Pacific Marines Stories

U.S. Marines with Expeditionary Operations Training Group, III Marine Expeditionary Force, test custom-built unmanned surface vessels at Naval Base White Beach, Okinawa, Japan, March 9, 2026. The Marine made systems were evaluated by employing on-board communication systems on rubber rafts in varying sea states by analyzing different haul types and designs. (Courtesy Photo by Expedition Operations Training Group) - U.S. Marines with Expeditionary Operations Training Group, III Marine Expeditionary Force, test custom-built unmanned surface vessels at Naval Base White Beach, Okinawa, Japan, March 9, 2026. The Marine made systems were evaluated by employing on-board communication systems on rubber rafts in varying sea states by analyzing different haul types and designs. (Courtesy Photo by Expedition Operations Training Group)

From Workshop to Waterway: Marine Innovation Redefines Naval Strike

In a groundbreaking display of innovation, U.S. Marines from the III Expeditionary Operations Training Group and operators from Naval Special Warfare have executed the Marine Corps’ first live-fire drone strike against a maritime surface vessel from a Naval Special Warfare surface craft.

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U.S. Marine Corps Lt. Col. Paul Cordes, commanding officer of Marine Aerial Refueler Transport Squadron (VMGR) 153, Marine Aircraft Group 24, 1st Marine Aircraft Wing, awards Sgt. Garrett Sloan, a loadmaster with VMGR-153, the Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal at Marine Corps Air Station Kaneohe Bay, Hawaii, March 5, 2026. Sloan received the award after rescuing two local children who were swept out to sea by a rip current while swimming at Makapu’u beach. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Chandler Evans) - U.S. Marine Corps Lt. Col. Paul Cordes, commanding officer of Marine Aerial Refueler Transport Squadron (VMGR) 153, Marine Aircraft Group 24, 1st Marine Aircraft Wing, awards Sgt. Garrett Sloan, a loadmaster with VMGR-153, the Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal at Marine Corps Air Station Kaneohe Bay, Hawaii, March 5, 2026. Sloan received the award after rescuing two local children who were swept out to sea by a rip current while swimming at Makapu’u beach. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Chandler Evans)

U.S. Marine Corps Loadmaster Awarded Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal for Heroic Off-Duty Rescue

U.S. Marine Corps Sgt. Garrett A. Sloan, a KC-130J fixed-wing aircraft loadmaster with Marine Aerial Refueler Transport Squadron (VMGR) 153, Marine Aircraft Group 24, 1st Marine Aircraft Wing, received the Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal in recognition of his heroic actions and courage in a life-threatening situation while outside of duty.

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U.S. Marines assigned to I Marine Expeditionary Force and Philippine contractors onload a Medium Tactical Vehicle Replacement onto a Philippine barge in Cagayan de Oro, Philippines, March 17, 2026. - U.S. Marines assigned to I Marine Expeditionary Force and Philippine contractors onload a Medium Tactical Vehicle Replacement onto a Philippine barge in Cagayan de Oro, Philippines, March 17, 2026. The prepositioning of equipment in support of Exercise Balikatan 26 demonstrates how Maritime Prepositioning Force processes operationalize distributed sustainment by conducting offload, distribution, and regeneration of equipment through afloat platforms, ashore nodes, and transportation networks to distribute equipment across multiple locations. Balikatan is a longstanding annual exercise between the Armed Forces of the Philippines and U.S. military designed to strengthen our ironclad alliance, improve our capable combined force, and demonstrate our commitment to regional security and stability.  (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Madison M. Luciano)

Balikatan 26: U.S. Marines, Sailors Conduct Distributed Maritime Logistics in the Philippines

Logistics is the pacing function of expeditionary operations. Before a rifleman can eliminate a target, an infantry company can secure an objective, or the Marine Corps can train shoulder-to-shoulder with allies and partners, sustainment and equipment must be readily available at the right place and right time.

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III Marine Expeditionary Force Information Group to conduct Exercise Kaiju Rain 26

III Marine Expeditionary Force Information Group (MIG) will conduct Exercise Kaiju Rain 26 in Japan from May 1 to May 31, 2026. Kaiju Rain is an annual exercise focused on improving how Marines communicate, share information, and make decisions in support of operations across the Indo-Pacific region.

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U.S. Marine Corps Lance Cpl. Bowen Miles, a field artillery cannoneer, with 3rd Littoral Combat Team, 3rd Marine Littoral Regiment, 3rd Marine Division, operates a Navy-Marine Expeditionary Ship Interdiction System during Exercise Balikatan 2026 at Cagayan North International Airport, Philippines, April 21, 2026. - U.S. Marine Corps Lance Cpl. Bowen Miles, a field artillery cannoneer, with 3rd Littoral Combat Team, 3rd Marine Littoral Regiment, 3rd Marine Division, operates a Navy-Marine Expeditionary Ship Interdiction System during Exercise Balikatan 2026 at Cagayan North International Airport, Philippines, April 21, 2026. Balikatan is a longstanding annual exercise between the Armed Forces of the Philippines and U.S. military that represents the strength of our alliance, improves our capable combined force, and demonstrates our commitment to regional peace and prosperity. Miles is a native of Utah. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Ernesto Lagunes)

3rd MLR Joins Most Expansive Exercise Balikatan To Date

3rd Marine Littoral Regiment is contributing more than 1,300 Hawaii-based Marines and Sailors for the 41st iteration of Exercise Balikatan, an expansive multilateral exercise conducted by the Armed Forces of the Philippines and the U.S. military across the Philippine archipelago from April 20 to May 8.

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