Marine Corps’ Coastal Defense strategy while supporting the modernization efforts of the Armed Forces of the Philippines. This event marked the first time in U.S. Marine Corps EOD history that dive and demolition training on live underwater ordnance was conducted outside the continental United States. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Staff Sgt. Dana Beesley)

U.S. Marines and Republic of Korea Marines pose for a photo during a Science and technology Day conference in Seoul, Republic of Korea, May 14, 2024. The purpose of the conference was to discuss new and emerging technologies and scientific advancements with international partners and industry experts. - U.S. Marines and Republic of Korea Marines pose for a photo during a Science and technology Day conference in Seoul, Republic of Korea, May 14, 2024. The purpose of the conference was to discuss new and emerging technologies and scientific advancements with international partners and industry experts.

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, receives fuel from a KC-30A Multi-Role Tanker Transport aircraft with No. 33 Squadron, Royal Australian Air Force, over the Pacific Ocean, while flying from Camp Blaz, Guam, to RAAF Base Tindal, Australia, May 19, 2024. VMFA-214 deployed more than 200 Marines and eight F-35B Lightning II aircraft from Marine Corps Air Station Yuma, Arizona, to RAAF Base Tindal, Australia, to conduct bilateral training with the RAAF No. 3 Squadron and No. 75 Squadron. As part of I Marine Expeditionary Force, 3rd MAW persistently trains in the Indo-Pacific, maintaining a forward presence and enduring commitment to our allies and partners in the region. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Nicholas Johnson) - 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, receives fuel from a KC-30A Multi-Role Tanker Transport aircraft with No. 33 Squadron, Royal Australian Air Force, over the Pacific Ocean, while flying from Camp Blaz, Guam, to RAAF Base Tindal, Australia, May 19, 2024. VMFA-214 deployed more than 200 Marines and eight F-35B Lightning II aircraft from Marine Corps Air Station Yuma, Arizona, to RAAF Base Tindal, Australia, to conduct bilateral training with RAAF No. 3 Squadron and No. 75 Squadron. As part of I Marine Expeditionary Force, 3rd MAW persistently trains in the Indo-Pacific, maintaining a forward presence and enduring commitment to our allies and partners in the region. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Nicholas Johnson)