Pacific Marines Stories

U.S. Navy Seaman Tristian Flowers, left, a builder constructionman with Airfield Construction Company Bravo, Naval Mobile Construction Group 5, Naval Construction Force, and U.S. Marine Corps Lance Cpl. Jose Rodriguez, a combat engineer with Marine Wing Support Squadron 372, Marine Air Control Group 38, 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing, rake concrete during Operation Resilient Spear at Vandenberg Space Force Base, California, Aug. 8, 2025. Operation Resilient Spear is an opportunity for Marines with MWSS-372 to integrate and train with NMCB-5 through Base Recovery After Attack and Airfield Damage Repair Training to increase interoperability between Marine Corps engineers and Navy Seabees. Flowers is a native of New York, and Rodriguez is a native of California. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Alexander Vaughn) - U.S. Navy Seaman Tristian Flowers, left, a builder constructionman with Airfield Construction Company Bravo, Naval Mobile Construction Group 5, Naval Construction Force, and U.S. Marine Corps Lance Cpl. Jose Rodriguez, a combat engineer with Marine Wing Support Squadron 372, Marine Air Control Group 38, 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing, rake concrete during Operation Resilient Spear at Vandenberg Space Force Base, California, Aug. 8, 2025. Operation Resilient Spear is an opportunity for Marines with MWSS-372 to integrate and train with NMCB-5 through Base Recovery After Attack and Airfield Damage Repair Training to increase interoperability between Marine Corps engineers and Navy Seabees. Flowers is a native of New York, and Rodriguez is a native of California. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Alexander Vaughn)

Cpl. Thomas Cornwall, military policeman with 1st Law Enforcement Battalion, from Ventura, Calif., and other members of a personal protection team receive a safety brief prior to a familiarization shooting range with the Individual Weapon (IW) Steyr assault rifle during the initial stages of exercise Southern Katipo 2013 at Waiouru Military Camp, New Zealand, Nov. 7. SK13 increases the ability of all participants to coordinate in complex situations. - Cpl. Thomas Cornwall, military policeman with 1st Law Enforcement Battalion, from Ventura, Calif., and other members of a personal protection team receive a safety brief prior to a familiarization shooting range with the Individual Weapon (IW) Steyr assault rifle during the initial stages of exercise Southern Katipo 2013 at Waiouru Military Camp, New Zealand, Nov. 7. SK13 increases the ability of all participants to coordinate in complex situations.

Pvt. Jonathan Sorensen, sapper with 2 Field Squadron Royal Engineers, from Christchurch, New Zealand, looks through his optic to identify hidden improvised explosive devices at combat hunter training during the initial stages of exercise Southern Katipo 2013 aboard Waiouru Military Camp, New Zealand, Nov. 9. SK13 allows service members to collaborate with partner countries to achieve mutual security goals, address shared concerns and continue to enhance our interoperability. - Pvt. Jonathan Sorensen, sapper with 2 Field Squadron Royal Engineers, from Christchurch, New Zealand, looks through his optic to identify hidden improvised explosive devices at combat hunter training during the initial stages of exercise Southern Katipo 2013 aboard Waiouru Military Camp, New Zealand, Nov. 9. SK13 allows service members to collaborate with partner countries to achieve mutual security goals, address shared concerns and continue to enhance our interoperability.

Master Sgt. Antoine Robinson hugs Mary, a 9-year old Shepherd of the Hills Children’s Foundation resident, during a community relations project. Robinson was among 40 other volunteers participating in the project coordinated by the Combined Joint Civil Military Operations Task Force chaplain. The children’s home was founded in 1976 after a typhoon displaced the foundation’s first 20 children. The foundation is dedicated to providing a caring home for abandoned, neglected, abused or underprivileged children. The event was one of several scheduled by CJCMOTF units in support of Exercise Balikatan 2013. Balikatan is an annual Republic of the Philippines – U.S. military bilateral training exercise and humanitarian assistance engagement. - Master Sgt. Antoine Robinson hugs Mary, a 9-year old Shepherd of the Hills Children’s Foundation resident, during a community relations project. Robinson was among 40 other volunteers participating in the project coordinated by the Combined Joint Civil Military Operations Task Force chaplain. The children’s home was founded in 1976 after a typhoon displaced the foundation’s first 20 children. The foundation is dedicated to providing a caring home for abandoned, neglected, abused or underprivileged children. The event was one of several scheduled by CJCMOTF units in support of Exercise Balikatan 2013. Balikatan is an annual Republic of the Philippines – U.S. military bilateral training exercise and humanitarian assistance engagement.