Pacific Marines Stories

Vietnamese Senior Capt. Le Xuan Thuy, deputy commander, Naval Zone 4, Republic of Vietnam Navy; and Senior Lt. Bui Van Luong, Republic of Vietnam Navy, speak to U.S. Marine Corps Col. Nathan Nastase, assistant chief of staff, G-3/5/7 Division, U.S. Marine Corps Forces, Pacific, during the Pacific Amphibious Leaders Symposium (PALS) 2018 in Honolulu, Hawaii, May 23, 2018. - Vietnamese Senior Capt. Le Xuan Thuy, deputy commander, Naval Zone 4, Republic of Vietnam Navy; and Senior Lt. Bui Van Luong, Republic of Vietnam Navy, speak to U.S. Marine Corps Col. Nathan Nastase, assistant chief of staff, G-3/5/7 Division, U.S. Marine Corps Forces, Pacific, during the Pacific Amphibious Leaders Symposium (PALS) 2018 in Honolulu, Hawaii, May 23, 2018. During the symposium, military services from around the world build a closer military-to-military bond with one another. Closer bonds between other militaries facilitate clear lines of communication and foster a spirit of cooperation to meet potential global challenges. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Sgt. Jonathan E. Lopez Cruet)

U.S. Marine Corps Forces, Pacific hosts the 4th annual Pacific Amphibious Leaders Symposium (PALS) with representatives of 22 allied and partner militaries from around the Indo-Pacific region in Hawaii May 21-24, 2018. - U.S. Marine Corps Forces, Pacific hosts the 4th annual Pacific Amphibious Leaders Symposium (PALS) with representatives of 22 allied and partner militaries from around the Indo-Pacific region in Hawaii May 21-24, 2018. (U.S. Marine Corps Graphic by Sgt. Hilda Perez)

2nd Lt. Jennifer N. Galvan gives a mission brief during a Marine Corps Combat Readiness Evaluation at Central Training Area, Camp Hansen, Okinawa, Japan, April 18, 2017. 3d Law Enforcement Battalion conducted the evaluation to test each company’s ability to execute tasks ranging from policing operations to police patrolling, route regulations, key leader engagements in towns and local population centers, and security of key infrastructure in an expeditionary environment, to ensure they are prepared to support the operational requirements of III Marine Expeditionary Force. Galvan, a native of Oak Lawn, Ill., is a platoon commander for Bravo Company, 3d LE Bn., III MEF Headquarters Group. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Joshua Pinkney) - 2nd Lt. Jennifer N. Galvan gives a mission brief during a Marine Corps Combat Readiness Evaluation at Central Training Area, Camp Hansen, Okinawa, Japan, April 18, 2017. 3d Law Enforcement Battalion conducted the evaluation to test each company’s ability to execute tasks ranging from policing operations to police patrolling, route regulations, key leader engagements in towns and local population centers, and security of key infrastructure in an expeditionary environment, to ensure they are prepared to support the operational requirements of III Marine Expeditionary Force. Galvan, a native of Oak Lawn, Ill., is a platoon commander for Bravo Company, 3d LE Bn., III MEF Headquarters Group. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Joshua Pinkney)

Sgt. Justin Adams, an instructor with 1st Marine Division Schools ‘Pre-Scout Sniper Course’ observes a soldier with the Japanese Ground Self-Defense Force during a known distance range conducted at during Exercise Iron Fist 2017, aboard Camp Pendleton, California, Feb. 7, 2017. The range consisted of known distances of targets from 100 to 550 meters. Iron Fist is an annual, bilateral training exercise where U.S. and Japanese service members train together and share techniques, tactics and procedure to improve their combined operational capabilities. - Sgt. Justin Adams, an instructor with 1st Marine Division Schools ‘Pre-Scout Sniper Course’ observes a soldier with the Japanese Ground Self-Defense Force during a known distance range conducted at during Exercise Iron Fist 2017, aboard Camp Pendleton, California, Feb. 7, 2017. The range consisted of known distances of targets from 100 to 550 meters. Iron Fist is an annual, bilateral training exercise where U.S. and Japanese service members train together and share techniques, tactics and procedure to improve their combined operational capabilities.

A Marine with Fox Company, Battalion Landing Team, 2nd Battalion, 5th Marines, 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit, rappels down a cliff at the Jungle Warfare Training Center, Camp Gonsalves, Okinawa, Japan, Jan. 24, 2017. JWTC exposes Marines to training situations and environments unique to the Indo-Asia-Pacific region which sustain operational readiness and enhance forward deployed capabilities. As the Marine Corps’ only continuously forward deployed unit, the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit’s air-ground-logistics team provides a flexible force, ready to perform a wide range of military operations, from limited combat to humanitarian assistance operations, throughout the Indo-Asia- Pacific region. - A Marine with Fox Company, Battalion Landing Team, 2nd Battalion, 5th Marines, 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit, rappels down a cliff at the Jungle Warfare Training Center, Camp Gonsalves, Okinawa, Japan, Jan. 24, 2017. JWTC exposes Marines to training situations and environments unique to the Indo-Asia-Pacific region which sustain operational readiness and enhance forward deployed capabilities. As the Marine Corps’ only continuously forward deployed unit, the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit’s air-ground-logistics team provides a flexible force, ready to perform a wide range of military operations, from limited combat to humanitarian assistance operations, throughout the Indo-Asia- Pacific region.

U.S. Marine Brig. Gen. Brian Cavanaugh, deputy commander, U.S. Marine Corps Forces, Pacific, salutes as a wreath is laid for fallen Marines at Barber's Point Golf Course in Kapolei, Hawaii, Dec. 6, 2016. The commemoration was to honor the four Marines killed in the attack at Marine Corps Air Station Ewa Dec. 7, 1941 during the attack on Pearl Harbor and Oahu. The U.S. military and the State of Hawaii are hosting a series of remembrance events to honor the courage and sacrifices of Pacific Theater veterans. - U.S. Marine Brig. Gen. Brian Cavanaugh, deputy commander, U.S. Marine Corps Forces, Pacific, salutes as a wreath is laid for fallen Marines at Barber's Point Golf Course in Kapolei, Hawaii, Dec. 6, 2016. The commemoration was to honor the four Marines killed in the attack at Marine Corps Air Station Ewa Dec. 7, 1941 during the attack on Pearl Harbor and Oahu. The U.S. military and the State of Hawaii are hosting a series of remembrance events to honor the courage and sacrifices of Pacific Theater veterans.

A U.S. Marine Corps F/A-18D Hornet with Marine All-Weather Fighter Attack Squadron 225 taxis down the flight line during exercise Cope West 17 at Sam Ratulangi International Airport, Indonesia, Nov. 10, 2016. This fighter-focused, bilateral exercise between the U.S. Marine Corps and Indonesian Air Force is designed to enhance the readiness of combined interoperability between the two nations. - A U.S. Marine Corps F/A-18D Hornet with Marine All-Weather Fighter Attack Squadron 225 taxis down the flight line during exercise Cope West 17 at Sam Ratulangi International Airport, Indonesia, Nov. 10, 2016. This fighter-focused, bilateral exercise between the U.S. Marine Corps and Indonesian Air Force is designed to enhance the readiness of combined interoperability between the two nations.

U.S. Marines and Japan Ground Self Defense Force members executed exercise Active Shield at Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, Japan, Nov. 9, 2016. Active Shield is an annual exercise designed to test the abilities of U.S. and Japanese forces to work alongside each other to protect and defend Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni and other U.S. assets in the region. - U.S. Marines and Japan Ground Self Defense Force members executed exercise Active Shield at Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, Japan, Nov. 9, 2016. Active Shield is an annual exercise designed to test the abilities of U.S. and Japanese forces to work alongside each other to protect and defend Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni and other U.S. assets in the region.

Multinational service members conduct a Search and Rescue demonstration during the opening ceremony for ASEAN Exercise 16-3 at 14th Military Circle Airfield, Chonburi Province, Thailand Sept. 5, 2016. AEX 16-3 is a small-scale humanitarian assistance and disaster relief exercise consisting of 18 nations and co-hosted by Thailand, Japan, Lao People’s Democratic Republic and the Russian Federation. It is the third iteration of the ASEAN Defense Ministers Meeting plus multinational exercise program in 2016. - Multinational service members conduct a Search and Rescue demonstration during the opening ceremony for ASEAN Exercise 16-3 at 14th Military Circle Airfield, Chonburi Province, Thailand Sept. 5, 2016. AEX 16-3 is a small-scale humanitarian assistance and disaster relief exercise consisting of 18 nations and co-hosted by Thailand, Japan, Lao People’s Democratic Republic and the Russian Federation. It is the third iteration of the ASEAN Defense Ministers Meeting plus multinational exercise program in 2016.

HAWAII (August 29, 2016) -- U.S. Marine Capt. Heather Gumpert, an administration officer with the 13th Marine Expeditionary Units renders honors to the USS Arizona memorial fromaboard the USS Boxer, Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickman Pier, August 29, 2016. The 13th MEU, embarked on the Boxer Amphibious Ready Group, is operating in the U.S. 3rd Fleet area of operations in support of security and stability in the Pacific region. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Alvin Pujols/RELEASED) - HAWAII (August 29, 2016) -- U.S. Marine Capt. Heather Gumpert, an administration officer with the 13th Marine Expeditionary Units renders honors to the USS Arizona memorial fromaboard the USS Boxer, Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickman Pier, August 29, 2016. The 13th MEU, embarked on the Boxer Amphibious Ready Group, is operating in the U.S. 3rd Fleet area of operations in support of security and stability in the Pacific region. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Alvin Pujols/RELEASED)