Pacific Marines Stories

A Philippine Air Force service member, left, coordinates with U.S. Marine Corps Maj. Steve Lundin, right, the officer in charge of the Humanitarian Assistance Response Team assigned to Marine Rotational Force-Southeast Asia, I Marine Expeditionary Force, about unloading palletized family food packs from a U.S. Marine Corps MV-22B Osprey attached to Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron (VMM) 262, Marine Aircraft Group 36, 1st Marine Aircraft Wing, in support of foreign disaster relief operations at Virac, Philippines, Nov. 13, 2025. - A Philippine Air Force service member, left, coordinates with U.S. Marine Corps Maj. Steve Lundin, right, the officer in charge of the Humanitarian Assistance Response Team assigned to Marine Rotational Force-Southeast Asia, I Marine Expeditionary Force, about unloading palletized family food packs from a U.S. Marine Corps MV-22B Osprey attached to Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron (VMM) 262, Marine Aircraft Group 36, 1st Marine Aircraft Wing, in support of foreign disaster relief operations at Virac, Philippines, Nov. 13, 2025. At the request of the Government of the Philippines, the U.S. military is working alongside the Armed Forces of the Philippines to provide foreign disaster relief support to communities affected by consecutive Typhoons Kalmaegi (Tino) and Fung-Wong (Uwan), which caused extensive damage and tragic loss of life. The forward presence and ready posture of United States Indo-Pacific Command in the region facilitates rapid and effective response to crisis, demonstrating the U.S.’s commitment to Allies and partners during times of need. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Brian Knowles)

U.S. Marine Corps Lt. Col. Jeremy Smith, Indo-Pacific Deputy Director cuts a cake at the Daniel K. Inouye Center for Excellence on Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam, HI, on Nov. 4, 2025. The event was to celebrate the United States Marine Corps’ 250th birthday, honoring the legacy of Marine service and recognizing the Marines assigned to the Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency who support the mission through Marine Forces Pacific. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Shay Stuart) - U.S. Marine Corps Lt. Col. Jeremy Smith, Indo-Pacific Deputy Director cuts a cake at the Daniel K. Inouye Center for Excellence on Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam, HI, on Nov. 4, 2025. The event was to celebrate the United States Marine Corps’ 250th birthday, honoring the legacy of Marine service and recognizing the Marines assigned to the Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency who support the mission through Marine Forces Pacific. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Shay Stuart)

U.S. Marines with 3rd Battalion, 12th Marine Regiment, 3rd Marine Division execute a High Mobility Artillery Rocket System live-fire mission at the Combined Arms Training Center, Camp Fuji, Japan, Oct. 27, 2025. HIMARS training at Camp Fuji offers unique advantages, including realistic training terrain, adequate range capacity, and specialized infrastructure necessary to safely and effectively support HIMARS operations. This training represents a significant advancement of Camp Fuji’s capability to support long-range fires and reflects our commitment to maintaining readiness and maximizing deterrence in the Indo-Pacific. (U.S. Air Force photo by Tech. Sgt. Emerson Nuñez) - U.S. Marines with 3rd Battalion, 12th Marine Regiment, 3rd Marine Division execute a High Mobility Artillery Rocket System live-fire mission at the Combined Arms Training Center, Camp Fuji, Japan, Oct. 27, 2025. HIMARS training at Camp Fuji offers unique advantages, including realistic training terrain, adequate range capacity, and specialized infrastructure necessary to safely and effectively support HIMARS operations. This training represents a significant advancement of Camp Fuji’s capability to support long-range fires and reflects our commitment to maintaining readiness and maximizing deterrence in the Indo-Pacific. (U.S. Air Force photo by Tech. Sgt. Emerson Nuñez)

U.S. Marine Corps Col. Chris Niedziocha, the commanding officer of the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit, and 31st MEU staff embark the light amphibious assault ship USS Tripoli (LHA 7) at White Beach Naval Facility, Okinawa, Japan, Oct. 26, 2025. The embarkation was an opportunity for the 31st MEU to integrate with their U.S. Navy counterparts aboard the USS Tripoli. 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 Lance Cpl. Trevor BishopWilliams) - U.S. Marine Corps Col. Chris Niedziocha, the commanding officer of the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit, and 31st MEU staff embark the light amphibious assault ship USS Tripoli (LHA 7) at White Beach Naval Facility, Okinawa, Japan, Oct. 26, 2025. The embarkation was an opportunity for the 31st MEU to integrate with their U.S. Navy counterparts aboard the USS Tripoli. 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 Lance Cpl. Trevor BishopWilliams)

A Philippine Air Force service member, left, coordinates with U.S. Marine Corps Maj. Steve Lundin, right, the officer in charge of the Humanitarian Assistance Response Team assigned to Marine Rotational Force-Southeast Asia, I Marine Expeditionary Force, about unloading palletized family food packs from a U.S. Marine Corps MV-22B Osprey attached to Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron (VMM) 262, Marine Aircraft Group 36, 1st Marine Aircraft Wing, in support of foreign disaster relief operations at Virac, Philippines, Nov. 13, 2025. - A Philippine Air Force service member, left, coordinates with U.S. Marine Corps Maj. Steve Lundin, right, the officer in charge of the Humanitarian Assistance Response Team assigned to Marine Rotational Force-Southeast Asia, I Marine Expeditionary Force, about unloading palletized family food packs from a U.S. Marine Corps MV-22B Osprey attached to Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron (VMM) 262, Marine Aircraft Group 36, 1st Marine Aircraft Wing, in support of foreign disaster relief operations at Virac, Philippines, Nov. 13, 2025. At the request of the Government of the Philippines, the U.S. military is working alongside the Armed Forces of the Philippines to provide foreign disaster relief support to communities affected by consecutive Typhoons Kalmaegi (Tino) and Fung-Wong (Uwan), which caused extensive damage and tragic loss of life. The forward presence and ready posture of United States Indo-Pacific Command in the region facilitates rapid and effective response to crisis, demonstrating the U.S.’s commitment to Allies and partners during times of need. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Brian Knowles)

The joint training demonstrated 3rd LCT's ability to conduct equipment recovery operations utilizing the capabilities of the U.S. Army's MSV(L) in a littoral environment. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Sgt. Malia Sparks) - U.S. Marines with 3rd Littoral Combat Team, 3rd Marine Littoral Regiment, 3rd Marine Division, and U.S. soldiers with 7th Transportation Brigade (Expeditionary), offload a Navy/Marine Expeditionary Ship Interdiction System from a Maneuver Support Vessel (Light) (MSV(L)) on Marine Corps Base Hawaii, Sept. 17, 2025.

U.S. Navy Petty Officer Second Class Austin Washington, an aviation boatswain mate handler, directs an MV-22B Osprey assigned to Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron (VMM) 363, Marine Rotational Force – Darwin 25.3, for landing aboard the expeditionary sea base USS Miguel Keith (ESB 5) in the Philippine Sea, Aug. 29, 2025. For the first time in the rotation’s history, the MRF-D Marine Air-Ground Task Force's Aviation and Ground Combat Elements embarked aboard a U.S. Navy vessel to extend operational reach and provide flexible, combat-credible options across the Indo-Pacific. MRF-D is an annual six-month rotational deployment to enhance interoperability with the Australian Defence Force and allies and partners and provide a forward postured crisis response force in the Indo-Pacific. Washington is a native of California. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Angelina Sara) - U.S. Navy Petty Officer Second Class Austin Washington, an aviation boatswain mate handler, directs an MV-22B Osprey assigned to Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron (VMM) 363, Marine Rotational Force – Darwin 25.3, for landing aboard the expeditionary sea base USS Miguel Keith (ESB 5) in the Philippine Sea, Aug. 29, 2025. For the first time in the rotation’s history, the MRF-D Marine Air-Ground Task Force's Aviation and Ground Combat Elements embarked aboard a U.S. Navy vessel to extend operational reach and provide flexible, combat-credible options across the Indo-Pacific. MRF-D is an annual six-month rotational deployment to enhance interoperability with the Australian Defence Force and allies and partners and provide a forward postured crisis response force in the Indo-Pacific. Washington is a native of California. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Angelina Sara)

U.S. Marines with the III Marine Expeditionary Force clean their weapons outside the combat operations center in Combat Town, Camp Hansen, Okinawa Japan, Sept. 13, 2025, during the Command Post Exercise portion of Resolute Dragon 25. Resolute Dragon 25 is an annual bilateral exercise across Japan, including the southwest islands, that strengthens the command, control and multidomain maneuver capabilities of III MEF and the Japan Ground Self-Defense Force’s Western Army personnel, alongside representatives across the U.S. and Japanese Joint Force, with a focus on controlling and defending key maritime terrain. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Gunnery Sgt. Daniel Wetzel) - U.S. Marines with the III Marine Expeditionary Force clean their weapons outside the combat operations center in Combat Town, Camp Hansen, Okinawa Japan, Sept. 13, 2025, during the Command Post Exercise portion of Resolute Dragon 25. Resolute Dragon 25 is an annual bilateral exercise across Japan, including the southwest islands, that strengthens the command, control and multidomain maneuver capabilities of III MEF and the Japan Ground Self-Defense Force’s Western Army personnel, alongside representatives across the U.S. and Japanese Joint Force, with a focus on controlling and defending key maritime terrain. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Gunnery Sgt. Daniel Wetzel)

U.S. Marine Corps Cpl. Steele Armstrong, a satellite transmissions systems operator, and U.S. Marine Corps Lance Cpl. Jaden Coleman, a transmission systems operator, both with MarineWing Communications Squadron 18, Marine Air Control Group 18, 1st Marine Aircraft Wing,set up a radio call during the inaugural Thunderstruck Communications Competition, hosted byMWCS-38, MACG-38, 3rd MAW, at Marine Corps Air Station Miramar, California, Sept. 10,2025 - U.S. Marine Corps Cpl. Steele Armstrong, a satellite transmissions systems operator, and U.S. Marine Corps Lance Cpl. Jaden Coleman, a transmission systems operator, both with Marine Wing Communications Squadron 18, Marine Air Control Group 18, 1st Marine Aircraft Wing, set up a radio call during the inaugural Thunderstruck Communications Competition, hosted by MWCS-38, MACG-38, 3rd MAW, at Marine Corps Air Station Miramar, California, Sept. 10, 2025. Thunderstruck is a service-wide competition dedicated to communications Marines, showcasing the increasing importance of resilient command and control in distributed operations. The six-mile course integrated high frequency radio, Mobile User Objective System satellite communications, and data networking tasks under expeditionary conditions, testing the tactical, technical, and physical proficiency of Marine Corps communicators. Armstrong is a native of Minnesota, and Coleman is a native of Florida. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Renee Gray)

U.S. Marine Corps Cpl. Rijohn Adams, an intelligence specialist with 1st Battalion, 5th Marine Regiment, 1st Marine Division, attached to Marine Rotational Force-Southeast Asia, places a Parrot Amari AI drone prior to an unmanned aerial systems flight during the field training exercise as part of Valiant Mark 25 at SAFTI City training facility, Singapore, March 26, 2025. SAFTI City is one of the largest and most technologically advanced urban training facilities in the world and the premier urban training facility in Southeast Asia. Valiant Mark is an annual, bilateral training exercise designed to enhance interoperability, build mutual defense capabilities, and strengthen military-to-military relationships between the U.S. Marine Corps and Singapore Armed Forces. MRF-SEA is a rotational unit derived from elements of I MEF executing a U.S. Marine Corps Forces, Pacific operational model that involves training events and exchanges with partner military subject matter experts, promotes security goals with allied and partner nations, and ensures a persistent I MEF stand-in presence west of the international date line. - U.S. Marine Corps Cpl. Rijohn Adams, an intelligence specialist with 1st Battalion, 5th Marine Regiment, 1st Marine Division, attached to Marine Rotational Force-Southeast Asia, places a Parrot Amari AI drone prior to an unmanned aerial systems flight during the field training exercise as part of Valiant Mark 25 at SAFTI City training facility, Singapore, March 26, 2025. SAFTI City is one of the largest and most technologically advanced urban training facilities in the world and the premier urban training facility in Southeast Asia. Valiant Mark is an annual, bilateral training exercise designed to enhance interoperability, build mutual defense capabilities, and strengthen military-to-military relationships between the U.S. Marine Corps and Singapore Armed Forces. MRF-SEA is a rotational unit derived from elements of I MEF executing a U.S. Marine Corps Forces, Pacific operational model that involves training events and exchanges with partner military subject matter experts, promotes security goals with allied and partner nations, and ensures a persistent I MEF stand-in presence west of the international date line.