Pacific Marines Stories

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.

Japanese observers tour and examine a MV-22 Osprey during a noncombatant evacuation demonstration as part of exercise Cobra Gold 16 at Utapao, Thailand, February 17, 2016. U.S. Marines put an Osprey on static display during the demonstration while partner nations exercised their own evacuation capabilities. The Osprey provides a longer flight range and a bigger capacity for supplies compared to traditional helicopters, but allows service members to access smaller areas compared to traditional fixed-wing aircraft. Cobra Gold, in its 35th iteration, is a multi-national exercise designed to advance regional security and ensure effective responses to regional crises by bringing together a robust combined task force from partner nations sharing common goals and security commitments in the Asia-Pacific region. The Osprey is with Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron 262, Marine Aircraft Group 36, 1st Marine Aircraft Wing, III Marine Expeditionary Force. - Japanese observers tour and examine a MV-22 Osprey during a noncombatant evacuation demonstration as part of exercise Cobra Gold 16 at Utapao, Thailand, February 17, 2016. U.S. Marines put an Osprey on static display during the demonstration while partner nations exercised their own evacuation capabilities. The Osprey provides a longer flight range and a bigger capacity for supplies compared to traditional helicopters, but allows service members to access smaller areas compared to traditional fixed-wing aircraft. Cobra Gold, in its 35th iteration, is a multi-national exercise designed to advance regional security and ensure effective responses to regional crises by bringing together a robust combined task force from partner nations sharing common goals and security commitments in the Asia-Pacific region. The Osprey is with Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron 262, Marine Aircraft Group 36, 1st Marine Aircraft Wing, III Marine Expeditionary Force.

Lance Cpl. Ivan Trujillo, a scout with Weapons Company, 2nd Battalion, 3rd Marine Regiment, hikes up Ulupau Crater aboard Marine Corps Base Hawaii, April 8, 2015, before conducting high angle firing with his platoon. The Marines trained with high angle shooting, which is anything 30 degrees or greater between them and their target. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Sgt. Sarah Dietz) - Lance Cpl. Ivan Trujillo, a scout with Weapons Company, 2nd Battalion, 3rd Marine Regiment, hikes up Ulupau Crater aboard Marine Corps Base Hawaii, April 8, 2015, before conducting high angle firing with his platoon. The Marines trained with high angle shooting, which is anything 30 degrees or greater between them and their target. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Sgt. Sarah Dietz)

Lance Cpl. Isidro Johnsonsmith poses for a photo before being sprayed with oleoresin capsicum, left, and attempts to pose after, right, March 6 on Marine Corps Air Station Futenma, Okinawa. He and other Marines temporarily assigned to the security augment force for Marine Corps Installations Pacific- Marine Corps Base Camp Butler, Japan, were introduced to the visceral sensation of the irritant to understand its effects and how to operate if they were exposed while spraying an assailant. Johnsonsmith is a San Francisco, Calif., native and an aircraft mechanic with Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron 265, Marine Aircraft Group 36, 1st Marine Aircraft Wing, III Marine Expeditionary Force. - Lance Cpl. Isidro Johnsonsmith poses for a photo before being sprayed with oleoresin capsicum, left, and attempts to pose after, right, March 6 on Marine Corps Air Station Futenma, Okinawa. He and other Marines temporarily assigned to the security augment force for Marine Corps Installations Pacific- Marine Corps Base Camp Butler, Japan, were introduced to the visceral sensation of the irritant to understand its effects and how to operate if they were exposed while spraying an assailant. Johnsonsmith is a San Francisco, Calif., native and an aircraft mechanic with Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron 265, Marine Aircraft Group 36, 1st Marine Aircraft Wing, III Marine Expeditionary Force.

Gunnery Sgt. Matthew Bateman peers out the rear of a KC-130J Super Hercules aircraft Nov. 20, 2014 over Ie Shima Training Facility, off the northwest coast of Okinawa, Japan. Marines with 3rd Reconnaissance Battalion took part in parachute training, keeping them proficient and current with their jump qualifications. Bateman, from Gaithersburg, Maryland, is a reconnaissance man and jumpmaster with 3rd Recon Bn., 3rd Marine Division, III Marine Expeditionary Force. - Gunnery Sgt. Matthew Bateman peers out the rear of a KC-130J Super Hercules aircraft Nov. 20, 2014 over Ie Shima Training Facility, off the northwest coast of Okinawa, Japan. Marines with 3rd Reconnaissance Battalion took part in parachute training, keeping them proficient and current with their jump qualifications. Bateman, from Gaithersburg, Maryland, is a reconnaissance man and jumpmaster with 3rd Recon Bn., 3rd Marine Division, III Marine Expeditionary Force.

(From left) Kahu (Hawaiian minister) Curt Pa’alua Kekuna, Lloyd Arakaki, principal at Architects Hawaii, Ltd., Col. Brent S. Willson, commander of Headquarters and Service Battalion, U.S. Marine Corps Forces, Pacific, and Dave Ott, AMEC vice president, pray together during a blessing ceremony at the construction site of the new fitness center here July 18. The fitness center is expected to be open by August 2013. - (From left) Kahu (Hawaiian minister) Curt Pa’alua Kekuna, Lloyd Arakaki, principal at Architects Hawaii, Ltd., Col. Brent S. Willson, commander of Headquarters and Service Battalion, U.S. Marine Corps Forces, Pacific, and Dave Ott, AMEC vice president, pray together during a blessing ceremony at the construction site of the new fitness center here July 18. The fitness center is expected to be open by August 2013.

Marines and Sailors from Landing Force Company and Indonesian Marines from 6th Battalion, 2nd Brigade, Korps Marinir, make their way to martial arts training May 27. Landing Force Company, comprised primarily of Marines from 2nd Battalion, 23rd Marine Regiment and 4th Assault Amphibian Battalion, 4th Marine Division, is participating in Cooperation Afloat Readiness and Training (CARAT) 2011. CARAT is an annual series of bilateral exercises held between the U.S. and Southeast Asian nations with the goals of enhancing regional cooperation, promoting mutual trust and understanding, and increasing operational readiness. While in Indonesia, the service members from both nations will train together on martial arts, military operations on urban terrain, jungle warfare, combat marksmanship and combat lifesaving. (U.S. Marine Corps Photo by Cpl. Aaron Hostutler) - Marines and Sailors from Landing Force Company and Indonesian Marines from 6th Battalion, 2nd Brigade, Korps Marinir, make their way to martial arts training May 27. Landing Force Company, comprised primarily of Marines from 2nd Battalion, 23rd Marine Regiment and 4th Assault Amphibian Battalion, 4th Marine Division, is participating in Cooperation Afloat Readiness and Training (CARAT) 2011. CARAT is an annual series of bilateral exercises held between the U.S. and Southeast Asian nations with the goals of enhancing regional cooperation, promoting mutual trust and understanding, and increasing operational readiness. While in Indonesia, the service members from both nations will train together on martial arts, military operations on urban terrain, jungle warfare, combat marksmanship and combat lifesaving. (U.S. Marine Corps Photo by Cpl. Aaron Hostutler)

Pfc. Scott James demonstrates a kettle bell swing Sep. 4 at the U.S. Marine Corps Forces, Pacific, Headquarters building. The kettle bell swing is designed to prepare him for the Combat Fitness Test, which takes effect Oct. 1. James is an accounting manager for Customer Liaison Services, MarForPac. - Pfc. Scott James demonstrates a kettle bell swing Sep. 4 at the U.S. Marine Corps Forces, Pacific, Headquarters building. The kettle bell swing is designed to prepare him for the Combat Fitness Test, which takes effect Oct. 1. James is an accounting manager for Customer Liaison Services, MarForPac.