Pacific Marines Stories

U.S. Marine Corps Capt. Louis Collins, left, a company commander with 1st Battalion, 5th Marine Regiment, attached to Marine Rotational Force-Southeast Asia, I Marine Expeditionary Force, and Singapore Guardsman Lt. Col. Mohamad Fahrul Bin Saaid, the commanding officer for 3rd Battalion Singapore Guards, pose for a photo during the opening ceremony for Valiant Mark 25 on Bedok Camp, Singapore, March 17, 2025. Valiant Mark is an annual, bilateral training exercise designed to enhance interoperability, build mutual defense capabilities, and strengthen military-to-military relationships between the U.S. Marine Corps and Singapore Armed Forces. MRF-SEA is a rotational unit derived from elements of I MEF executing a U.S. Marine Corps Forces, Pacific operational model that involves training events and exchanges with partner military subject matter experts, promotes security goals with Allied and partner nations, and ensures a persistent I MEF stand-in presence west of the international date line. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Sgt. Shaina Jupiter) - U.S. Marine Corps Capt. Louis Collins, left, a company commander with 1st Battalion, 5th Marine Regiment, attached to Marine Rotational Force-Southeast Asia, I Marine Expeditionary Force, and Singapore Guardsman Lt. Col. Mohamad Fahrul Bin Saaid, the commanding officer for 3rd Battalion Singapore Guards, pose for a photo during the opening ceremony for Valiant Mark 25 on Bedok Camp, Singapore, March 17, 2025. Valiant Mark is an annual, bilateral training exercise designed to enhance interoperability, build mutual defense capabilities, and strengthen military-to-military relationships between the U.S. Marine Corps and Singapore Armed Forces. MRF-SEA is a rotational unit derived from elements of I MEF executing a U.S. Marine Corps Forces, Pacific operational model that involves training events and exchanges with partner military subject matter experts, promotes security goals with Allied and partner nations, and ensures a persistent I MEF stand-in presence west of the international date line. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Sgt. Shaina Jupiter)

U.S. and Japanese national flags are presented during the opening ceremony for the field training exercise portion of Resolute Dragon 23 held at Camp Kengun, Kumamoto, Japan, Oct. 14, 2023. - U.S. and Japanese national flags are presented during the opening ceremony for the field training exercise portion of Resolute Dragon 23 held at Camp Kengun, Kumamoto, Japan, Oct. 14, 2023. RD 23 is an annual bilateral exercise in Japan that strengthens the command, control, and multi-domain maneuver capabilities of Marines in III Marine Expeditionary Force and allied Japan Self-Defense Force personnel. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Staff Sgt. Robert G. Gavaldon)

U.S. Marines with Advanced Infantry Training Battalion, School of Infantry-West, Hawaii Detachment, engage simulated enemy during urban operations training, Marine Corps Training Area Bellows, July 11, 2023. The training was conducted as part of the Advanced Infantry Marine Course. AIMC is designed to enhance and test Marines’ skills with a focus on reinforcing proper patrols and operational procedures. - U.S. Marines with Advanced Infantry Training Battalion, School of Infantry-West, Hawaii Detachment, engage simulated enemy during urban operations training, Marine Corps Training Area Bellows, July 11, 2023. The training was conducted as part of the Advanced Infantry Marine Course. AIMC is designed to enhance and test Marines’ skills with a focus on reinforcing proper patrols and operational procedures.

U.S. Marines with Marine Fighter Attack Squadron (VMFA) 314, Marine Aircraft Group 11, 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing, work together with Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) aviators with RAAF No. 3 Squadron, at RAAF Base Williamtown, New South Wales, Australia, June-July, 2023. This is part of unit-level and bilateral training events designed to enhance U.S.-Australian relationships and further develop and sustain capabilities in the Indo-Pacific Region. - U.S. Marines with Marine Fighter Attack Squadron (VMFA) 314, Marine Aircraft Group 11, 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing, work together with Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) aviators with RAAF No. 3 Squadron, at RAAF Base Williamtown, New South Wales, Australia, June-July, 2023. This is part of unit-level and bilateral training events designed to enhance U.S.-Australian relationships and further develop and sustain capabilities in the Indo-Pacific Region.

U.S. Marine Corps Cpl. Alan Martinezbenegas, a satellite transmissions system operator with 7th Communication Battalion, III Marine Expeditionary Force Information Group, monitors network status during Exercise Vanguard on Camp Hansen, Okinawa, Japan, June 8, 2023. III MIG functions as the vanguard of III MEF, operating in the Indo-Pacific regions information environment, and supports Marine Air Ground Task Force operations with communications, intelligence, and supporting arms liaison capabilities. - U.S. Marine Corps Cpl. Alan Martinezbenegas, a satellite transmissions system operator with 7th Communication Battalion, III Marine Expeditionary Force Information Group, monitors network status during Exercise Vanguard on Camp Hansen, Okinawa, Japan, June 8, 2023. III MIG functions as the vanguard of III MEF, operating in the Indo-Pacific regions information environment, and supports Marine Air Ground Task Force operations with communications, intelligence, and supporting arms liaison capabilities.

U.S. Marines assigned to Combat Logistics Battalion 15, Combat Logistics Regiment 17, 1st Marine Logistics Group, hook a Polaris MRZR, an ultra-light turbo diesel combat vehicle, beneath a CH-53E Super Stallion attached to Marine Heavy Helicopter Squadron (HMH) 361, Marine Aircraft Group 16, 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing, during external lift operations with a helicopter support team at Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, California, May 9, 2023. CLB-15 and HMH-361 worked together to test an innovative lift method utilizing wheel nets to inform publication and standard operating procedure development for the Marine Corps. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Aidan Hekker) - U.S. Marines assigned to Combat Logistics Battalion 15, Combat Logistics Regiment 17, 1st Marine Logistics Group, hook a Polaris MRZR, an ultra-light turbo diesel combat vehicle, beneath a CH-53E Super Stallion attached to Marine Heavy Helicopter Squadron (HMH) 361, Marine Aircraft Group 16, 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing, during external lift operations with a helicopter support team at Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, California, May 9, 2023. CLB-15 and HMH-361 worked together to test an innovative lift method utilizing wheel nets to inform publication and standard operating procedure development for the Marine Corps. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Aidan Hekker)

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.

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.

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)

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.