News Stories Archive

From Two Nations: USMC 1st Lt. Francisderick Corpuz Bridging Cultures through Service in the Philippines - U.S. Marine Corps 1stLt Francisderick Corpuz, center, an air intelligence officer with Marine Aircraft Group 13, 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing, speaks to a Philippine Marine during Marine Aviation Support Activity 24 at Fort Bonifacio, Manila, Philippines, June 18, 2024.Corpuz’s background as a Filipino native enabled him to deploy as a cultural liaison during MASA 24, bridging communication gaps and providing mutual cooperation between U.S. Marine Corps and Philippine Marines. MASA is an annual Philippine-U.S. military exercise focused on mutual defense, strengthening relationships, and rehearsing emerging aviation concepts. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Jennifer Sanchez)

U.S. Marines with 2nd Platoon, Charlie Company, 1st Reconnaissance Battalion, 1st Marine Division, and members of the 2nd Intai Amfibi Battalion, Indonesian Korps Marinir, paddle back to shore on a combat rubber raiding craft during a reconnaissance exercise at Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, California, April 15, 2023. The Marines of 1st Recon Bn. host the bilateral training exercise annually to foster a spirit of cooperation and mutual respect between Indonesian service members and 1st MARDIV Marines and promote cultural exchange and understanding. - U.S. Marines with 2nd Platoon, Charlie Company, 1st Reconnaissance Battalion, 1st Marine Division, and members of the 2nd Intai Amfibi Battalion, Indonesian Korps Marinir, paddle back to shore on a combat rubber raiding craft during a reconnaissance exercise at Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, California, April 15, 2023. The Marines of 1st Recon Bn. host the bilateral training exercise annually to foster a spirit of cooperation and mutual respect between Indonesian service members and 1st MARDIV Marines and promote cultural exchange and understanding.

Master Sgt. Leroy A. Forbes reads off names for accountability for Task Force Koa Moana at Tengan Pier, Okinawa, Japan on May 18, 2016. The task force is responsible for conducting a series of bilateral, multi-national exercises involving a company-sized element of Marines and Sailors from different units within III Marine Expeditionary Force. They will be traveling to countries in the Asia-Pacific region aboard the USNS Sacagawea, a Marine Prepositioning Force ship. The ship is normally a mobile warehouse for Marines’ supplies; however, during this exercise, it will serve to transport personnel to multiple nations, where they will conduct basic military training and cultural exchange to increase relations and interoperability between participating nations. Forbes, from Hartford, Conn., is a combat engineer with 9th Engineer Support Battalion, 3rd Marine Logistics Group, III Marine Expeditionary Force, and is the task force’s senior enlisted in charge for the series of exercises. - Master Sgt. Leroy A. Forbes reads off names for accountability for Task Force Koa Moana at Tengan Pier, Okinawa, Japan on May 18, 2016. The task force is responsible for conducting a series of bilateral, multi-national exercises involving a company-sized element of Marines and Sailors from different units within III Marine Expeditionary Force. They will be traveling to countries in the Asia-Pacific region aboard the USNS Sacagawea, a Marine Prepositioning Force ship. The ship is normally a mobile warehouse for Marines’ supplies; however, during this exercise, it will serve to transport personnel to multiple nations, where they will conduct basic military training and cultural exchange to increase relations and interoperability between participating nations. Forbes, from Hartford, Conn., is a combat engineer with 9th Engineer Support Battalion, 3rd Marine Logistics Group, III Marine Expeditionary Force, and is the task force’s senior enlisted in charge for the series of exercises.

Japan Ground Self Defense Force personnel carry supplies from a U.S. Marine Corps MV-22B Osprey tiltrotor aircraft from Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron (VMM) 265 (Reinforced), 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU), in Hakusui Sports Park, Kyushu island, Japan, April 22, 2016. The supplies are in support of the relief effort after a series of earthquakes struck the island of Kyushu. The 31st MEU is the only continually forward-deployed MEU and remains the Marine Corps' force-in-readiness in the Asia-Pacific region. - Japan Ground Self Defense Force personnel carry supplies from a U.S. Marine Corps MV-22B Osprey tiltrotor aircraft from Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron (VMM) 265 (Reinforced), 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU), in Hakusui Sports Park, Kyushu island, Japan, April 22, 2016. The supplies are in support of the relief effort after a series of earthquakes struck the island of Kyushu. The 31st MEU is the only continually forward-deployed MEU and remains the Marine Corps' force-in-readiness in the Asia-Pacific region.

U.S. Marines assigned to Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron 265 (Reinforced), 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit, and Japan Self-Defense Force members deliver earthquake relief supplies to Hakusui Sports Park in island of Kyushu, Japan April 19, 2016. The supplies are in support of the relief effort after a series of earthquakes struck the island of Kyushu. The 31st MEU is the only continually forward-deployed MEU and remains the Marine Corps' force-in-readiness in the Asia-Pacific region. - U.S. Marines assigned to Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron 265 (Reinforced), 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit, and Japan Self-Defense Force members deliver earthquake relief supplies to Hakusui Sports Park in island of Kyushu, Japan April 19, 2016. The supplies are in support of the relief effort after a series of earthquakes struck the island of Kyushu. The 31st MEU is the only continually forward-deployed MEU and remains the Marine Corps' force-in-readiness in the Asia-Pacific region.

U.S. Marine Corps Lance Cpl. John Hall, a rifleman with Special-Purpose Marine Air-Ground Task Force Crisis Response-Africa, fires an AT-4 anti-armor weapon during a live-fire training exercise in Sierra Del Retin, Spain, March 24, 2015. Marines with SPMAGTF-CR-AF conducted a live-fire training exercise at the Spanish Marines’ training facility to maintain and uphold their infantryman skills. - U.S. Marine Corps Lance Cpl. John Hall, a rifleman with Special-Purpose Marine Air-Ground Task Force Crisis Response-Africa, fires an AT-4 anti-armor weapon during a live-fire training exercise in Sierra Del Retin, Spain, March 24, 2015. Marines with SPMAGTF-CR-AF conducted a live-fire training exercise at the Spanish Marines’ training facility to maintain and uphold their infantryman skills.

A Japanese volunteer from the Oshima Fire Department and U.S. Marine Corps Cpl. Robert C. Austin quickly offload humanitarian aid and disaster relief supplies from an MV-22B Osprey tiltrotor aircraft Nov. 8 during Tomodachi relief exercise 15.2 near Izu Oshima Island, Tokyo Metropolis Prefecture, Japan. TREX 15.2 is an annual, bilateral training exercise that simulates humanitarian assistance and disaster relief missions in the Japan while strengthening U.S. and Japanese alliance. During the offload, approximately 600 pounds of food, water, blankets, and medical supplies were transported from the Osprey to a waiting truck in less than eight minutes. Austin, from Grand Ledge, Michigan, is an Osprey crew chief with Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron 265, Marine Aircraft Group 36, 1st Marine Aircraft Wing, III Marine Expeditionary Force. - A Japanese volunteer from the Oshima Fire Department and U.S. Marine Corps Cpl. Robert C. Austin quickly offload humanitarian aid and disaster relief supplies from an MV-22B Osprey tiltrotor aircraft Nov. 8 during Tomodachi relief exercise 15.2 near Izu Oshima Island, Tokyo Metropolis Prefecture, Japan. TREX 15.2 is an annual, bilateral training exercise that simulates humanitarian assistance and disaster relief missions in the Japan while strengthening U.S. and Japanese alliance. During the offload, approximately 600 pounds of food, water, blankets, and medical supplies were transported from the Osprey to a waiting truck in less than eight minutes. Austin, from Grand Ledge, Michigan, is an Osprey crew chief with Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron 265, Marine Aircraft Group 36, 1st Marine Aircraft Wing, III Marine Expeditionary Force.

U.S. Marine Sgt. Maj. Howard Kreamer, right, talks with Philippine Marine Sgt. Maj. Jamie Ardiente in Puerto Princesa, Palawan Sept. 29 after the opening ceremony for Amphibious Landing Exercise 2015. PHIBLEX is an annual, bilateral training exercise conducted by the Armed Forces of the Philippines, U.S. Marines and Navy to strengthen interoperability across a range of capabilities, including disaster relief and contingency operations. Kreamer is the sergeant major of 3rd Marine Expeditionary Brigade, 3rd MEB, III Marine Expeditionary Force, and Ardiente is the 3rd Marine Brigade Sergeant Major, Armed Forces of the Philippines. - U.S. Marine Sgt. Maj. Howard Kreamer, right, talks with Philippine Marine Sgt. Maj. Jamie Ardiente in Puerto Princesa, Palawan Sept. 29 after the opening ceremony for Amphibious Landing Exercise 2015. PHIBLEX is an annual, bilateral training exercise conducted by the Armed Forces of the Philippines, U.S. Marines and Navy to strengthen interoperability across a range of capabilities, including disaster relief and contingency operations. Kreamer is the sergeant major of 3rd Marine Expeditionary Brigade, 3rd MEB, III Marine Expeditionary Force, and Ardiente is the 3rd Marine Brigade Sergeant Major, Armed Forces of the Philippines.