Pacific Marines Stories

U.S. Marines embarked with the amphibious assault ship USS America (LHA 6) in the Indo-Pacific region. - U.S. Marines embarked with the amphibious assault ship USS America (LHA 6) in the Indo-Pacific region.

Inside protecting Camp Pendleton’s natural resources - A red diamond rattlesnake is placed in a tube before being implanted with a transmitter at the Game Wardens Section (GWS) at Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, California, Aug. 31, 2018. The GWS conducted research by implanting rattlesnakes with a transmitter and documenting their locations to ensure that they do not return to the area they were caught. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Kerstin Roberts)

U.S. Marines and Philippine Marines with the 17th Marine Corps Field Artillery Battalion, pose for a group photo - U.S. Marines with Alpha Battery, Battalion Landing Team 3/5, 11th Marine Expeditionary Unit, and Philippine Marines with the 17th Marine Corps Field Artillery Battalion, pose for a group photo at Colonel Ernesto Ravina Air Base, Philippines, during exercise KAMANDAG 3, Oct. 13, 2019. KAMANDAG helps participating forces maintain a high level of readiness and responsiveness, and enhances combined military-to-military relations, interoperability, and multinational coordination. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Staff Sgt. Donald Holbert)

From left, Armed Forces of the Philippines Lt. Gen. Gilbert Gapay, commander, Southern Luzon Command, and Philippine Exercise Co-Director; Undersecretary Cardozo M. Luna, Undersecretary of the Department of National Defense; Sung Y. Kim, U.S. Ambassador to the Philippines; Armed Forces of the Philippines Gen. Benjamin Madrigal, Jr., AFP Chief of Staff; and U.S. Marine Brig. Gen. Christopher A. McPhillips, commanding general, 3rd Marine Expeditionary Brigade stand shoulder-to-shoulder at Tejeros Hall, Camp General Emilio Aguinaldo, Quezon City, Manila, Philippines, April 1, 2019. The ceremony represented the official commencement of Balikatan 2019 and the continued partnership between the United States and the Republic of the Philippines. Balikatan 19, in its 35th iteration, is an annual U.S.-Philippine military training focused on a variety of missions, including humanitarian assistance and disaster relief, counterterrorism, and other combined military operations held from April 1 to April 12. - From left, Armed Forces of the Philippines Lt. Gen. Gilbert Gapay, commander, Southern Luzon Command, and Philippine Exercise Co-Director; Undersecretary Cardozo M. Luna, Undersecretary of the Department of National Defense; Sung Y. Kim, U.S. Ambassador to the Philippines; Armed Forces of the Philippines Gen. Benjamin Madrigal, Jr., AFP Chief of Staff; and U.S. Marine Brig. Gen. Christopher A. McPhillips, commanding general, 3rd Marine Expeditionary Brigade stand shoulder-to-shoulder at Tejeros Hall, Camp General Emilio Aguinaldo, Quezon City, Manila, Philippines, April 1, 2019. The ceremony represented the official commencement of Balikatan 2019 and the continued partnership between the United States and the Republic of the Philippines. Balikatan 19, in its 35th iteration, is an annual U.S.-Philippine military training focused on a variety of missions, including humanitarian assistance and disaster relief, counterterrorism, and other combined military operations held from April 1 to April 12.

Bringing innovation to fruition: Marines 3D print 1st reinforced concrete bridge in western hemisphere - A Marine with 1st Marine Logistics Group walks across a concrete footbridge during a 3D concrete printing exercise Dec. 12, at Camp Pendleton, California. Working with Marine Corps Systems Command’s Advanced Manufacturing Operations Cell and the Army Corps of Engineers, the 1st MLG used the Automated Construction of Expeditionary Structures—or ACES—printer to conduct 3D concrete printing of the bridge and evaluate emerging technology for future application in Marine Corps engineering operations. (U.S. Navy photo by Ensign Elizabeth Flanary)

The Corps’ new Amphibious Combat Vehicle offers ‘significantly greater survivability, mobility’ than predecessor - Program Executive Officer Land Systems put the Amphibious Combat Vehicle 1.1 through high surf testing in December 2018 at Vandenberg Air Force Base, California. The vehicle successfully navigated through waves measuring over six feet in height, meeting the ACV 1.2 anticipated requirements, and enabling the Marine Corps to combine the program into a singular ACV family of vehicles. (U.S. Marine Corps photo)

A U.S. Marine shooter and spotters assess the target in the Team Pistol Match finals at Range 1 on Camp Hansen Dec. 13, 2018. Marine Corps Shooting Teams members verified the hits of the shooter. - A U.S. Marine shooter and spotters assess the target in the Team Pistol Match finals at Range 1 on Camp Hansen, Okinawa, Japan Dec. 13, 2018. Marine Corps Shooting Teams members verified the hits of the shooter.

The dock landing ship USS Ashland sits idle off the coast during the U.S. Defense Support of Civil Authorities relief effort in response to Super Typhoon Yutu, Tinian, Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, Nov. 3, 2018. Businesses, government buildings, homes and schools were heavily damaged by Super Typhoon Yutu, which made a direct hit with devastating effect on Tinian Oct. 25 packing 170 MPH winds – it is the second strongest storm to ever hit U.S. soil and the strongest storm of 2018. Marines with the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit and CLB-31 have been leading a multi-service contingent since Oct. 29 as part of the U.S. Federal Emergency Management Agency-directed DSCA mission here. The Ashland arrived today to deliver a larger contingent of Marines and Seabees to further assist the people of Tinian. The Marines arrived at the request of CNMI officials and FEMA to assist relief efforts in the wake of Yutu, the largest typhoon to ever hit a U.S. territory. The 31st MEU, the Marine Corps’ only continuously forward-deployed MEU, provides a flexible force ready to perform a wide-range of military operations across the Indo-Pacific region. - The dock landing ship USS Ashland sits idle off the coast during the U.S. Defense Support of Civil Authorities relief effort in response to Super Typhoon Yutu, Tinian, Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, Nov. 3, 2018. Businesses, government buildings, homes and schools were heavily damaged by Super Typhoon Yutu, which made a direct hit with devastating effect on Tinian Oct. 25 packing 170 MPH winds – it is the second strongest storm to ever hit U.S. soil and the strongest storm of 2018. Marines with the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit and CLB-31 have been leading a multi-service contingent since Oct. 29 as part of the U.S. Federal Emergency Management Agency-directed DSCA mission here. The Ashland arrived today to deliver a larger contingent of Marines and Seabees to further assist the people of Tinian. The Marines arrived at the request of CNMI officials and FEMA to assist relief efforts in the wake of Yutu, the largest typhoon to ever hit a U.S. territory. The 31st MEU, the Marine Corps’ only continuously forward-deployed MEU, provides a flexible force ready to perform a wide-range of military operations across the Indo-Pacific region.

U.S. Marine Corps Forces, Pacific Change of Command - U.S. Marine Corps Lt. Gen. David H. Berger, right, outgoing commander, U.S. Marine Corps Forces, Pacific, passes the MARFORPAC colors to Lt. Gen. Lewis A. Craparotta, the incoming commander, during a change of command ceremony at Marine Corps Base Hawaii, Aug. 8, 2018. The change of command ceremony represents the transfer of responsibility and authority between commanders.

Canadian soldiers team up with U.S. Marines for amphib raid during RIMPAC - Canadian soldiers with the Royal 22e Régiment exit an AAV-P7/A1 assault amphibious vehicle during an amphibious raid as part of Rim of the Pacific (RIMPAC) exercise on Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, California, July 13, 2018. This evolution provided an opportunity for participating nations to share best practices which included loading and unloading drills as well as squad attacks. RIMPAC demonstrates the value of amphibious forces and provides high-value training for task-organized, highly capable Marine Air-Ground Task Forces enhancing the critical crisis response capability of U.S. forces and partners globally.