Pacific Marines Stories

U.S. Marine Corps Col. George J. Flynn, left, commanding officer of Marine Rotational Force – Darwin, I Marine Expeditionary Force, Philippine Marine Corps Brig. Gen. Bob R. Apostol, director of Exercise Directorate Headquarters, and PMC Col. Edwin Jospeh H. Olaer, assistant director of EDH, salute during the playing of the American national anthem as part of the KAMANDAG 10 opening ceremony on Fort Bonifacio, Philippines, June 15, 2026. - U.S. Marine Corps Col. George J. Flynn, left, commanding officer of Marine Rotational Force – Darwin, I Marine Expeditionary Force, Philippine Marine Corps Brig. Gen. Bob R. Apostol, director of Exercise Directorate Headquarters, and PMC Col. Edwin Jospeh H. Olaer, assistant director of EDH, salute during the playing of the American national anthem as part of the KAMANDAG 10 opening ceremony on Fort Bonifacio, Philippines, June 15, 2026. KD10 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. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Ryan Ramsammy)

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.

Lance Cpl. Ryo Bolanos, the youngest Marine and a forward observer with 1st Air Naval Gunfire Liaison Company ceremoniously receives cake from Chief Warrant Officer 4 Gordon Butler, oldest Marine and motor transport officer with Combat Logistics Regiment 15, from Greenbush, Minn., at the 238th Marine Corps birthday celebration during exercise Southern Katipo 2013 aboard Linton Military Camp, New Zealand, Nov. 10. SK13 is designed to improve participating forces’ combat training, readiness and interoperability as part of a Joint Inter-Agency Task Force. - Lance Cpl. Ryo Bolanos, the youngest Marine and a forward observer with 1st Air Naval Gunfire Liaison Company ceremoniously receives cake from Chief Warrant Officer 4 Gordon Butler, oldest Marine and motor transport officer with Combat Logistics Regiment 15, from Greenbush, Minn., at the 238th Marine Corps birthday celebration during exercise Southern Katipo 2013 aboard Linton Military Camp, New Zealand, Nov. 10. SK13 is designed to improve participating forces’ combat training, readiness and interoperability as part of a Joint Inter-Agency Task Force.

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.

Warrant Officer Class 1 Rodger Moana, senior weapons instructor with 1st Royal New Zealand Infantry Regiment, New Zealand Defence Force, from Palmerston North, New Zealand, gives a brief during the initial stages of exercise Southern Katipo 2013 at Linton Military Camp in Linton, New Zealand, Nov. 4. The purpose of SK13 strengthens military to military relationships and cooperation with partner nations and the New Zealand Defence Force. - Warrant Officer Class 1 Rodger Moana, senior weapons instructor with 1st Royal New Zealand Infantry Regiment, New Zealand Defence Force, from Palmerston North, New Zealand, gives a brief during the initial stages of exercise Southern Katipo 2013 at Linton Military Camp in Linton, New Zealand, Nov. 4. The purpose of SK13 strengthens military to military relationships and cooperation with partner nations and the New Zealand Defence Force.