Pacific Marines Stories

U.S. Marines, Australian soldiers and Australian sailors stand at attention for the lowering of the Australian flag aboard the HMAS Adelaide at Port of Brisbane, Queensland, Australia, June 16, 2016. This marks the first time Marines and sailors from Marine Rotational Force - Darwin have embarked in such numbers on an Australian HMAS. This opportunity allows for MRF-D to expand the partnership capabilities with our Australian allies. The Marines are with 1st Battalion, 1st Marine Regiment, MRF-D. - U.S. Marines, Australian soldiers and Australian sailors stand at attention for the lowering of the Australian flag aboard the HMAS Adelaide at Port of Brisbane, Queensland, Australia, June 16, 2016. This marks the first time Marines and sailors from Marine Rotational Force - Darwin have embarked in such numbers on an Australian HMAS. This opportunity allows for MRF-D to expand the partnership capabilities with our Australian allies. The Marines are with 1st Battalion, 1st Marine Regiment, MRF-D.

Pvt. Jose Maia attends the non-lethal weapons course held by U.S. Marines with Task Force Koa Moana during Exercise Crocodilo 16, at Metinaro, Timor Leste, June 7, 2016. The non-lethal weapons course allows Marines to demonstrate U.S. non-lethal capabilities, as well as to instruct non-lethal techniques to the host nations. Crocodilo 16 is a multi-national, bilateral exercise designed to increase interoperability and relations by sharing engineering, infantry, law enforcement and combat lifesaving skills. Maia is an infantryman with Bravo Company, 1st Battalion, Timor Leste Defense Force, stationed in Baucau, Timor Leste. - Pvt. Jose Maia attends the non-lethal weapons course held by U.S. Marines with Task Force Koa Moana during Exercise Crocodilo 16, at Metinaro, Timor Leste, June 7, 2016. The non-lethal weapons course allows Marines to demonstrate U.S. non-lethal capabilities, as well as to instruct non-lethal techniques to the host nations. Crocodilo 16 is a multi-national, bilateral exercise designed to increase interoperability and relations by sharing engineering, infantry, law enforcement and combat lifesaving skills. Maia is an infantryman with Bravo Company, 1st Battalion, Timor Leste Defense Force, stationed in Baucau, Timor Leste.

Capt. Jason Grimes, a UH-1Z Cobra pilot with Marine Light Attack Squadron (HMLA) 369 and a Hibbing, Minnesota, native, stands with the leadership of 2nd Battalion, 5th Marine Regiment in Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, Calif. Grimes completed the Aviator Immersion Program with the assistance of 2nd Battalion, 4th Marine Regiment and 2/5. - Capt. Jason Grimes, a UH-1Z Cobra pilot with Marine Light Attack Squadron (HMLA) 369 and a Hibbing, Minnesota, native, stands with the leadership of 2nd Battalion, 5th Marine Regiment in Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, Calif. Grimes completed the Aviator Immersion Program with the assistance of 2nd Battalion, 4th Marine Regiment and 2/5.

A Marine with Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron (VMM) 364 “Purple Foxes” flies an MV-22B Osprey during section and division confined area landings at Holtville Airfield, Calif., May 20. The training was conducted to familiarize both pilots and crew chiefs with landing in a small area around other aircraft. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Pfc. Liah Kitchen/Released) - A Marine with Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron (VMM) 364 “Purple Foxes” flies an MV-22B Osprey during section and division confined area landings at Holtville Airfield, Calif., May 20. The training was conducted to familiarize both pilots and crew chiefs with landing in a small area around other aircraft. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Pfc. Liah Kitchen/Released)

Felix Seraphin performs a pushup while participating in the “Murph” Challenge for Memorial Day on Marine Corps Air Station Futenma, Okinawa, Japan. The “Murph” Challenge is a workout made to honor Lt. Michael “Murph” Murphy, a navy SEAL who died in Afghanistan June 28, 2005, at the age of 29. The challenge consists of a one-mile run, 100 pullups, 200 pushups, 300 squats, and another one-mile run, while wearing a 20 pound vest. Seraphin is a community service coordinator for Marine Corps Community Services, Okinawa, Japan. (Marine Corps Photo by Cpl. Douglas Simons/Released) - Felix Seraphin performs a pushup while participating in the “Murph” Challenge for Memorial Day on Marine Corps Air Station Futenma, Okinawa, Japan. The “Murph” Challenge is a workout made to honor Lt. Michael “Murph” Murphy, a navy SEAL who died in Afghanistan June 28, 2005, at the age of 29. The challenge consists of a one-mile run, 100 pullups, 200 pushups, 300 squats, and another one-mile run, while wearing a 20 pound vest. Seraphin is a community service coordinator for Marine Corps Community Services, Okinawa, Japan. (Marine Corps Photo by Cpl. Douglas Simons/Released)

Australian Army Pvt. Jayden S. Oldride and U.S. Marine Cpl. Ernesto Argote, combat engineers, search through the thicket at Hidden Valley Motor Sports Complex, Northern Territory, Australia, on May 19, 2016. U.S. Marine and Australian Army combat engineers conducted clearing training to find improvised explosive device and caches. Marine Rotational Force - Darwin is a six-month deployment of Marines into Darwin, Australia, where they will conduct exercises and train with the Australian Defence Forces, strengthening the U.S.-Australia alliance. Oldride, from Campbelltown, New South Wales, Australia, is with 1st Combat Engineer Regiment, 1st Brigade. Argote, from Los Angeles, California, is with 1st Combat Engineer Battalion, MRF-D. - Australian Army Pvt. Jayden S. Oldride and U.S. Marine Cpl. Ernesto Argote, combat engineers, search through the thicket at Hidden Valley Motor Sports Complex, Northern Territory, Australia, on May 19, 2016. U.S. Marine and Australian Army combat engineers conducted clearing training to find improvised explosive device and caches. Marine Rotational Force - Darwin is a six-month deployment of Marines into Darwin, Australia, where they will conduct exercises and train with the Australian Defence Forces, strengthening the U.S.-Australia alliance. Oldride, from Campbelltown, New South Wales, Australia, is with 1st Combat Engineer Regiment, 1st Brigade. Argote, from Los Angeles, California, is with 1st Combat Engineer Battalion, MRF-D.

U.S. Marines with 1st Battalion, 1st Marine Regiment, watch a traditional Aboriginal dance during the Welcome to Country Ceremony on Robertson Barracks, Darwin, Australia on April 22, 2016. Marine Rotational Force Darwin (MRF-D) is a six-month deployment of Marines into Darwin, Australia, where they will conduct exercises and train with the Australian Defence Forces, strengthening the U.S.-Australia alliance. - U.S. Marines with 1st Battalion, 1st Marine Regiment, watch a traditional Aboriginal dance during the Welcome to Country Ceremony on Robertson Barracks, Darwin, Australia on April 22, 2016. Marine Rotational Force Darwin (MRF-D) is a six-month deployment of Marines into Darwin, Australia, where they will conduct exercises and train with the Australian Defence Forces, strengthening the U.S.-Australia alliance.

A Mongolian ceremony participant stands in front of Japan Ground Self-Defense Force members before the Khaan Quest 2016 opening ceremony May 22 at Five Hills Training Area, Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia. Khaan Quest 2016 is an annual multinational peacekeeping operations exercise conducted in Mongolia and is the capstone exercise for the Global Peace Operations Initiative. - A Mongolian ceremony participant stands in front of Japan Ground Self-Defense Force members before the Khaan Quest 2016 opening ceremony May 22 at Five Hills Training Area, Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia. Khaan Quest 2016 is an annual multinational peacekeeping operations exercise conducted in Mongolia and is the capstone exercise for the Global Peace Operations Initiative.

U.S. sailor Hospital Corpsman 1st Class Jose G. Esguerra poses for a photo with Philippine families from Maruglo Elementary School, at Crow Valley, Philippines, April 7, 2016. Esguerra is a dental technician with 3rd Dental Battalion, 11th Dental Regiment, currently attached to 3rd Medical Battalion, 3rd Marine Division, III Marine Expeditionary Force. Esguerra has been in the Navy for 17 years and for the first time, returned home to give back to his country. (U.S. Photo by Lance Cpl. Jessica N. Etheridge/Released) - U.S. sailor Hospital Corpsman 1st Class Jose G. Esguerra poses for a photo with Philippine families from Maruglo Elementary School, at Crow Valley, Philippines, April 7, 2016. Esguerra is a dental technician with 3rd Dental Battalion, 11th Dental Regiment, currently attached to 3rd Medical Battalion, 3rd Marine Division, III Marine Expeditionary Force. Esguerra has been in the Navy for 17 years and for the first time, returned home to give back to his country. (U.S. Photo by Lance Cpl. Jessica N. Etheridge/Released)