News Stories Archive

U.S. Marines with 3rd Battalion, 2nd Marines, secure a landing zone during Counter Assault Exercise on Okinawa, Japan, May 11, 2022. During this force-on-force exercise, an infantry company with 3/2 rapidly deployed into the double-canopy jungles of the Northern Training Area to defend against an assault from another infantry company with 1st Battalion, 3rd Marines. This exercise was designed to increase 3rd Marine Division’s ability to seize and defend key maritime terrain, such as islands or coastal areas, and conduct Expeditionary Advanced Base Operations in the western Pacific. 3/2 is deployed under 4th Marines, 3rd Marine Division as part of the Unit Deployment Program. - U.S. Marines with 3rd Battalion, 2nd Marines, secure a landing zone during Counter Assault Exercise on Okinawa, Japan, May 11, 2022. During this force-on-force exercise, an infantry company with 3/2 rapidly deployed into the double-canopy jungles of the Northern Training Area to defend against an assault from another infantry company with 1st Battalion, 3rd Marines. This exercise was designed to increase 3rd Marine Division’s ability to seize and defend key maritime terrain, such as islands or coastal areas, and conduct Expeditionary Advanced Base Operations in the western Pacific. 3/2 is deployed under 4th Marines, 3rd Marine Division as part of the Unit Deployment Program.

U.S. Marine Corps Capt. David Noble, company commander, Communications Company, 3d Marines, 3d Marine Division, gives remarks during an activation ceremony on Marine Corps Base Hawaii, Feb. 24, 2022. The Communications Company will serve as a critical enabler to the future 3d Marine Littoral Regiment, capable of integrating with the Joint Force, and will provide command and control capabilities to Marines distributed across wide areas of the Indo-Pacific region. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Sgt. Melanye Martinez) - U.S. Marine Corps Capt. David Noble, company commander, Communications Company, 3d Marines, 3d Marine Division, gives remarks during an activation ceremony on Marine Corps Base Hawaii, Feb. 24, 2022. The Communications Company will serve as a critical enabler to the future 3d Marine Littoral Regiment, capable of integrating with the Joint Force, and will provide command and control capabilities to Marines distributed across wide areas of the Indo-Pacific region. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Sgt. Melanye Martinez)

U.S. Marine Corps AH-1Z Viper and UH-1Y Venom with Marine Light Attack Helicopter Squadron 267, Marine Aircraft Group 16, 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing, fly over a U.S. Navy Submarine during Advanced Naval Basing evolution of Summer Fury 21 at San Clemente, California, July 20, 2021. Advanced Naval Basing offering forward logistics and support, as well as sensor and strike capabilities that make a significant contribution to undersea warfare campaigns in the Indo-Pacific region. Summer Fury is an exercise conducted by 3rd MAW in order to maintain and build capability, strength and trust within its units to generate the readiness and lethality needed to deter and defeat adversaries during combat operations as the U.S. Marine Corps refines tactics and equipment in accordance with Force Design 2030. - U.S. Marine Corps AH-1Z Viper and UH-1Y Venom with Marine Light Attack Helicopter Squadron 267, Marine Aircraft Group 16, 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing, fly over a U.S. Navy Submarine during Advanced Naval Basing evolution of Summer Fury 21 at San Clemente, California, July 20, 2021. Advanced Naval Basing offering forward logistics and support, as well as sensor and strike capabilities that make a significant contribution to undersea warfare campaigns in the Indo-Pacific region. Summer Fury is an exercise conducted by 3rd MAW in order to maintain and build capability, strength and trust within its units to generate the readiness and lethality needed to deter and defeat adversaries during combat operations as the U.S. Marine Corps refines tactics and equipment in accordance with Force Design 2030.

Australian Army Engineer Tyson Buckley and U.S. Marine Corps Lance Cpl. Deitrick McMahon, a combat engineer with Combat Logistics Battalion 7, Marine Rotational Force – Darwin, build a barbed wire fence during exercise Crocodile Response at Point Fawcett, NT, Australia, May 25, 2021. Exercise Crocodile Response tested the ability of MRF-D and the Australian Defence Force to provide disaster relief in the Indo-Pacific region. The rotational deployment of U.S. Marines affords a combined training opportunity with Australia and improves cooperation and integration between the two country’s forces. - Australian Army Engineer Tyson Buckley and U.S. Marine Corps Lance Cpl. Deitrick McMahon, a combat engineer with Combat Logistics Battalion 7, Marine Rotational Force – Darwin, build a barbed wire fence during exercise Crocodile Response at Point Fawcett, NT, Australia, May 25, 2021. Exercise Crocodile Response tested the ability of MRF-D and the Australian Defence Force to provide disaster relief in the Indo-Pacific region. The rotational deployment of U.S. Marines affords a combined training opportunity with Australia and improves cooperation and integration between the two country’s forces.

Lance Cpl. Nathan M. Sorenson, a data systems administrator with Command Element, 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit, and a native of Ubly, Michigan, tests the connectivity of the Networking On-the-Move Airborne communications system during flight operations from the amphibious assault ship, USS America (LHA 6), Sept. 22, 2020. The NOTM-A provides the mission commander the ability to command and control forces on the ground while flying above the battlefield. America, flagship of Expeditionary Strike Group 7, along with the 31st MEU, is operating in the 7th fleet area of operations to enhance interoperability with allies and partners and serve as a ready response force to defend peace and stability in the Indo-Pacific region. - Lance Cpl. Nathan M. Sorenson, a data systems administrator with Command Element, 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit, and a native of Ubly, Michigan, tests the connectivity of the Networking On-the-Move Airborne communications system during flight operations from the amphibious assault ship, USS America (LHA 6), Sept. 22, 2020. The NOTM-A provides the mission commander the ability to command and control forces on the ground while flying above the battlefield. America, flagship of Expeditionary Strike Group 7, along with the 31st MEU, is operating in the 7th fleet area of operations to enhance interoperability with allies and partners and serve as a ready response force to defend peace and stability in the Indo-Pacific region.

U.S. Marine Corps F-35B Lightning IIs assigned to Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron 164 (Reinforced), 15th Marine Expeditionary Unit, land on the flight deck of the amphibious assault ship USS Makin Island (LHD 8). The Makin Island Amphibious Ready Group and embarked 15th MEU are operating in the U.S. 7th Fleet area of operations to enhance interoperability with allies and partners and serve as a ready response force to defend peace and stability in the Indo-Pacific region. - U.S. Marine Corps F-35B Lightning IIs assigned to Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron 164 (Reinforced), 15th Marine Expeditionary Unit, land on the flight deck of the amphibious assault ship USS Makin Island (LHD 8). The Makin Island Amphibious Ready Group and embarked 15th MEU are operating in the U.S. 7th Fleet area of operations to enhance interoperability with allies and partners and serve as a ready response force to defend peace and stability in the Indo-Pacific region.

U.S. Marines present colors during the change of command and re-designation of VMFA(AW)-242 at Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, Japan, Oct. 16. - U.S. Marines present colors during the change of command and re-designation of VMFA(AW)-242 at Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, Japan, Oct. 16.

Marines with Combat Logistics Battalion 31, 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit, are invited to join the invocation during the Maneuver Company activation ceremony at Camp Hansen, Okinawa, Japan, Aug. 30, 2019. Composed of engineers, motor transport and landing support, Maneuver Company was activated to optimize training while in garrison and to excel in distributed operations when deployed with the 31st MEU. 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 premier crisis response force in the Indo-Pacific region. - Marines with Combat Logistics Battalion 31, 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit, are invited to join the invocation during the Maneuver Company activation ceremony at Camp Hansen, Okinawa, Japan, Aug. 30, 2019. Composed of engineers, motor transport and landing support, Maneuver Company was activated to optimize training while in garrison and to excel in distributed operations when deployed with the 31st MEU. 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 premier crisis response force in the Indo-Pacific region.

Marines with Echo Company, Battalion Landing Team, 2nd Battalion, 1st Marines, 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit, exit an MV-22B Osprey tiltrotor aircraft during a long-range raid in the Central Training Area, Okinawa, Japan, Aug. 14, 2019. The 31st MEU and Amphibious Squadron 11, aboard Wasp Amphibious Ready Group ships, conducted a series of sequential operations which simulated naval expeditionary combined-arms maneuver from amphibious assets to shore, utilizing Marine Air-Ground Task Force capabilities integrated across all warfighting domains. - Marines with Echo Company, Battalion Landing Team, 2nd Battalion, 1st Marines, 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit, exit an MV-22B Osprey tiltrotor aircraft during a long-range raid in the Central Training Area, Okinawa, Japan, Aug. 14, 2019. The 31st MEU and Amphibious Squadron 11, aboard Wasp Amphibious Ready Group ships, conducted a series of sequential operations which simulated naval expeditionary combined-arms maneuver from amphibious assets to shore, utilizing Marine Air-Ground Task Force capabilities integrated across all warfighting domains.

A landing craft, utility assigned to the amphibious transport dock ship USS Green Bay, lowers its ramp to unload a High Mobility Artillery Rocket System from 3rd Battalion, 12th Marine Regiment, 3rd Marine Division, as part of a simulated amphibious raid, at Kin Blue, Okinawa, Japan, Aug. 14, 2019. This simulated amphibious raid marks the first time that HIMARS have been inserted by landing craft, utility, demonstrating the Marine Air-Ground Task Force’s ability to conduct combined-arms maneuver from amphibious shipping. - A landing craft, utility assigned to the amphibious transport dock ship USS Green Bay, lowers its ramp to unload a High Mobility Artillery Rocket System from 3rd Battalion, 12th Marine Regiment, 3rd Marine Division, as part of a simulated amphibious raid, at Kin Blue, Okinawa, Japan, Aug. 14, 2019. This simulated amphibious raid marks the first time that HIMARS have been inserted by landing craft, utility, demonstrating the Marine Air-Ground Task Force’s ability to conduct combined-arms maneuver from amphibious shipping.