Pacific Marines Stories

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 assigned to 3rd Low Altitude Air Defense Battalion, 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing and Marine Aviation Weapons and Tactics Squadron One, load a Light Marine Air Defense Integrated System into a CH-53E Super Stallion aircraft during a ground-based air defense exercise as part of Weapons and Tactics Instructor course 1-25 at Tacts Airfield near Wellton, Arizona, Oct. 10, 2024. WTI is a seven-week training event hosted by MAWTS-1 which emphasizes operational integration of the six functions of Marine aviation in support of the Marine Air Ground Task Force, Joint and Coalition Forces. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Micah Thompson) - U.S. Marines assigned to 3rd Low Altitude Air Defense Battalion, 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing and Marine Aviation Weapons and Tactics Squadron One, load a Light Marine Air Defense Integrated System into a CH-53E Super Stallion aircraft during a ground-based air defense exercise as part of Weapons and Tactics Instructor course 1-25 at Tacts Airfield near Wellton, Arizona, Oct. 10, 2024. WTI is a seven-week training event hosted by MAWTS-1 which emphasizes operational integration of the six functions of Marine aviation in support of the Marine Air Ground Task Force, Joint and Coalition Forces. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Micah Thompson)

U.S. Marines with 1st Light Armored Reconnaissance Battalion, 1st Marine Division, salute Maj. Gen. Benjamin T. Watson, the commanding general for 1st MARDIV, after being awarded for winning the 2023 Bushmaster Challenge during the division’s morning colors ceremony at Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, California, June 2, 2023. The division holds the ceremony every quarter to recognize Marines and Sailors for outstanding performance. - U.S. Marines with 1st Light Armored Reconnaissance Battalion, 1st Marine Division, salute Maj. Gen. Benjamin T. Watson, the commanding general for 1st MARDIV, after being awarded for winning the 2023 Bushmaster Challenge during the division’s morning colors ceremony at Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, California, June 2, 2023. The division holds the ceremony every quarter to recognize Marines and Sailors for outstanding performance.

U.S. Marines from 3D Marine Expeditionary Brigade, III Marine Expeditionary Force, offloaded a High Mobility Multipurpose Wheeled Vehicle pier-side from the USNS 1st Lt. Jack Lummus, March 21, during annual exercise Freedom Banner 2013 Maritime Prepositioning Force offload in Subic Bay, Republic of the Philippines. More than 270 Marine Corps tactical vehicles and amphibious assault vehicles were offloaded in support of FB13 and Balikatan 2013, an annual bilateral exercise that takes place in the Philippines. The MPF program supports global positioning of Marine Air-Ground Task Force and naval equipment and supplies in response to a range of military operations from the quick and rapid buildup of combat power to humanitarian assistance and disaster relief. - U.S. Marines from 3D Marine Expeditionary Brigade, III Marine Expeditionary Force, offloaded a High Mobility Multipurpose Wheeled Vehicle pier-side from the USNS 1st Lt. Jack Lummus, March 21, during annual exercise Freedom Banner 2013 Maritime Prepositioning Force offload in Subic Bay, Republic of the Philippines. More than 270 Marine Corps tactical vehicles and amphibious assault vehicles were offloaded in support of FB13 and Balikatan 2013, an annual bilateral exercise that takes place in the Philippines. The MPF program supports global positioning of Marine Air-Ground Task Force and naval equipment and supplies in response to a range of military operations from the quick and rapid buildup of combat power to humanitarian assistance and disaster relief.

(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.