Pacific Marines Stories

Col. Jeffrey P. Davis, Chief of Staff of U.S. Marine Corps Forces, Pacific, presents the MarForPac wreath in honor of the Australian-New Zealand Army Corps (ANZAC) Day. This was the 99th Anniversary of the Battle at Gallipoli, where the ANZACs fought valiantly against Turkish defenses, and marks the 42nd year MarForPac has provided all military support for the ceremony. - Col. Jeffrey P. Davis, Chief of Staff of U.S. Marine Corps Forces, Pacific, presents the MarForPac wreath in honor of the Australian-New Zealand Army Corps (ANZAC) Day. This was the 99th Anniversary of the Battle at Gallipoli, where the ANZACs fought valiantly against Turkish defenses, and marks the 42nd year MarForPac has provided all military support for the ceremony.

U.S. Navy Petty Officer 2nd Class Carl Watson, left, breaks open a coconut April 24 during the Kudkod-Paga, Turo-Gata contest at the Magayan Festival alongside Philippine Army Pfc. Bryldon Alforte in Legazpi City, Albay Province, Philippines. Kudkod-Paga, Turo-Gata means “coconut milk extraction contest,” and is a contest during the annual festival to determine who can produce the most milk in a given time. Watson and Alforte are part of Exercise Baltikatan, an annual bilateral exercise between the Armed Forces of the Philippines and United States armed forces that strengthens the bond and improves interoperability between the two countries. Alforte is an operations noncommissioned officer, and Watson is a naval builder. - U.S. Navy Petty Officer 2nd Class Carl Watson, left, breaks open a coconut April 24 during the Kudkod-Paga, Turo-Gata contest at the Magayan Festival alongside Philippine Army Pfc. Bryldon Alforte in Legazpi City, Albay Province, Philippines. Kudkod-Paga, Turo-Gata means “coconut milk extraction contest,” and is a contest during the annual festival to determine who can produce the most milk in a given time. Watson and Alforte are part of Exercise Baltikatan, an annual bilateral exercise between the Armed Forces of the Philippines and United States armed forces that strengthens the bond and improves interoperability between the two countries. Alforte is an operations noncommissioned officer, and Watson is a naval builder.

Lt. Col. Keven Matthews, commanding officer of Marine Rotational Force – Darwin, and Brig. Gen. John Frewen, 1st Brigade commanding general and senior Australian Defence Force officer for Robertson Barracks, approach the battalion together before Frewen addresses MRF-D Marines about the six-month rotation, expectations and the significance of their presence, April 11. Frewen said the rotation is a tangible sign of the strength between Australia and the United States. - Lt. Col. Keven Matthews, commanding officer of Marine Rotational Force – Darwin, and Brig. Gen. John Frewen, 1st Brigade commanding general and senior Australian Defence Force officer for Robertson Barracks, approach the battalion together before Frewen addresses MRF-D Marines about the six-month rotation, expectations and the significance of their presence, April 11. Frewen said the rotation is a tangible sign of the strength between Australia and the United States.

A Marine with Marine Heavy Helicopter Squadron 463 sits on top of a CH-53E Super Stallion helicopter as it is loaded onto a U.S. Air Force C-5 Galaxy at Marine Corps Air Station Kaneohe Bay here March 23. HMH-463 is a part of the Aviation Combat Element deploying to Australia for this iteration of Marine Rotational Force – Darwin. - A Marine with Marine Heavy Helicopter Squadron 463 sits on top of a CH-53E Super Stallion helicopter as it is loaded onto a U.S. Air Force C-5 Galaxy at Marine Corps Air Station Kaneohe Bay here March 23. HMH-463 is a part of the Aviation Combat Element deploying to Australia for this iteration of Marine Rotational Force – Darwin.

Members of Navatek Ltd., a ship-building company, prepare the Ultra Heavy-lift Amphibious Connector (UHAC) to begin its first-ever test run in Honolulu Harbor here, March 3. The Marine Corps Warfighting Lab came here to observe the UHAC's capabilities in land and water. - Members of Navatek Ltd., a ship-building company, prepare the Ultra Heavy-lift Amphibious Connector (UHAC) to begin its first-ever test run in Honolulu Harbor here, March 3. The Marine Corps Warfighting Lab came here to observe the UHAC's capabilities in land and water.

Royal Thai General Thanasaka Patimaprakorn shakes hands with a U.S. Marine after the completion of a combined live-fire exercise for the conclusion of exercise Cobra Gold 2014 at Royal Thai Navy Tactical Training Center Ban Chan Krem, Chanthaburi, Kingdom of Thailand, Feb. 15. Cobra Gold, in its 33rd iteration, demonstrates the U.S. and the Kingdom of Thailand's commitment to our long-standing alliance and regional partnership, prosperity and security in the Asia-Pacific region. Patimaprakorn is the chief of defense forces for the Royal Thai Armed Forces. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Sgt. Matthew Troyer/Released) - Royal Thai General Thanasaka Patimaprakorn shakes hands with a U.S. Marine after the completion of a combined live-fire exercise for the conclusion of exercise Cobra Gold 2014 at Royal Thai Navy Tactical Training Center Ban Chan Krem, Chanthaburi, Kingdom of Thailand, Feb. 15. Cobra Gold, in its 33rd iteration, demonstrates the U.S. and the Kingdom of Thailand's commitment to our long-standing alliance and regional partnership, prosperity and security in the Asia-Pacific region. Patimaprakorn is the chief of defense forces for the Royal Thai Armed Forces. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Sgt. Matthew Troyer/Released)

A Republic of Korea Marine gets in position to provide security during a combined arms live-fire exercise as part of exercise Cobra Gold in Training Center Ban Chan Krem, Kingdom of Thailand, Feb. 21. Cobra Gold, in its 33rd iteration, demonstrates Kingdom of Thailand, U.S. and other participating nation commitment to regional partnership, prosperity and security in the Asia-Pacific region. The CALFEX is a field exercise which consisted of Royal Thai, Republic of Korea, and U.S. Marine infantry, mechanized infantry, and air assests to demonstrate unique capabilities of a multinational force. - A Republic of Korea Marine gets in position to provide security during a combined arms live-fire exercise as part of exercise Cobra Gold in Training Center Ban Chan Krem, Kingdom of Thailand, Feb. 21. Cobra Gold, in its 33rd iteration, demonstrates Kingdom of Thailand, U.S. and other participating nation commitment to regional partnership, prosperity and security in the Asia-Pacific region. The CALFEX is a field exercise which consisted of Royal Thai, Republic of Korea, and U.S. Marine infantry, mechanized infantry, and air assests to demonstrate unique capabilities of a multinational force.

Royal Thai General Thanasaka Patimaprakorn speaks with U.S. Marines after the completion of a combined live-fire exercise during the conclusion of exercise Cobra Gold 2014 in Royal Thai Navy Tactical Training Center Ban Chan Krem, Chantaburi, Kingdom of Thailand, Feb. 21. Cobra Gold, in its 33rd iteration, demonstrates the U.S. and the Kingdom of Thailand's commitment to our long-standing alliance and regional partnership, prosperity and security in the Asia-Pacific region. Patimaprakorn is the Chief of Defense Forces for the Royal Thai Armed Forces. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Sgt. Matthew Troyer/Released) - Royal Thai General Thanasaka Patimaprakorn speaks with U.S. Marines after the completion of a combined live-fire exercise during the conclusion of exercise Cobra Gold 2014 in Royal Thai Navy Tactical Training Center Ban Chan Krem, Chantaburi, Kingdom of Thailand, Feb. 21. Cobra Gold, in its 33rd iteration, demonstrates the U.S. and the Kingdom of Thailand's commitment to our long-standing alliance and regional partnership, prosperity and security in the Asia-Pacific region. Patimaprakorn is the Chief of Defense Forces for the Royal Thai Armed Forces. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Sgt. Matthew Troyer/Released)