Pacific Marines Stories

The 31st MEU is ready to respond to crisis throughout the region with the entire range of military operations to support and defend our allies and partners in the region. Iron Fist is an annual bilateral exercise designed to increase interoperability and strengthen the relationships between the U.S. Marine Corps, the U.S. Navy, the Japan Ground Self Defense Force, and the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Christopher Lape) - Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force landing craft, air cushion (LCAC) pilots, prepare to disembark U.S. Marine Corps light armored vehicle crewmen with Battalion Landing Team 1/1, 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit, during an amphibious landing exercise, part of Iron Fist 24, at Kin Blue, Okinawa, Japan, Mar. 12, 2024.

Iron Fist 25, Strengthening U.S. Marine and Japan Forces Combined Amphibious Capabilities

CAMP HANSEN, Okinawa – Exercise Iron Fist 2025 begins today, Feb. 19, with an opening ceremony on Camp Hansen, Okinawa, Japan. This 19th iteration of the exercise will occur in various locations in Japan, from Kyushu to Okinawa, and at sea in February and March, 2025.

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U.S. Marine Corps Cpl. David Salazar, armorer, Headquarters and Service Battalion, U.S. Marine Corps Forces, Pacific, competes in a pistol competition during the Marine Corps Marksmanship Competition Pacific on Marine Corps Base Hawaii, Jan. 29, 2025. The MCMC Pacific is one of five regional competitions that tests combat marksmanship skills beyond annual qualifications. The top 10 percent of competitors earn an invitation to compete in the Marine Corps Marksmanship Match in Quantico, Virginia. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Blake Gonter) - U.S. Marine Corps Cpl. David Salazar, armorer, Headquarters and Service Battalion, U.S. Marine Corps Forces, Pacific, competes in a pistol competition during the Marine Corps Marksmanship Competition Pacific on Marine Corps Base Hawaii, Jan. 29, 2025. The MCMC Pacific is one of five regional competitions that tests combat marksmanship skills beyond annual qualifications. The top 10 percent of competitors earn an invitation to compete in the Marine Corps Marksmanship Match in Quantico, Virginia. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Blake Gonter)

Accuracy and Aloha: Pacific Marines compete in the Marine Corps Marksmanship Competition Pacific

The Marine Corps Shooting Team hosted the Marine Corps Marksmanship Competition Pacific at Marine Corps Base Hawaii, from January 23 to January 31, 2025. Throughout the competition Pacific Marines, Sailors and officers with the Honolulu Police Department trained and competed for a week for the opportunity to be invited to the Marine Corps Marksmanship Championship at Marine Corps Base Quantico, Virginia.

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Senior U.S. Marine Corps leaders pose for a photo during the U.S. Marine Corps Forces, Pacific Commanders Conference on Camp H.M. Smith, Hawaii, Feb. 12, 2025. The conference brought together Marine Corps commanders from across the Indo-Pacific region for a series of briefings focused on strengthening operational readiness, enhancing regional posture, and improving coordination across the joint force. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Matthew Benfield) - Senior U.S. Marine Corps leaders pose for a photo during the U.S. Marine Corps Forces, Pacific Commanders Conference on Camp H.M. Smith, Hawaii, Feb. 12, 2025. The conference brought together Marine Corps commanders from across the Indo-Pacific region for a series of briefings focused on strengthening operational readiness, enhancing regional posture, and improving coordination across the joint force. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Matthew Benfield)

Marine Corps Commanders in the Pacific Talk Strategy

Lt. Gen. James Glynn, commander, U.S. Marine Corps Forces, Pacific, hosted a two-day commanders conference at Camp H.M. Smith, Hawaii, from Feb. 12-13, bringing together Marine Corps leaders from across the Indo-Pacific region.

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Marines with III MSB, III Marine Expeditionary Force Information Group and Army Soldiers with the 630th Clearance Company, 11th Engineer Battalion, 2nd Infantry Division Sustainment Brigade, 2nd Infantry Division, worked in a joint environment to provide different elements of support. Marines provided a secure border around the training area, while Soldiers supplied manpower and machinery to create advantageous fighting positions. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Abigail Godinez) - U.S. Marines with III Marine Expeditionary Force Support Battalion patrol during a joint training event at Dagmar North Training Area, Republic of Korea, Feb. 6, 2025.

Breaking the Ice, Breaking up Ground: III MSB Marines conduct joint training event with Army 11th Engineer Battalion Soldiers

Early on the morning of February 6, 2025, the Marines of III Marine Expeditionary Force Support Battalion, III MEF Information Group joined Soldiers from 63rd Clearance Company, 11th Engineer Battalion, 2nd Infantry Division Sustainment Brigade, 2nd Infantry Division at the frozen grounds of Dagmar North Training Area, South Korea to conduct a joint training event.

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Participants pose for a group photo after the 2025 Philippine Marine Corps-U.S. Marine Corps Forces, Pacific Marine-to-Marine Staff Talks at Fort Bonifacio, Philippines, Feb. 6, 2025. The three-day talks provided a forum to improve coordination of bilateral exercises and operations while discussing mutual areas of interest throughout the Indo-Pacific. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Chloe Zimmerer) - Participants pose for a group photo after the 2025 Philippine Marine Corps-U.S. Marine Corps Forces, Pacific Marine-to-Marine Staff Talks at Fort Bonifacio, Philippines, Feb. 6, 2025. The three-day talks provided a forum to improve coordination of bilateral exercises and operations while discussing mutual areas of interest throughout the Indo-Pacific. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Chloe Zimmerer)

PMC-US MARFORPAC Marine to Marine Staff Talks 2025

Senior leaders from U.S. Marine Corps Forces, Pacific, and the Philippine Marine Corps gathered at Fort Bonifacio for their annual Marine-to-Marine staff talks, from Feb. 3 to 6, 2025. The annual Marine-to-Marine staff talks are an important part of the U.S.-Philippine alliance, giving senior military leaders the chance to discuss regional security issues and find ways to work together more closely. These talks help strengthen the bond between the two military forces, allowing them to address new security challenges, share knowledge, and plan actions to maintain stability in the region. This week's discussions further strengthened the long-lasting relationship between the U.S. and the Philippine Marine Corps, showing the two nations’ shared commitment to peace and security in the Indo-Pacific.

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3rd MLG CG Completes JGSDF, ROK Visits Ahead of Bilateral Exercises

Brigadier General Kevin Collins, the commanding general of 3rd Marine Logistics Group, completed today a multinational visit of U.S., Japan Ground Self-Defense Force, and Republic of Korea self-defense and military commands ahead of scheduled bilateral exercises in Japan and Korea, Jan. 27 through Feb. 4, 2025.

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The purpose of these operations are to ensure that all necessary gear and personnel are embarked on ship prior to each patrol. The 31st MEU, the Marine Corps’ only continuously forward-deployed MEU, provides a flexible and lethal force ready to perform a wide range of military operations as the premiere crisis response force in the Indo-Pacific region. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Sgt. Tyler Andrews) - U.S. Marines with 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit, prepare to transport High Mobility Artillery Rocket System ammunition from an U.S. Navy landing craft, air cushion to the San Antonio-class amphibious transport dock ship USS San Diego (LPD 22) during onload operations at White Beach Naval Facility, Okinawa, Japan, Jan. 17, 2025.

31st MEU Embarks with the America Amphibious Ready Group

U.S. Marines with the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU) embarked aboard ships of the America Amphibious Ready Group (ARG), Jan. 28, campaigning and competing in the Indo-Pacific region.

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An F-35C Lightning II assigned to Marine Fighter Attack Squadron (VMFA) 311, Marine Aircraft Group 11, 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing, takes off from Marine Corps Air Station Miramar, California, during a Large Force Exercise conducted by MAG-11 and MAG-13 on Jan. 15, 2025. - An F-35C Lightning II assigned to Marine Fighter Attack Squadron (VMFA) 311, Marine Aircraft Group 11, 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing, takes off from Marine Corps Air Station Miramar, California, during a Large Force Exercise conducted by MAG-11 and MAG-13 on Jan. 15, 2025. LFE is a high-fidelity combat training event over the Southern California coast, incorporating defensive counter-air and air interdiction missions. The exercise provides pilots with invaluable experience in mission planning and execution, including opportunities to serve as division leads or mission commanders. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Johnson Truong)

Third Marine Aircraft Wing Large Force Exercises provide advanced training for fighter squadrons

Marines with the two fixed-wing Marine Aircraft Groups of 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing launched a series of cross-MAG Large Force Exercises in the skies of Southern California from Jan. 9-16, 2025. These were the first of their kind in duration and scale with involvement from all 3rd MAW fighter squadrons, and the combined effort provided an invaluable

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RD 24 is an annual bilateral exercise in Japan that strengthens the command, control, and multi-domain maneuver capabilities of U.S. Marines in the III Marine Expeditionary Force and Japan Self-Defense Force personnel, with a focus on controlling and defending key maritime terrain. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Matthew Morales) - U.S. Marine Corps Lt. Gen. Roger Turner, commanding general of III Marine Expeditionary Force, communicates with Japan Ground Self-Defense Force Lt. Gen. Masayoshi Arai, commanding general of the Western Army, during exercise Resolute Dragon 24 at JGSDF Camp Yonaguni, Okinawa, Japan, August 4, 2024. RD 24 is an annual bilateral exercise in Japan that strengthens the command, control, and multi-domain maneuver capabilities of U.S. Marines in the III Marine Expeditionary Force and Japan Self-Defense Force personnel, with a focus on controlling and defending key maritime terrain. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Matthew Morales)

III MEF Advances into 2025: Building on a Year of Milestones and Strengthening Regional Security

As the calendar turns to 2025, the Marines, Sailors, and joint force enablers of III Marine Expeditionary Force are poised to build on the successes of 2024, a year marked by significant milestones and advancements in regional security. Through a robust series of exercises, training events, and community engagements, III MEF deepened relationships with regional partners and allies, reinforcing shared values of mutual respect, trust, and cooperation.

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3d LAAB's Inaugural MADIS Live-Fire - A Marine Air Defense Integrated System Mk 1 fires upon a small unmanned aircraft system during a training exercise at Pohakuloa Training Area, Hawaii, Jan. 25, 2025. A key component of the Marine Corps’ Force Design initiative, the mobile MADIS increases 3d Marine Littoral Regiment’s tactical flexibility by extending the range of the airspace which 3d MLR is able to sense and defend without support from the Joint Force. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Sgt. Jacqueline C. Parsons)

3d LAAB's Inaugural MADIS Live-Fire

A key component of the Marine Corps’ Force Design initiative, the mobile MADIS, increases 3d Marine Littoral Regiment’s tactical flexibility by extending the range of the airspace which 3d MLR is able to sense and defend without support from the Joint Force.

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