News Stories Archive

U.S. Marines with Blackfoot Company, 3rd Light Armored Reconnaissance, and Airmen with 4th Airlift Squadron, 62nd Airlift Wing, load light armored vehicles in an U.S. Air Force C-17 Globemaster III, stationed out of Kadena Air Base, to transport service members from Okinawa to Wake Island as part of exercise Iron Sky 22.2 on Marine Corps Air Station Futenma, Okinawa, Japan, Nov. 4, 2021. IIron Sky is a joint integration and operational mobility exercise that allowed Marines to participate in an Expeditionary Advanced Base Operation in the Pacific region. - U.S. Marines with Blackfoot Company, 3rd Light Armored Reconnaissance, and Airmen with 4th Airlift Squadron, 62nd Airlift Wing, load light armored vehicles in an U.S. Air Force C-17 Globemaster III, stationed out of Kadena Air Base, to transport service members from Okinawa to Wake Island as part of exercise Iron Sky 22.2 on Marine Corps Air Station Futenma, Okinawa, Japan, Nov. 4, 2021. IIron Sky is a joint integration and operational mobility exercise that allowed Marines to participate in an Expeditionary Advanced Base Operation in the Pacific region.

Col. Victor Pastor, Assistant Chief of Staff, G-3/5, 4th Marine Division, discusses force design and establishing a crisis response force Dec. 15, 2021, at Marine Corps Support Facility New Orleans. II MEF and MARFORRES are the Marine Corps’ service-retained forces administratively and operationally controlled by the Marine Corps instead of a combatant command, such as most Marines stationed in California and Japan who are aligned to support U.S. Indo-Pacific Command. The importance of these operational planning teams is to establish the process needed to create an effective service-retained crisis response force to respond to global threats outside of USINDOPACOM area of responsibility. MARFORRES and II MEF are the Marine Corps’ service-retained forces, which means they are administratively and operationally controlled by the Marine Corps. - Col. Victor Pastor, Assistant Chief of Staff, G-3/5, 4th Marine Division, discusses force design and establishing a crisis response force Dec. 15, 2021, at Marine Corps Support Facility New Orleans. II MEF and MARFORRES are the Marine Corps’ service-retained forces administratively and operationally controlled by the Marine Corps instead of a combatant command, such as most Marines stationed in California and Japan who are aligned to support U.S. Indo-Pacific Command. The importance of these operational planning teams is to establish the process needed to create an effective service-retained crisis response force to respond to global threats outside of USINDOPACOM area of responsibility. MARFORRES and II MEF are the Marine Corps’ service-retained forces, which means they are administratively and operationally controlled by the Marine Corps.

U.S. Marines and soldiers with the Japan Ground Self-Defense Force prepare to receive an aerial resupply during Resolute Dragon 21, on Ojojihara Proving Grounds, Dec. 10, 2021. RD21 is the largest bilateral field training exercise between the U.S. Marine Corps and JGSDF since 2013 and is the largest ever in Japan. RD21 is designed to strengthen the defensive capabilities of the U.S.-Japan Alliance by exercising integrated command and control, targeting, combined arms, and maneuver across multiple domains. - U.S. Marines and soldiers with the Japan Ground Self-Defense Force prepare to receive an aerial resupply during Resolute Dragon 21, on Ojojihara Proving Grounds, Dec. 10, 2021. RD21 is the largest bilateral field training exercise between the U.S. Marine Corps and JGSDF since 2013 and is the largest ever in Japan. RD21 is designed to strengthen the defensive capabilities of the U.S.-Japan Alliance by exercising integrated command and control, targeting, combined arms, and maneuver across multiple domains.

Cpl. Clayton A. Phillips, a network administrator with 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit, tests the connectivity of Networking On-the-Move Airborne during flight operations from the amphibious assault ship, USS America. NOTM, a critical Force Design 2030 capability, is a mobile, satellite communication system that allows Marines to connect to networks and communicate while mobile or stationary on the battlefield. - Cpl. Clayton A. Phillips, a network administrator with 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit, tests the connectivity of Networking On-the-Move Airborne during flight operations from the amphibious assault ship, USS America. NOTM, a critical Force Design 2030 capability, is a mobile, satellite communication system that allows Marines to connect to networks and communicate while mobile or stationary on the battlefield.

The National Museum of the Marine Corps located in Triangle, Va. is one of the donation sites for the Marine Corps Reserve’s Toys for Tots Campaign in Quantico, Va. Toys are collected in the museum’s World War II era jeep. The primary goal of the Marine Toys for Tots Program is, through the gift of a new toy, help bring the joy of Christmas and send a message of hope to America's less fortunate children. MCICOM exercises command and control of Marine Corps installations via regional commanders in order to provide oversight, direction and coordination of installation services and to optimize support to the Operating Forces, tenants and activities. - The National Museum of the Marine Corps located in Triangle, Va. is one of the donation sites for the Marine Corps Reserve’s Toys for Tots Campaign in Quantico, Va. Toys are collected in the museum’s World War II era jeep. The primary goal of the Marine Toys for Tots Program is, through the gift of a new toy, help bring the joy of Christmas and send a message of hope to America's less fortunate children. MCICOM exercises command and control of Marine Corps installations via regional commanders in order to provide oversight, direction and coordination of installation services and to optimize support to the Operating Forces, tenants and activities.

U.S. Marine Corps Brig. Gen. Kyle Ellison, Commanding General, 3d Marine Expeditionary Brigade (MEB), addresses Marines and Sailors at the rehearsal of concept brief for Yama Sakura 81 on Camp Courtney, Okinawa, Japan Dec. 4, 2021. Yama Sakura is the largest joint and bilateral command post exercise conducted by U.S. Army Pacific and the Japanese Ground Self Defense Force designed to increase joint force lethality, enhance design and posture, and strengthen alliances and partnerships (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Staff Sergeant Andrew Ochoa). - U.S. Marine Corps Brig. Gen. Kyle Ellison, Commanding General, 3d Marine Expeditionary Brigade (MEB), addresses Marines and Sailors at the rehearsal of concept brief for Yama Sakura 81 on Camp Courtney, Okinawa, Japan Dec. 4, 2021. Yama Sakura is the largest joint and bilateral command post exercise conducted by U.S. Army Pacific and the Japanese Ground Self Defense Force designed to increase joint force lethality, enhance design and posture, and strengthen alliances and partnerships (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Staff Sergeant Andrew Ochoa).

U.S. Marines with Marine Wing Support Squadron 172 refuel an MV-22B Osprey at a forward arming and refueling point in preparation for exercise Resolute Dragon 21, Dec. 3, 2021 at Ojojihara Proving Grounds, Japan. RD21 is the largest bilateral field training exercise between the U.S. Marine Corps and Japan Self-Defense Force in 2021. RD21 is designed to strengthen the defensive capabilities of the U.S.-Japan Alliance by exercising integrated command and control, targeting, combined arms, and maneuver across multiple domains. - U.S. Marines with Marine Wing Support Squadron 172 refuel an MV-22B Osprey at a forward arming and refueling point in preparation for exercise Resolute Dragon 21, Dec. 3, 2021 at Ojojihara Proving Grounds, Japan. RD21 is the largest bilateral field training exercise between the U.S. Marine Corps and Japan Self-Defense Force in 2021. RD21 is designed to strengthen the defensive capabilities of the U.S.-Japan Alliance by exercising integrated command and control, targeting, combined arms, and maneuver across multiple domains.

A U.S. Marine Corps F/A-18C Hornet aircraft with Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 112 takes off from Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, Japan, Nov. 18, 2021. VMFA-112 participated in a joint maritime strike rehearsal with the U.S. Navy off the coast of Okinawa, Nov 19, 2021. U.S. Marines with VMFA-112 routinely train and rehearse joint maritime mission sets in order to maintain readiness to carry out a wide range of operational tasks in a region characterized by vast oceans, seas, and waterways. - A U.S. Marine Corps F/A-18C Hornet aircraft with Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 112 takes off from Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, Japan, Nov. 18, 2021. VMFA-112 participated in a joint maritime strike rehearsal with the U.S. Navy off the coast of Okinawa, Nov 19, 2021. U.S. Marines with VMFA-112 routinely train and rehearse joint maritime mission sets in order to maintain readiness to carry out a wide range of operational tasks in a region characterized by vast oceans, seas, and waterways.

Key leaders with U.S. Marine Force Storage Command, Marine Corps Logistics Command, conducted a Class II Sustainment Advisory Group at Marine Corps Logistics Base Albany, Ga., Nov, 16-18. Group members include Marine and civilian-Marine logisticians from Headquarters Marine Corps Installations & Logistics Command, Marine Corps Systems Command, and more. - Key leaders with U.S. Marine Force Storage Command, Marine Corps Logistics Command, conducted a Class II Sustainment Advisory Group at Marine Corps Logistics Base Albany, Ga., Nov, 16-18. Group members include Marine and civilian-Marine logisticians from Headquarters Marine Corps Installations & Logistics Command, Marine Corps Systems Command, and more.