Pacific Marines Stories

U.S. sailor Hospital Corpsman 1st Class Jose G. Esguerra poses for a photo with Philippine families from Maruglo Elementary School, at Crow Valley, Philippines, April 7, 2016. Esguerra is a dental technician with 3rd Dental Battalion, 11th Dental Regiment, currently attached to 3rd Medical Battalion, 3rd Marine Division, III Marine Expeditionary Force. Esguerra has been in the Navy for 17 years and for the first time, returned home to give back to his country. (U.S. Photo by Lance Cpl. Jessica N. Etheridge/Released) - U.S. sailor Hospital Corpsman 1st Class Jose G. Esguerra poses for a photo with Philippine families from Maruglo Elementary School, at Crow Valley, Philippines, April 7, 2016. Esguerra is a dental technician with 3rd Dental Battalion, 11th Dental Regiment, currently attached to 3rd Medical Battalion, 3rd Marine Division, III Marine Expeditionary Force. Esguerra has been in the Navy for 17 years and for the first time, returned home to give back to his country. (U.S. Photo by Lance Cpl. Jessica N. Etheridge/Released)

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.

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.