Pacific Marines Stories

Philippine and U.S. Marines present organizational colors during the opening ceremony of Amphibious Landing Exercise 2014 at Naval Station Leovigildo, Sept. 18. PHIBLEX 14 is an annual, bilateral training exercise that enhances security and stability within the region while also helping to prepare for humanitarian assistance and disaster relief missions. During the exercise, U.S. Marines, from the 13th Marine Expeditionary Unit, 3d MEB and III Marine Expeditionary Force, will partner with Philippine Marines. - Philippine and U.S. Marines present organizational colors during the opening ceremony of Amphibious Landing Exercise 2014 at Naval Station Leovigildo, Sept. 18. PHIBLEX 14 is an annual, bilateral training exercise that enhances security and stability within the region while also helping to prepare for humanitarian assistance and disaster relief missions. During the exercise, U.S. Marines, from the 13th Marine Expeditionary Unit, 3d MEB and III Marine Expeditionary Force, will partner with Philippine Marines.

Philippine Air Force Tech. Sgt. Seno Nellas waits as a KC-130 Hercules aircraft arrives Sept. 14 carrying Marines for Amphibious Landing Exercise 2014 at Clark Air Field, Pampanga, Republic of the Philippines. Nellas is the noncommissioned officer in charge of base operations with the 600th Air Base Wing, part of the Philippine Air Force. The arriving Marines are with the 13th Marine Expeditionary Unit, the 3d Marine Expeditionary Brigade and III Marine Expeditionary Force. - Philippine Air Force Tech. Sgt. Seno Nellas waits as a KC-130 Hercules aircraft arrives Sept. 14 carrying Marines for Amphibious Landing Exercise 2014 at Clark Air Field, Pampanga, Republic of the Philippines. Nellas is the noncommissioned officer in charge of base operations with the 600th Air Base Wing, part of the Philippine Air Force. The arriving Marines are with the 13th Marine Expeditionary Unit, the 3d Marine Expeditionary Brigade and III Marine Expeditionary Force.

Cpl. Frank Smith, Weapons Platoon, Lima Company, 3rd Battalion, 3rd Marine Regiment, Marine Rotational Force - Darwin, pours himself a drink from the Sallyman truck during Exercise Koolendong, here, Sept. 4. The truck's driver, Arnold Beazley, a Salvation Army representative known as the Sallyman, delivers cold beverages and snacks to Australian soldiers and MRF-D Marines during field operations. - Cpl. Frank Smith, Weapons Platoon, Lima Company, 3rd Battalion, 3rd Marine Regiment, Marine Rotational Force - Darwin, pours himself a drink from the Sallyman truck during Exercise Koolendong, here, Sept. 4. The truck's driver, Arnold Beazley, a Salvation Army representative known as the Sallyman, delivers cold beverages and snacks to Australian soldiers and MRF-D Marines during field operations.

Two Marines with Weapons Platoon, Lima Company, 3rd Battalion, 3rd Marine Regiment, Marine Rotational Force - Darwin, fire 60mm mortars as part of a live-fire training event, ensuring they have accurate aim on the simulated enemy force, here, during Exercise Koolendong, Sept. 1. This training evolution is the first of its kind here in which Marines with MRF-D and the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit worked bilaterally with the Australian soldiers of Bravo Company, 5th Battalion, Royal Australian Regiment as a "proof of concept" to assess the capacity of the training ranges to support a battalion-sized live-fire event. - Two Marines with Weapons Platoon, Lima Company, 3rd Battalion, 3rd Marine Regiment, Marine Rotational Force - Darwin, fire 60mm mortars as part of a live-fire training event, ensuring they have accurate aim on the simulated enemy force, here, during Exercise Koolendong, Sept. 1. This training evolution is the first of its kind here in which Marines with MRF-D and the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit worked bilaterally with the Australian soldiers of Bravo Company, 5th Battalion, Royal Australian Regiment as a "proof of concept" to assess the capacity of the training ranges to support a battalion-sized live-fire event.

Marines with Marine Rotational Force - Darwin board two MV-22B Ospreys with Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron 265, 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit, here, Aug. 28. A total of four Ospreys flew the Marines to Bradshaw Field Training Area for Exercise Koolendong. During this exercise, Marines with MRF-D and the 31st MEU will work bilaterally with Australian soldiers from Bravo Company, 5th Battalion, Royal Australian Regiment. - Marines with Marine Rotational Force - Darwin board two MV-22B Ospreys with Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron 265, 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit, here, Aug. 28. A total of four Ospreys flew the Marines to Bradshaw Field Training Area for Exercise Koolendong. During this exercise, Marines with MRF-D and the 31st MEU will work bilaterally with Australian soldiers from Bravo Company, 5th Battalion, Royal Australian Regiment.

Lt. Gen. Ts. Byambajav, Chief of General Staff, Mongolian Armed Forces; U.S. Ambassador to Mongolia Piper Campbell; and Brig. Gen. Richard Simcock, deputy commander for U.S. Marine Corps Forces, Pacific; react to a demonstrator being stunned by an X26 Taser at Five Hills Training Area, Mongolia, Aug. 26. The demonstration was part of a ceremony marking the conclusion of the field training exercise and start of the leadership portion during the Non-Lethal Weapons Executive Seminar. NOLES is hosted annually in the Pacific region and led this year by U.S. Marines with 3rd Law Enforcement Battalion, III Marine Expeditionary Force. Mongolia, a regular participant, is hosting NOLES for the third time in 12 years. MarForPac serves as the executive agent for the exercise every year. - Lt. Gen. Ts. Byambajav, Chief of General Staff, Mongolian Armed Forces; U.S. Ambassador to Mongolia Piper Campbell; and Brig. Gen. Richard Simcock, deputy commander for U.S. Marine Corps Forces, Pacific; react to a demonstrator being stunned by an X26 Taser at Five Hills Training Area, Mongolia, Aug. 26. The demonstration was part of a ceremony marking the conclusion of the field training exercise and start of the leadership portion during the Non-Lethal Weapons Executive Seminar. NOLES is hosted annually in the Pacific region and led this year by U.S. Marines with 3rd Law Enforcement Battalion, III Marine Expeditionary Force. Mongolia, a regular participant, is hosting NOLES for the third time in 12 years. MarForPac serves as the executive agent for the exercise every year.

Cpl. Luis Vasquez, automotive mechanic, Lima Company, 3rd Battalion, 3rd Marine Regiment, Marine Rotational Force - Darwin, and an Australian Army classmate, complete moving pushups during a Combat Fitness Leadership Course physical training session at the Northern Gym, here, Aug. 20. The course teaches students to lead physical training techniques. Two MRF-D Marines are attending the month-long course. This is the first time Marines have participated in an Australian Army training course here. - Cpl. Luis Vasquez, automotive mechanic, Lima Company, 3rd Battalion, 3rd Marine Regiment, Marine Rotational Force - Darwin, and an Australian Army classmate, complete moving pushups during a Combat Fitness Leadership Course physical training session at the Northern Gym, here, Aug. 20. The course teaches students to lead physical training techniques. Two MRF-D Marines are attending the month-long course. This is the first time Marines have participated in an Australian Army training course here.

Members of a Mongolian Armed Forces ceremonial band march past an international delegation during the closing ceremony for Khaan Quest 2013, Aug. 14. The multinational peacekeeping exercise is hosted annually by the Mongolian Armed Forces and co-sponsored by U.S. Marine Corps Forces Pacific and U.S. Army Pacific, and designed to promote regional peace and security. The intent of Khaan Quest 2013 was to enhance military-to-military interoperability in peacekeeping operations and increase multinational cooperation. In addition to Mongolia and the United States, military personnel from Australia, Canada, France, Germany, Japan, India, Nepal, South Korea, Tajikistan, United Kingdom and Vietnam also participated in the exercise. MARFORPAC served as the U.S. executive agent for this year’s exercise. - Members of a Mongolian Armed Forces ceremonial band march past an international delegation during the closing ceremony for Khaan Quest 2013, Aug. 14. The multinational peacekeeping exercise is hosted annually by the Mongolian Armed Forces and co-sponsored by U.S. Marine Corps Forces Pacific and U.S. Army Pacific, and designed to promote regional peace and security. The intent of Khaan Quest 2013 was to enhance military-to-military interoperability in peacekeeping operations and increase multinational cooperation. In addition to Mongolia and the United States, military personnel from Australia, Canada, France, Germany, Japan, India, Nepal, South Korea, Tajikistan, United Kingdom and Vietnam also participated in the exercise. MARFORPAC served as the U.S. executive agent for this year’s exercise.

(From right) Maj. Gen. B. Bayarmagnai, deputy chief of general staff for the Mongolian Armed Forces, U.S. Ambassador to Mongolia Piper Campbell and Maj. Gen. Gary Hara, deputy commanding general of the Army National Guard for U.S. Army Pacific, cut the ribbon for newly renovated Erdmiin Orgil School in Nalaikh district, Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia, Aug. 13. The project took place as part of exercise Khaan Quest 2013. Engineers from the U.S., Mongolia and Canada worked side-by-side to replace the roof, windows, front stairs and interior doors, "re-stucco" the exterior walls, apply emulsion and repaint the building. They also tore down a structurally unsound concrete awning at the main entrance and built a handicap-accessible ramp at the front of the school. - (From right) Maj. Gen. B. Bayarmagnai, deputy chief of general staff for the Mongolian Armed Forces, U.S. Ambassador to Mongolia Piper Campbell and Maj. Gen. Gary Hara, deputy commanding general of the Army National Guard for U.S. Army Pacific, cut the ribbon for newly renovated Erdmiin Orgil School in Nalaikh district, Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia, Aug. 13. The project took place as part of exercise Khaan Quest 2013. Engineers from the U.S., Mongolia and Canada worked side-by-side to replace the roof, windows, front stairs and interior doors, "re-stucco" the exterior walls, apply emulsion and repaint the building. They also tore down a structurally unsound concrete awning at the main entrance and built a handicap-accessible ramp at the front of the school.