Pacific Marines Stories

U.S. Marine Corps Col. Chris Niedziocha, the commanding officer of the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit, and 31st MEU staff embark the light amphibious assault ship USS Tripoli (LHA 7) at White Beach Naval Facility, Okinawa, Japan, Oct. 26, 2025. The embarkation was an opportunity for the 31st MEU to integrate with their U.S. Navy counterparts aboard the USS Tripoli. The 31st MEU, the Marine Corps’ only continuously forward deployed MEU, provides a flexible and lethal force, ready to perform a wide range of military operations as the premiere crisis response force in the Indo-Pacific region. (U.S. Marine Corps Photo by Lance Cpl. Trevor BishopWilliams) - U.S. Marine Corps Col. Chris Niedziocha, the commanding officer of the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit, and 31st MEU staff embark the light amphibious assault ship USS Tripoli (LHA 7) at White Beach Naval Facility, Okinawa, Japan, Oct. 26, 2025. The embarkation was an opportunity for the 31st MEU to integrate with their U.S. Navy counterparts aboard the USS Tripoli. The 31st MEU, the Marine Corps’ only continuously forward deployed MEU, provides a flexible and lethal force, ready to perform a wide range of military operations as the premiere crisis response force in the Indo-Pacific region. (U.S. Marine Corps Photo by Lance Cpl. Trevor BishopWilliams)

U.S. Marines with Charlie Company, Battalion Landing Team 1st Battalion, 7th Marine Regiment, 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit, exit from a U.S. Marine Corps Amphibious Combat Vehicle assigned to Charlie Company, BLT 1/7, 31st MEU, during a simulated force-on-force mechanized raid at Combat Town, Camp Hansen, Okinawa, Japan, April 24, 2025. The purpose of the exercise was to create a challenging, realistic training environment with the integration of the newly fielded ACV that produces combat-ready forces in urban terrain. The 31st MEU, the Marine Corps’ only continuously forward-deployed MEU, provides a flexible and lethal force, ready to perform a wide range of military operations as the premiere crisis response force in the Indo-Pacific region. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Angel Diaz Montes De Oca) - U.S. Marines with Charlie Company, Battalion Landing Team 1st Battalion, 7th Marine Regiment, 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit, exit from a U.S. Marine Corps Amphibious Combat Vehicle assigned to Charlie Company, BLT 1/7, 31st MEU, during a simulated force-on-force mechanized raid at Combat Town, Camp Hansen, Okinawa, Japan, April 24, 2025. The purpose of the exercise was to create a challenging, realistic training environment with the integration of the newly fielded ACV that produces combat-ready forces in urban terrain. The 31st MEU, the Marine Corps’ only continuously forward-deployed MEU, provides a flexible and lethal force, ready to perform a wide range of military operations as the premiere crisis response force in the Indo-Pacific region. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Angel Diaz Montes De Oca)

U.S. Marines with Echo Company, 2nd Battalion, 1st Marine Regiment, Marine Rotational Force – Darwin 25.3 and Armed Forces of the Philippines service members disembark a Philippine Naval vessel during an amphibious assault demonstration as part of Marine Exercise 2025 near Cotabato City, Mindanao, Philippines, April 9, 2025. - U.S. Marines with Echo Company, 2nd Battalion, 1st Marine Regiment, Marine Rotational Force – Darwin 25.3 and Armed Forces of the Philippines service members disembark a Philippine Naval vessel during an amphibious assault demonstration as part of Marine Exercise 2025 near Cotabato City, Mindanao, Philippines, April 9, 2025. MAREX 2025 is a bilateral exercise between the U.S. Marine Corps and the Philippine Marine Corps designed to further enhance relationships, interoperability, and combined arms capabilities in a realistic training environment. MRF-D 25.3 is part of an annual six-month rotational deployment to enhance interoperability with the Australian Defence Force and Allies and partners and provide a forward-postured crisis response force in the Indo-Pacific. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Sgt. Ezekieljay Correa)

U.S. Marines with U.S. Marine Corps Forces, Pacific and soldiers with the Singapore Army pose for a group photo during the MARFORPAC - Singapore Army Staff Talks at the Ministry of Defense, Singapore, Oct. 8, 2024. The four-day talks established a forum to improve coordination of bilateral exercises and operations while discussing areas of interest throughout the Indo-Pacific. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Roger-Junior Annoh) - U.S. Marines with U.S. Marine Corps Forces, Pacific and soldiers with the Singapore Army pose for a group photo during the MARFORPAC - Singapore Army Staff Talks at the Ministry of Defense, Singapore, Oct. 8, 2024. The four-day talks established a forum to improve coordination of bilateral exercises and operations while discussing areas of interest throughout the Indo-Pacific. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Roger-Junior Annoh)

A U.S. Marine Corps F-35B Lightning II aircraft with Marine Fighter Attack Squadron (VMFA) 214, Marine Aircraft Group 13, 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing, receives fuel from a KC-30A Multi-Role Tanker Transport aircraft with No. 33 Squadron, Royal Australian Air Force, over the Pacific Ocean, while flying from Camp Blaz, Guam, to RAAF Base Tindal, Australia, May 19, 2024. VMFA-214 deployed more than 200 Marines and eight F-35B Lightning II aircraft from Marine Corps Air Station Yuma, Arizona, to RAAF Base Tindal, Australia, to conduct bilateral training with the RAAF No. 3 Squadron and No. 75 Squadron. As part of I Marine Expeditionary Force, 3rd MAW persistently trains in the Indo-Pacific, maintaining a forward presence and enduring commitment to our allies and partners in the region. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Nicholas Johnson) - A U.S. Marine Corps F-35B Lightning II aircraft with Marine Fighter Attack Squadron (VMFA) 214, Marine Aircraft Group 13, 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing, receives fuel from a KC-30A Multi-Role Tanker Transport aircraft with No. 33 Squadron, Royal Australian Air Force, over the Pacific Ocean, while flying from Camp Blaz, Guam, to RAAF Base Tindal, Australia, May 19, 2024. VMFA-214 deployed more than 200 Marines and eight F-35B Lightning II aircraft from Marine Corps Air Station Yuma, Arizona, to RAAF Base Tindal, Australia, to conduct bilateral training with RAAF No. 3 Squadron and No. 75 Squadron. As part of I Marine Expeditionary Force, 3rd MAW persistently trains in the Indo-Pacific, maintaining a forward presence and enduring commitment to our allies and partners in the region. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Nicholas Johnson)

A U.S. Marines Corps AN/TPS-80 Ground/Air Task Oriented Radar with 3d Littoral Anti-Air Battalion, 3d Marine Littoral Regiment, 3d Marine Division, senses the battlespace during Force Design Integration Exercise on Dillingham Airfield, Hawaii, Sept. 27, 2023. Force Design Integration Exercise demonstrates the current capabilities of 3d MLR as an effective part of the Stand-In Force Integration with our Pacific Marines and Joint counterparts. Through the demonstration of Force Design 2030-enabled capabilities, 3d MLR showcases the implementation of technology, doctrine, and policy initiatives to allow the SiF to sense and make sense of potential adversaries, seize and hold key maritime terrain, and conduct reconnaissance and counter-reconnaissance. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Sgt. Jacqueline C. Parsons) - A U.S. Marines Corps AN/TPS-80 Ground/Air Task Oriented Radar with 3d Littoral Anti-Air Battalion, 3d Marine Littoral Regiment, 3d Marine Division, senses the battlespace during Force Design Integration Exercise on Dillingham Airfield, Hawaii, Sept. 27, 2023. Force Design Integration Exercise demonstrates the current capabilities of 3d MLR as an effective part of the Stand-In Force Integration with our Pacific Marines and Joint counterparts. Through the demonstration of Force Design 2030-enabled capabilities, 3d MLR showcases the implementation of technology, doctrine, and policy initiatives to allow the SiF to sense and make sense of potential adversaries, seize and hold key maritime terrain, and conduct reconnaissance and counter-reconnaissance. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Sgt. Jacqueline C. Parsons)

Philippine Marines assigned to the 3rd Marine Brigade and U.S. Marines from across the 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing, I Marine Expeditionary Force, share laughs positioning for a photo following the opening ceremony for Marine Aviation Support Activity 23 at Camp Rodolfo Punsalang, Palawan, Philippines, July 6, 2023. MASA is a bilateral exercise between the Armed Forces of the Philippines and the U.S. Marine Corps, aimed at enhancing interoperability and coordination focused on aviation-related capabilities. During MASA 23, Filipino and U.S. Marines conduct approximately twenty different training evolutions, including live-fire, air assaults, and subject matter expert exchanges across aviation, ground, and logistics capabilities. - Philippine Marines assigned to the 3rd Marine Brigade and U.S. Marines from across the 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing, I Marine Expeditionary Force, share laughs positioning for a photo following the opening ceremony for Marine Aviation Support Activity 23 at Camp Rodolfo Punsalang, Palawan, Philippines, July 6, 2023. MASA is a bilateral exercise between the Armed Forces of the Philippines and the U.S. Marine Corps, aimed at enhancing interoperability and coordination focused on aviation-related capabilities. During MASA 23, Filipino and U.S. Marines conduct approximately twenty different training evolutions, including live-fire, air assaults, and subject matter expert exchanges across aviation, ground, and logistics capabilities.

Sgt. Greg Wubben, a civil affairs non-commissioned officer with 1st Civil Affairs Group, I Marine Expeditionary Force, from Ridgefield, Wash., waits for a familiarization brief on New Zealand helicopters during the initial stages of exercise Southern Katipo 2013 aboard Linton Military Camp, New Zealand, Nov. 4. SK13 is designed to improve participating forces’ combat training, readiness and interoperability as part of a Joint Inter-Agency Task Force. - Sgt. Greg Wubben, a civil affairs non-commissioned officer with 1st Civil Affairs Group, I Marine Expeditionary Force, from Ridgefield, Wash., waits for a familiarization brief on New Zealand helicopters during the initial stages of exercise Southern Katipo 2013 aboard Linton Military Camp, New Zealand, Nov. 4. SK13 is designed to improve participating forces’ combat training, readiness and interoperability as part of a Joint Inter-Agency Task Force.

Capt. Gareth Collings, logistics advisor with 2 Engineer Regiment, from New Plymouth, New Zealand, gives a tactical movement brief during Phase I of exercise Southern Katipo 2013 aboard Timaru, New Zealand, Nov. 12. SK13 strengthens military to military relationships and cooperation with partner nations and the New Zealand Defence Force. - Capt. Gareth Collings, logistics advisor with 2 Engineer Regiment, from New Plymouth, New Zealand, gives a tactical movement brief during Phase I of exercise Southern Katipo 2013 aboard Timaru, New Zealand, Nov. 12. SK13 strengthens military to military relationships and cooperation with partner nations and the New Zealand Defence Force.

Wing Commander Darryl Cockroft, commanding officer of 209 Expeditionary Support Squadron, from Napier, New Zealand, talks to Dr. Jonathan Coleman, New Zealand Minister of Defence, during exercise Southern Katipo 2013 at Timaru Airfield, New Zealand, Nov. 15. SK13 allows our service members to collaborate with partner countries to achieve mutual security goals, address shared concerns and continue to enhance our interoperability. - Wing Commander Darryl Cockroft, commanding officer of 209 Expeditionary Support Squadron, from Napier, New Zealand, talks to Dr. Jonathan Coleman, New Zealand Minister of Defence, during exercise Southern Katipo 2013 at Timaru Airfield, New Zealand, Nov. 15. SK13 allows our service members to collaborate with partner countries to achieve mutual security goals, address shared concerns and continue to enhance our interoperability.