Pacific Marines Stories

A U.S. Marine with Marine Rotational Force – Darwin 2018 handles a crocodile during a welcome aboard brief at Robertson Barracks, Darwin, Australia, April 12. - A U.S. Marine with Marine Rotational Force – Darwin 2018 handles a crocodile during a welcome aboard brief at Robertson Barracks, Darwin, Australia, April 12. MRF-D was established by former U.S. President Barack Obama and former Australian Prime Minister Julia Gillard in 2011 to build and strengthen partnerships in the Pacific region. Approximately 1,500 Marines are scheduled to participate in training events around the country. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Mason Roy)

US Marines, ADF service members aid community during Tropical Cyclone Marcus aftermath - U.S. Marines and Australian Defence Force service members assist in clearing debris at Darwin, NT, Australia March 20, 2018. Approximately 45 Marines and 300 Australian Defence Force service members helped clear road and pathways around the Darwin area. The relief efforts arose after Tropical Cyclone Marcus, category 2, swept through coastal parts of the Northern Territory. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Mason Roy)

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.

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.

U.S. Marine Corps Cpl. Clarissa Verastegui and Cpl. Jordy Reyna place wreaths at the unveiling of a giant clam conservation awareness display Sept. 7 at the Territory Wildlife Park, Berry Springs, Northern Territory, Australia. Marines and sailors with Marine Rotational Force – Darwin volunteered since the beginning of their six-month rotation in Australia to contribute to the park as part of their involvement with the local community. Beyond purely military training, Marines’ participation in engagements throughout the Northern Territory shows their appreciation for Australia’s welcome. Verastegui is a warehouse clerk with Combat Logistics Detachment – 1, MRF-D, and a native of Laredo, Texas. Reyna is a flight equipment technician with Marine Heavy Helicopter Squadron 463, MRF-D and a native of Humble, Texas. - U.S. Marine Corps Cpl. Clarissa Verastegui and Cpl. Jordy Reyna place wreaths at the unveiling of a giant clam conservation awareness display Sept. 7 at the Territory Wildlife Park, Berry Springs, Northern Territory, Australia. Marines and sailors with Marine Rotational Force – Darwin volunteered since the beginning of their six-month rotation in Australia to contribute to the park as part of their involvement with the local community. Beyond purely military training, Marines’ participation in engagements throughout the Northern Territory shows their appreciation for Australia’s welcome. Verastegui is a warehouse clerk with Combat Logistics Detachment – 1, MRF-D, and a native of Laredo, Texas. Reyna is a flight equipment technician with Marine Heavy Helicopter Squadron 463, MRF-D and a native of Humble, Texas.

Participants listen as a Larrakia Aboriginal Nation elder Bilawarra Lee speaks Aug. 29 at Larrakeyah Barracks, Darwin, Northern Territory, Australia, before the start of Exercise Kowari 15. Kowari is a trilateral environmental survival training opportunity hosted by Australia and includes forces from Australia, China and the U.S. simultaneously. Environmental survival training in the Australian Outback offers a unique training opportunity in the Pacific. - Participants listen as a Larrakia Aboriginal Nation elder Bilawarra Lee speaks Aug. 29 at Larrakeyah Barracks, Darwin, Northern Territory, Australia, before the start of Exercise Kowari 15. Kowari is a trilateral environmental survival training opportunity hosted by Australia and includes forces from Australia, China and the U.S. simultaneously. Environmental survival training in the Australian Outback offers a unique training opportunity in the Pacific.

U.S. Marine Corps Lance Cpl. Miguel Regalado, a rifleman with Company C, 1st Battalion, 4th Marine Regiment, Marine Rotational Force – Darwin, demonstrates the proper way to catch a ball while participating in a softball clinic for local youth July 23 at Tracy Village Social and Sports Club, Wanguri, Northern Territory, Australia. The Marines supported the supported the U.S. State Department-sponsored community event with the Northern Territory’s school softball program to mentor the students and teach them how to play competitively. The Marines’ involvement in community engagements in the Northern Territory allows them to learn about the culture and customs in Australia. - U.S. Marine Corps Lance Cpl. Miguel Regalado, a rifleman with Company C, 1st Battalion, 4th Marine Regiment, Marine Rotational Force – Darwin, demonstrates the proper way to catch a ball while participating in a softball clinic for local youth July 23 at Tracy Village Social and Sports Club, Wanguri, Northern Territory, Australia. The Marines supported the supported the U.S. State Department-sponsored community event with the Northern Territory’s school softball program to mentor the students and teach them how to play competitively. The Marines’ involvement in community engagements in the Northern Territory allows them to learn about the culture and customs in Australia.

U.S. Marines with Company A, 1st Battalion, 4th Marine Regiment, Marine Rotational Force – Darwin, take cover during military operations in urban terrain during Exercise Koa Moana 15.2 in Dili, Timor-Leste June 25. The platoon of U.S. Marines with Company A, 1st Battalion, 4th Marine Regiment, MRF – D, conducted a bilateral exercise with one platoon of the Timor-Leste Defence Force’s land component of the naval force and one platoon of their Marines, focusing on the fundamentals of squad and platoon-level tasks. The platoon of Marines taking part in Koa Moana 15.2 demonstrated and established how the ground combat element is equipped and organized to carry out national objectives in cooperation with our national and international partners. - U.S. Marines with Company A, 1st Battalion, 4th Marine Regiment, Marine Rotational Force – Darwin, take cover during military operations in urban terrain during Exercise Koa Moana 15.2 in Dili, Timor-Leste June 25. The platoon of U.S. Marines with Company A, 1st Battalion, 4th Marine Regiment, MRF – D, conducted a bilateral exercise with one platoon of the Timor-Leste Defence Force’s land component of the naval force and one platoon of their Marines, focusing on the fundamentals of squad and platoon-level tasks. The platoon of Marines taking part in Koa Moana 15.2 demonstrated and established how the ground combat element is equipped and organized to carry out national objectives in cooperation with our national and international partners.

Sergeant Tanner Grace, a native of Troy, Pennsylvania, and an armorer for the Marine Corps Shooting Team, and Australian Army Pvt. Gareth Mulraney, an armorer for the Australian Army Skill at Arms Meeting 2015, work on the next-generation M40 sniper rifle during sniper rifle snap-in match May 10 at the Puckapunyal Military Area, Victoria, Australia, during the AASAM 2015. Grace was only international armorer supporting AASAM, an annual, international combat-marksmanship competition hosted by the Australian Army, May 6 to 22. During the competition, Grace and Mulraney were the only armorers working on other nation’s service pistols, rifles, sniper rifles and machine guns. The AASAM competition afforded an unprecedented combined training opportunity and improved interoperability with Australian Defense Forces and other militaries present at AASAM 2015. - Sergeant Tanner Grace, a native of Troy, Pennsylvania, and an armorer for the Marine Corps Shooting Team, and Australian Army Pvt. Gareth Mulraney, an armorer for the Australian Army Skill at Arms Meeting 2015, work on the next-generation M40 sniper rifle during sniper rifle snap-in match May 10 at the Puckapunyal Military Area, Victoria, Australia, during the AASAM 2015. Grace was only international armorer supporting AASAM, an annual, international combat-marksmanship competition hosted by the Australian Army, May 6 to 22. During the competition, Grace and Mulraney were the only armorers working on other nation’s service pistols, rifles, sniper rifles and machine guns. The AASAM competition afforded an unprecedented combined training opportunity and improved interoperability with Australian Defense Forces and other militaries present at AASAM 2015.