Pacific Marines Stories

Sgt. Maj. Joy M. Kitashima, center, command senior enlisted leader, U.S. Marine Corps Forces, Pacific, thanks Fleet Command Master Sgt. Feliciano A. Lazo, right, sergeant major, Armed Forces of the Philippines, in front of group of senior enlisted leaders from several countries during the Pacific Amphibious Leaders Symposium, July 8, 2025, in Manila, Philippines. As part of PALS, this was the first time senior enlisted leaders had a dedicated forum to come together to build relationships and discuss ways to better mentor, lead, and develop their enlisted forces. Through discussions, engagements, and presentations, PALS enhances cooperation, tackles common threats, protects shared resources, and maintains sovereignty in the Indo-Pacific. This year’s symposium hosted senior leaders from 23 participating nations who are committed to a free and open Indo-Pacific, with the objective of strengthening and developing regional relationships. Master Gunnery Sgt. Jeremy M. Vought, left, senior enlisted advisor of communication strategy and operations, MARFORPAC, prepares a gift to be presented to Lazo. (Photo courtesy of the Philippine Marine Corps) - Sgt. Maj. Joy M. Kitashima, center, command senior enlisted leader, U.S. Marine Corps Forces, Pacific, thanks Fleet Command Master Sgt. Feliciano A. Lazo, right, sergeant major, Armed Forces of the Philippines, in front of group of senior enlisted leaders from several countries during the Pacific Amphibious Leaders Symposium, July 8, 2025, in Manila, Philippines. As part of PALS, this was the first time senior enlisted leaders had a dedicated forum to come together to build relationships and discuss ways to better mentor, lead, and develop their enlisted forces. Through discussions, engagements, and presentations, PALS enhances cooperation, tackles common threats, protects shared resources, and maintains sovereignty in the Indo-Pacific. This year’s symposium hosted senior leaders from 23 participating nations who are committed to a free and open Indo-Pacific, with the objective of strengthening and developing regional relationships. Master Gunnery Sgt. Jeremy M. Vought, left, senior enlisted advisor of communication strategy and operations, MARFORPAC, prepares a gift to be presented to Lazo. (Photo courtesy of the Philippine Marine Corps)

The Marines conducted the training utilizing buoys to detect underwater acoustics for ships and submarines in order to increase U.S. naval forces capabilities to detect and deter in the undersea domain. The 31st MEU is operating aboard ships of the USS America Amphibious Ready Group in the 7th Fleet area of operations, 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. Workman is a native of Indiana. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Alora Finigan) - U.S. Marine Corps Sgt. Mason Workman, an aerial observer with Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron (VMM) 265 (Rein.), 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit, sets parameters for the directional command activated sonobuoy system buoy during anti-submarine warfare training, in the Philippine Sea, Aug. 8, 2025.

U.S. Marines with Kilo Battery, 3rd Battalion, 11th Marine Regiment, Marine Rotational Force – Darwin 25.3, conduct a dry-fire run with an M777 Howitzer during Talisman Sabre 25 in the Northern Territory, Australia, July 11, 2025. - U.S. Marines with Kilo Battery, 3rd Battalion, 11th Marine Regiment, Marine Rotational Force – Darwin 25.3, conduct a dry-fire run with an M777 Howitzer during Talisman Sabre 25 in the Northern Territory, Australia, July 11, 2025. Talisman Sabre is the largest bilateral military exercise between Australia and the United States advancing a free and open Indo-Pacific by strengthening relationships and interoperability among key allies and partners, while enhancing our collective capabilities to respond to a wide array of potential security concerns. MRF-D is 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 Cpl. Keegan Jones)

U.S. Marines with Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron (VMM) 363, Marine Rotational Force – Darwin 25.3, begin loading bags onto an MV-22B Osprey before departing to the Philippines, at Royal Australian Air Force Base Darwin, Australia, July 26, 2025. At the request of the government of the Philippines, U.S. Marines with the MRF-D 25.3 Marine Air-Ground Task Force are working alongside the Armed Forces of the Philippines to provide urgent lifesaving support to communities affected by consecutive storms and the southwest monsoon. The forward presence and ready posture of United States Indo-Pacific Command in the region facilitates rapid and effective response to crisis, demonstrating the U.S.’s commitment to allies and partners during times of need. MRF-D is 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. Brian A. Stippey) - U.S. Marines with Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron (VMM) 363, Marine Rotational Force – Darwin 25.3, begin loading bags onto an MV-22B Osprey before departing to the Philippines, at Royal Australian Air Force Base Darwin, Australia, July 26, 2025. At the request of the government of the Philippines, U.S. Marines with the MRF-D 25.3 Marine Air-Ground Task Force are working alongside the Armed Forces of the Philippines to provide urgent lifesaving support to communities affected by consecutive storms and the southwest monsoon. The forward presence and ready posture of United States Indo-Pacific Command in the region facilitates rapid and effective response to crisis, demonstrating the U.S.’s commitment to allies and partners during times of need. MRF-D is 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. Brian A. Stippey)

Philippine Marine Staff Sgt. Geraldine Corbita of Zamboanga, Philippines, listens as a guest speaker discusses the critical role of Independent Duty Corpsmen (IDC) as sole medical providers in remote environments during the IDC Class 24025 graduation at the Surface Warfare Medical Institute (SWMI) in San Diego on July 11, 2025. - Philippine Marine Staff Sgt. Geraldine Corbita of Zamboanga, Philippines, listens as a guest speaker discusses the critical role of Independent Duty Corpsmen (IDC) as sole medical providers in remote environments during the IDC Class 24025 graduation at the Surface Warfare Medical Institute (SWMI) in San Diego on July 11, 2025. Corbita is the first Philippine Navy Marine corpsman to graduate from the U.S. Navy IDC School, a milestone signaling a strengthened alliance between the U.S. and the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP). (U.S. Navy photo by Arsenio R. Cortez Jr.)

U.S. Marines and Sailors with Combat Logistics Battalion 15, Combat Logistics Regiment 17, 1st Marine Logistics Group, pose for a group photo after providing support for the triathlon time trial held in preparation for the Pacific Mini Games during Koa Moana 25 on Ngiwal, Palau, June 21, 2025. - U.S. Marines and Sailors with Combat Logistics Battalion 15, Combat Logistics Regiment 17, 1st Marine Logistics Group, pose for a group photo after providing support for the triathlon time trial held in preparation for the Pacific Mini Games during Koa Moana 25 on Ngiwal, Palau, June 21, 2025. Koa Moana 25 is an annual partnership in the Indo-Pacific region that strengthens established relationships, bolsters theater security cooperation, and enhances the resilience of our allies and partners through community outreach, medical and civic assistance, infrastructure improvement projects, and key leader exchanges. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Desiree Ruiz)

U.S. Marine Corps Lt. Col. Tyrone Barrion, left, commanding officer of Task Force Sapper, and Lt. Col. Colin Graham, commanding officer of Task Force Forge, discuss their mission at the southern border barrier in preparation for a unit rotation in support of Joint Task Force-Southern Border, in the Yuma Sector, July 12, 2025. - U.S. Marine Corps Lt. Col. Tyrone Barrion, left, commanding officer of Task Force Sapper, and Lt. Col. Colin Graham, commanding officer of Task Force Forge, discuss their mission at the southern border barrier in preparation for a unit rotation in support of Joint Task Force-Southern Border, in the Yuma Sector, July 12, 2025. Task Force Forge comprises 500 Marines and Sailors from Combat Logistics Battalion 15, 1st Marine Logistics Group, I Marine Expeditionary Force, tasked to support the Joint Task Force-Southern Border mission with engineering and logistics capabilities. Joint Task Force-Southern Border executes full-scale, agile, and all-domain operations in support of U.S. Customs and Border Protection to protect the territorial integrity of the United States and achieve 100% operational control of the southern border. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Sgt. Mary Torres)

Lieutenant General Joel Vowell, Deputy Commanding General for U.S. Army Pacific (USARPAC) and Australian Defence Force Chief of Joint Operations, Vice Admiral Justin Jones, AO, CSC, RAN address the media at the opening ceremony for Exercise Talisman Sabre 25 onboard HMAS Adelaide in Sydney, New South Wales. - Lieutenant General Joel Vowell, Deputy Commanding General for U.S. Army Pacific (USARPAC) and Australian Defence Force Chief of Joint Operations, Vice Admiral Justin Jones, AO, CSC, RAN address the media at the opening ceremony for Exercise Talisman Sabre 25 onboard HMAS Adelaide in Sydney, New South Wales. *** Local Caption *** Exercise Talisman Sabre 2025 is being conducted across Australia from 13 July to 04 August. More than 35,000 military personnel from 19 nations will participate in Talisman Sabre 2025, primarily in Queensland but also in Western Australia, the Northern Territory, New South Wales, and for the first time, offshore activities will be conducted in Papua New Guinea. Talisman Sabre is the largest Australia-US bilaterally planned, multilaterally conducted exercise and a key opportunity to work with likeminded partners from across the region and around the world. Canada, France, Fiji, Germany, India, Indonesia, Japan, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Papua New Guinea, Philippines, Republic of Korea, Singapore, Thailand, Tonga and the United Kingdom are all participating in Talisman Sabre 2025. Occurring every two years, Talisman Sabre reflects the closeness of our alliance and strength of our enduring military relationship with the United States and our commitment to working with likeminded partners in the region. Now in its eleventh iteration, Talisman Saber provides an opportunity to exercise our combined capabilities to conduct high-end, multi-domain warfare, to build and affirm our military-to-military ties and interoperability, and strengthen our strategic partnerships.

From left to right, U.S. Marine Corps Lt. Gen. James Glynn, commander, U.S. Marine Corps Forces, Pacific, Philippines Secretary of National Defense Gilberto Teodoro Jr., and the 37th Commandant of the Philippine Marine Corps, Maj. Gen. Vicente Blanco, unfurl a flag during the opening ceremony of the 11th iteration of the Pacific Amphibious Leaders Symposium, Manila, Philippines, July 8, 2025. 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 hosted senior leaders from 22 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. Moses S. Lopez Franco) - From left to right, U.S. Marine Corps Lt. Gen. James Glynn, commander, U.S. Marine Corps Forces, Pacific, Philippines Secretary of National Defense Gilberto Teodoro Jr., and the 37th Commandant of the Philippine Marine Corps, Maj. Gen. Vicente Blanco, unfurl a flag during the opening ceremony of the 11th iteration of the Pacific Amphibious Leaders Symposium, Manila, Philippines, July 8, 2025. 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 hosted senior leaders from 22 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. Moses S. Lopez Franco)

Australian Army Private Denver Jamieson, right, a medical operator with 1st Health Battalion, applies simulated combat gauze to U.S. Marine Corps Cpl. Hansen Dean, a motorman with 2nd Battalion, 1st Marine Regiment, Marine Rotational Force – Darwin 25.3 during tactical combat casualty care training at Robertson Barracks, Darwin, Australia, June 25, 2025. - Australian Army Private Denver Jamieson, right, a medical operator with 1st Health Battalion, applies simulated combat gauze to U.S. Marine Corps Cpl. Hansen Dean, a motorman with 2nd Battalion, 1st Marine Regiment, Marine Rotational Force – Darwin 25.3 during tactical combat casualty care training at Robertson Barracks, Darwin, Australia, June 25, 2025. MRF-D is 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. Dean is a native of California. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Keegan Jones)