Pacific Marines Stories

U.S. Marine Corps Lance Cpl. Nathaniel T. Gutierrez, a radio operator with 3rd Littoral Combat Team, 3rd Marine Littoral Regiment, 3rd Marine Division, takes notes while observing a Neros Archer live-fire range as part of KAMANDAG 10 at Fort Magsaysay, Nueva Ecija, Philippines, June 15, 2026. - U.S. Marine Corps Lance Cpl. Nathaniel T. Gutierrez, a radio operator with 3rd Littoral Combat Team, 3rd Marine Littoral Regiment, 3rd Marine Division, takes notes while observing a Neros Archer live-fire range as part of KAMANDAG 10 at Fort Magsaysay, Nueva Ecija, Philippines, June 15, 2026. The live-fire event enabled U.S. Marines and Philippine Marine Corps personnel to integrate unmanned aerial systems, communications and reconnaissance capabilities in a realistic operational environment. KAMANDAG 10 is a multi-domain, joint, and combined exercise between the Armed Forces of the Philippines and United States military focused on enhancing maritime security, interoperability, contested logistics, and combined readiness throughout the Philippine archipelago. Gutierrez is from Nevada. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Staff Sgt. Ryan Hageali)

3rd Marine Littoral Regiment, Philippine marines conduct a live-fire one-way attack drone range during KAMANDAG 10

PHILIPPINES — In a significant milestone for 3rd Marine Littoral Regiment, U.S. Marines with 3rd Littoral Combat Team conducted a live-fire range employing armed first-person view-controlled systems in the Philippines during Exercise KAMANDAG 10, June 14-15, 2026. Coordinated alongside marines with the Philippine Marine Corps, the training evolution at Fort Magsaysay successfully demonstrated emergent attack drone concepts in a challenging jungle environment.

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A Japan Ground Self-Defense Force Type 88 Surface-to-Ship Missile System assigned to 1st Artillery Brigade, fires while positioned next to a Navy-Marine Expeditionary Ship Interdiction System and Marine Air-Defense Integrated System, both with 3rd Marine Littoral Regiment, 3rd Marine Division, at a joint task force maritime strike event during Exercise Balikatan 2026 at Paoay Sand Dunes, Philippines, May 6, 2026. - A Japan Ground Self-Defense Force Type 88 Surface-to-Ship Missile System assigned to 1st Artillery Brigade, fires while positioned next to a Navy-Marine Expeditionary Ship Interdiction System and Marine Air-Defense Integrated System, both with 3rd Marine Littoral Regiment, 3rd Marine Division, at a joint task force maritime strike event during Exercise Balikatan 2026 at Paoay Sand Dunes, Philippines, May 6, 2026. Balikatan is a longstanding annual exercise between the Armed Forces of the Philippines and U.S. military that represents the strength of our alliance, improves our capable combined force, and demonstrates our commitment to regional peace and prosperity. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Sgt. Jonathan Beauchamp)

3rd MLR Serves as Mission Commander for Combined, Joint Maritime Strike

In a powerful demonstration of allied interoperability, 3rd Marine Littoral Regiment served as the mission commander for a complex, live-fire maritime strike, as a culminating event during Exercise Balikatan 2026, integrating Philippine, U.S., and Japanese strike capabilities. The operation showcased the Hawaii-based regiment's ability to seamlessly connect a vast network of combined and joint partners, orchestrating precise, layered maritime firepower.

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3d LAAB's Inaugural MADIS Live-Fire - A Marine Air Defense Integrated System Mk 1 fires upon a small unmanned aircraft system during a training exercise at Pohakuloa Training Area, Hawaii, Jan. 25, 2025. A key component of the Marine Corps’ Force Design initiative, the mobile MADIS increases 3d Marine Littoral Regiment’s tactical flexibility by extending the range of the airspace which 3d MLR is able to sense and defend without support from the Joint Force. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Sgt. Jacqueline C. Parsons)

3d LAAB's Inaugural MADIS Live-Fire

A key component of the Marine Corps’ Force Design initiative, the mobile MADIS, increases 3d Marine Littoral Regiment’s tactical flexibility by extending the range of the airspace which 3d MLR is able to sense and defend without support from the Joint Force.

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Philippine Marines with Marine Battalion Landing Teams 8 and 10 teach U.S. Marine Corps Lance Cpl. Logan Evans, an infantry rifleman with 3d Littoral Combat Team, Marine Littoral Regiment, 3d Marine Division, how to use winding vines as twine during a jungle shelter class during KAMANDAG 7 at Paredes Air Station, Philippines, Nov. 10, 2023. KAMANDAG is an annual Philippine Marine Corps and U.S. Marine Corps-led exercise aimed at improving multinational readiness, relationships, and mutual capabilities in the advancement of a Free and Open Indo-Pacific. This year marks the seventh iteration of this exercise and includes participants from Japan, the Republic of Korea, and observers from the United Kingdom. Evans is a native of Huntley, Ill. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Sgt. Jacqueline C. Parsons) - Philippine Marines with Marine Battalion Landing Teams 8 and 10 teach U.S. Marine Corps Lance Cpl. Logan Evans, an infantry rifleman with 3d Littoral Combat Team, Marine Littoral Regiment, 3d Marine Division, how to use winding vines as twine during a jungle shelter class during KAMANDAG 7 at Paredes Air Station, Philippines, Nov. 10, 2023. KAMANDAG is an annual Philippine Marine Corps and U.S. Marine Corps-led exercise aimed at improving multinational readiness, relationships, and mutual capabilities in the advancement of a Free and Open Indo-Pacific. This year marks the seventh iteration of this exercise and includes participants from Japan, the Republic of Korea, and observers from the United Kingdom. Evans is a native of Huntley, Ill. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Sgt. Jacqueline C. Parsons)

3d Marine Littoral Regiment Concludes KAMANDAG 7

Northern Luzon, Philippines- 3d Marine Littoral Regiment demonstrated its readiness and ability to establish a forward presence during exercise KAMANDAG 7. From Nov. 9-17, 3d MLR conducted Stand-in-Force operations alongside the Philippine Marine Corps’ 4th Marine Brigade and Coastal Defense Regiment, the Japan Self-Defense Force, and service members from the United Kingdom in multiple training locations spread across Northern Luzon. KAMANDAG is an annual Philippine Marine Corps and U.S. Marine Corps-led exercise aimed at improving multinational readiness, relationships, and mutual capabilities in the advancement of a Free and Open Indo-Pacific. This year marks the seventh iteration of the exercise and includes participants from Japan, the Republic of Korea, and observers from the United Kingdom.

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