Pacific Marines Stories

Cpl. Justin Haish, an instructor for the Khaan Quest 2013 survival course and member of the Jungle Warfare Training Center in Camp Gonsalves, Okinawa, Japan, dismounts during a rope corral demonstration for Mongolian Armed Forces soldiers and U.S. Marines, Aug. 7. Khaan Quest is a peacekeeping operations-focused, combined training event between U.S. Marine Corps Forces Pacific, U.S. Army Pacific, and the MAF. MARFORPAC and USARPAC have conducted similar training with MAF since 2003, and this exercise marks the 11th iteration of Khaan Quest. Military personnel from Australia, Canada, France, Germany, Japan, India, Nepal, Republic of Korea, Tajikistan, United Kingdom and Vietnam are also participating in the exercise. Haish, currently part of the unit deployment program with Kilo Company, 3rd Battalion, 3rd Marine Regiment, is from Kailua, Hawaii. - Cpl. Justin Haish, an instructor for the Khaan Quest 2013 survival course and member of the Jungle Warfare Training Center in Camp Gonsalves, Okinawa, Japan, dismounts during a rope corral demonstration for Mongolian Armed Forces soldiers and U.S. Marines, Aug. 7. Khaan Quest is a peacekeeping operations-focused, combined training event between U.S. Marine Corps Forces Pacific, U.S. Army Pacific, and the MAF. MARFORPAC and USARPAC have conducted similar training with MAF since 2003, and this exercise marks the 11th iteration of Khaan Quest. Military personnel from Australia, Canada, France, Germany, Japan, India, Nepal, Republic of Korea, Tajikistan, United Kingdom and Vietnam are also participating in the exercise. Haish, currently part of the unit deployment program with Kilo Company, 3rd Battalion, 3rd Marine Regiment, is from Kailua, Hawaii.

Col. Brent S. Willson, previous commanding officer, Headquarters and Service Battalion, U.S. Marine Corps Forces, Pacific, says goodbye to the battalion at the change of command ceremony here July 26. After initiating and completing countless projects to improve the quality of life of the Marines aboard the base, Willson leaves the Battalion under the command of Col. Darric M. Knight. - Col. Brent S. Willson, previous commanding officer, Headquarters and Service Battalion, U.S. Marine Corps Forces, Pacific, says goodbye to the battalion at the change of command ceremony here July 26. After initiating and completing countless projects to improve the quality of life of the Marines aboard the base, Willson leaves the Battalion under the command of Col. Darric M. Knight.

Members of the Mongolian Armed Forces Honorary Guard, stand in formation during the opening ceremony of Exercise Khaan Quest in Five Hills Training Area, Mongolia, August 2, 2013. Khaan Quest is an annual multinational exercise sponsored by the U.S. and Mongolia, and it is designed to strengthen the capabilities of U.S., Mongolian and other nations’ forces in international peace support operations. - Members of the Mongolian Armed Forces Honorary Guard, stand in formation during the opening ceremony of Exercise Khaan Quest in Five Hills Training Area, Mongolia, August 2, 2013. Khaan Quest is an annual multinational exercise sponsored by the U.S. and Mongolia, and it is designed to strengthen the capabilities of U.S., Mongolian and other nations’ forces in international peace support operations.

Sgt. Michael Valentino, automotive mechanic, Lima Company, 3rd Battalion, 3rd Marine Regiment, Marine Rotational Force - Darwin, conducts heaves, known in the U.S. as pull-ups, as part of a Combat Fitness Leadership Course Barrier Test at the Northern Gym, here, July 30. This was one of seven different exercises participants had to complete. The top two Marine performers in the barrier test will attend the month-long CFLC. - Sgt. Michael Valentino, automotive mechanic, Lima Company, 3rd Battalion, 3rd Marine Regiment, Marine Rotational Force - Darwin, conducts heaves, known in the U.S. as pull-ups, as part of a Combat Fitness Leadership Course Barrier Test at the Northern Gym, here, July 30. This was one of seven different exercises participants had to complete. The top two Marine performers in the barrier test will attend the month-long CFLC.

Dallas Giestige, an Ohio native in Oahu for vacation, crosses the finish line of the Camp Smith 5K Grueler first, with a time of 20 minutes, 47 seconds, here July 20. “It was tough,” said the cross-country athlete. “I’m always looking forward to a challenge.” - Dallas Giestige, an Ohio native in Oahu for vacation, crosses the finish line of the Camp Smith 5K Grueler first, with a time of 20 minutes, 47 seconds, here July 20. “It was tough,” said the cross-country athlete. “I’m always looking forward to a challenge.”

Marines prepare to storm the beaches on a landing craft just before the liberation of Guam July 21, 1944. Marine Corps Activity Guam Marines honored the sacrifice of those lost and celebrated with local residents in this year’s 69th Liberation celebration, which concluded Sunday with the Liberation Day Parade. Each year, July is dedicated to preparing for and celebrating the liberation of the island from Japanese occupation during World War II. (Official U.S. Marine Corps photo by Sgt. John Raufmann) - Marines prepare to storm the beaches on a landing craft just before the liberation of Guam July 21, 1944. Marine Corps Activity Guam Marines honored the sacrifice of those lost and celebrated with local residents in this year’s 69th Liberation celebration, which concluded Sunday with the Liberation Day Parade. Each year, July is dedicated to preparing for and celebrating the liberation of the island from Japanese occupation during World War II. (Official U.S. Marine Corps photo by Sgt. John Raufmann)

U.S. Marines Lance Cpl. Braxton R. Moody (left) and Private First Class Ismael Moctezumadelalanza with 9th Engineer Support Battalion works to clear debris from a window frame during renovation work on Erdmiin Oyun High School as part of Exercise Khaan Quest in the Nalaikh District of Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia, July 20, 2013. Khaan Quest is a regularly scheduled multinational exercise co sponsored this year by U.S. Marine Corps Forces, Pacific, and hosted annually by the Mongolian Armed Forces, designed to promote regional peace and security. - U.S. Marines Lance Cpl. Braxton R. Moody (left) and Private First Class Ismael Moctezumadelalanza with 9th Engineer Support Battalion works to clear debris from a window frame during renovation work on Erdmiin Oyun High School as part of Exercise Khaan Quest in the Nalaikh District of Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia, July 20, 2013. Khaan Quest is a regularly scheduled multinational exercise co sponsored this year by U.S. Marine Corps Forces, Pacific, and hosted annually by the Mongolian Armed Forces, designed to promote regional peace and security.

Sgt. Ian Polhamus, squad leader, 3rd Platoon, Lima Company, 3rd Battalion, 3rd Marine Regiment, Marine Rotational Force - Darwin, poses in front of an Australian flag, here, June 27. Polhamus lived Down Under for seven years. He said Australia feels like his home away from home. - Sgt. Ian Polhamus, squad leader, 3rd Platoon, Lima Company, 3rd Battalion, 3rd Marine Regiment, Marine Rotational Force - Darwin, poses in front of an Australian flag, here, June 27. Polhamus lived Down Under for seven years. He said Australia feels like his home away from home.

(From left) U.S. Marine Corps Lance Cpl. Detrick Milton, Lance Cpl. Brandon Hodges, Cpl. Zachariah Riley, Lance Cpl. Brent Nelson, and Lance Cpl. Adam Donahue, rushed to the aid of a motorist trapped inside a cargo truck June 7 after witnessing the fully-loaded truck take a turn too fast, roll-over and skid off the road near Chinhae, South Korea. The Marines from the U.S. Marine Corps Forces Korea Aviation Ordinance Detachment cut the seatbelt to free the trapped driver, moved him to safety and performed first aid to treat profuse bleeding and other injuries. - (From left) U.S. Marine Corps Lance Cpl. Detrick Milton, Lance Cpl. Brandon Hodges, Cpl. Zachariah Riley, Lance Cpl. Brent Nelson, and Lance Cpl. Adam Donahue, rushed to the aid of a motorist trapped inside a cargo truck June 7 after witnessing the fully-loaded truck take a turn too fast, roll-over and skid off the road near Chinhae, South Korea. The Marines from the U.S. Marine Corps Forces Korea Aviation Ordinance Detachment cut the seatbelt to free the trapped driver, moved him to safety and performed first aid to treat profuse bleeding and other injuries.