U.S. Marine Corps Cpl. Kristi Boseman, an administrative clerk with Marine Aircraft Wing Headquarters Squadron 1, 1st Marine Aircraft Wing, III Marine Expeditionary Force, left, and Republic of Korea Marine Corps Chief Warrant Officer Kim Sat Byeol, an exercise support officer with ROK Marine Corps Headquarters, right, stand together during exercise Freedom Shield 23, at Marine Corps Base Camp Mujuk, Republic of Korea, March 22, 2023. Freedom Shield is a defense-oriented exercise designed to strengthen the ROK-U.S. Alliance, enhance our combined defense posture, and strengthen security and stability on the Korean peninsula. - U.S. Marine Corps Cpl. Kristi Boseman, an administrative clerk with Marine Aircraft Wing Headquarters Squadron 1, 1st Marine Aircraft Wing, III Marine Expeditionary Force, left, and Republic of Korea Marine Corps Chief Warrant Officer Kim Sat Byeol, an exercise support officer with ROK Marine Corps Headquarters, right, stand together during exercise Freedom Shield 23, at Marine Corps Base Camp Mujuk, Republic of Korea, March 22, 2023. Freedom Shield is a defense-oriented exercise designed to strengthen the ROK-U.S. Alliance, enhance our combined defense posture, and strengthen security and stability on the Korean peninsula.

The high-speed transport vessel USNS Guam (T-HST 1) departs Naha Military Port, Okinawa, Japan, March 3, 2023. The USNS Guam will transport the Marines to the Republic of Korea for exercise Freedom Shield 23. Freedom Shield is a defense-oriented exercise designed to strengthen the ROK-U.S. Alliance, enhance our combined defense posture, and strengthen security and stability on the Korean peninsula. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Tyler Andrews) - The high-speed transport vessel USNS Guam (T-HST 1) departs Naha Military Port, Okinawa, Japan, March 3, 2023. The USNS Guam will transport the Marines to the Republic of Korea for exercise Freedom Shield 23. Freedom Shield is a defense-oriented exercise designed to strengthen the ROK-U.S. Alliance, enhance our combined defense posture, and strengthen security and stability on the Korean peninsula. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Tyler Andrews)

U.S. Marine Col. Maria McMillen places a flower on the 1st Marine Aircraft Wing Memorial Monument during a memorial ceremony at Pohang City Battle Monument and 1st MAW Memorial Monument in Pohang, South Korea, June 6, 2018. One at a time, each guest placed a flower on the memorial. McMillen, a Craig, Colorado native, is the G-5 assistance chief of staff with 1st MAW. - U.S. Marine Col. Maria McMillen places a flower on the 1st Marine Aircraft Wing Memorial Monument during a memorial ceremony at Pohang City Battle Monument and 1st MAW Memorial Monument in Pohang, South Korea, June 6, 2018. One at a time, each guest placed a flower on the memorial. McMillen, a Craig, Colorado native, is the G-5 assistance chief of staff with 1st MAW.

The annual exercise is conducted in the Kingdom of Thailand held from Feb. 13-23 with seven full participating nations. - Royal Thai Marine Corps Master Sgt. Pairoj Prasansai, a jungle survival training instructor from Sattahip, Chonburi province, Thailand, shows Republic of Korea, Royal Thai, U.S. Marines and members of the press, a radiated rat snake during jungle survival training Feb. 19, 2018, in Sattahip, Chonburi province, Thailand. The training was conducted as part of Exercise Cobra Gold 2018. Marines learned how to identify and capture venomous and non-venomous snakes during the training. The annual exercise is conducted in the Kingdom of Thailand held from Feb. 13-23 with seven full participating nations.

From left, U.S. Marine Corps Lance Cpl. Dave Hermansen and Lance Cpl. Jabril Giannotti, mortarmen, and Sgt. Jack Williams, a squad leader, all assigned to Weapons Co., Battalion Landing Team, 1st Battalion 5th Marines, 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit, fire a 81mm training mortar with the M252A2 mortar system during Ssang Yong 16 at Suseongri, South Korea, March 15, 2016. Ssang Yong familiarizes American armed forces with the Korean Peninsula and contributes to the security and stability of the Asia-Pacific region. Hermansen is a native of Westbrook, Connecticut. Giannotti is a native of Highland Park, New Jersey. Williams is a native of Pilot Point, Texas. - From left, U.S. Marine Corps Lance Cpl. Dave Hermansen and Lance Cpl. Jabril Giannotti, mortarmen, and Sgt. Jack Williams, a squad leader, all assigned to Weapons Co., Battalion Landing Team, 1st Battalion 5th Marines, 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit, fire a 81mm training mortar with the M252A2 mortar system during Ssang Yong 16 at Suseongri, South Korea, March 15, 2016. Ssang Yong familiarizes American armed forces with the Korean Peninsula and contributes to the security and stability of the Asia-Pacific region. Hermansen is a native of Westbrook, Connecticut. Giannotti is a native of Highland Park, New Jersey. Williams is a native of Pilot Point, Texas.

A Korean Assault Amphibious Vehicle comes ashore while rehearsing an amphibious assault in support of Exercise Ssang Yong on Doksukri Beach, Republic of Korea, March 11, 2016. Exercise Ssang Yong 2016 is a biennial military exercise focused on strengthening the amphibious landing capabilities of the Republic of Korea, the U.S., New Zealand and Australia. - A Korean Assault Amphibious Vehicle comes ashore while rehearsing an amphibious assault in support of Exercise Ssang Yong on Doksukri Beach, Republic of Korea, March 11, 2016. Exercise Ssang Yong 2016 is a biennial military exercise focused on strengthening the amphibious landing capabilities of the Republic of Korea, the U.S., New Zealand and Australia.

Amphibious assault ship USS Boxer transits information during photographic exercise as a part of Exercise Ssang Yong 2016 in the East Sea March 8, 2016. Boxer is the flagship of the Boxer Amphibious Ready Group and is participating in exercise Ssang Yong 16. Ssang Yong 16 is a biennial combined amphibious exercise conducted by forward-deployed U.S. forces with the Republic of Korea Navy and Marine Corps, Australian Army and Royal New Zealand Army Forces in order to strengthen our interoperability and working relationships across a wide range of military operations - from disaster relief to complex expeditionary operations. - Amphibious assault ship USS Boxer transits information during photographic exercise as a part of Exercise Ssang Yong 2016 in the East Sea March 8, 2016. Boxer is the flagship of the Boxer Amphibious Ready Group and is participating in exercise Ssang Yong 16. Ssang Yong 16 is a biennial combined amphibious exercise conducted by forward-deployed U.S. forces with the Republic of Korea Navy and Marine Corps, Australian Army and Royal New Zealand Army Forces in order to strengthen our interoperability and working relationships across a wide range of military operations - from disaster relief to complex expeditionary operations.

PACIFIC OCEAN 160308-N-ZZ999-216 (Mar.8, 206) – Ships assigned to the Bonhomme Richard and Boxer Expeditionary Strike Groups (BHRESG/BOXESG) along with the Republic of Korea Flotilla 5 transit in a formation during a photo exercise commencing exercise Ssang Yong in the Pacific Ocean March 8, 2016. Sailors and Marines of ROK Navy, Marine Corps, Expeditionary Strike Group (ESG) 7, Commander, Task Force (CTF) 76 and 3rd Marine Expeditionary Brigade (3D MEB), along with 7th ROK Marine Corps Regimental Landing Team 7 (ROKMC RLT-7), Australian Army and Royal New Zealand Army forces are participating in Ssang Yong 2016, the largest combined amphibious exercise of its kind to date, designed to strengthen interoperability and working relationships across a wide range of military operations from disaster relief to complex expeditionary operations. - PACIFIC OCEAN 160308-N-ZZ999-216 (Mar.8, 206) – Ships assigned to the Bonhomme Richard and Boxer Expeditionary Strike Groups (BHRESG/BOXESG) along with the Republic of Korea Flotilla 5 transit in a formation during a photo exercise commencing exercise Ssang Yong in the Pacific Ocean March 8, 2016. Sailors and Marines of ROK Navy, Marine Corps, Expeditionary Strike Group (ESG) 7, Commander, Task Force (CTF) 76 and 3rd Marine Expeditionary Brigade (3D MEB), along with 7th ROK Marine Corps Regimental Landing Team 7 (ROKMC RLT-7), Australian Army and Royal New Zealand Army forces are participating in Ssang Yong 2016, the largest combined amphibious exercise of its kind to date, designed to strengthen interoperability and working relationships across a wide range of military operations from disaster relief to complex expeditionary operations.

Lt. Gen. Larry Nicholson, the commanding general of III Marine Expeditionary Force, right, presents Lt. Gen. Sang Hoon Lee, commandant of the of the Republic of Korea Marine Corps, left, with a gift Dec. 11, 2015 at III MEF Headquarters, Camp Courtney, Okinawa, Japan. Lee was on Okinawa from Dec. 11 to increase awareness of senior leader collaboration and oneness as the Combined Marine Component Command. The CMCC is a focused combined force designed to protect the safety and security of the people of Korea. - Lt. Gen. Larry Nicholson, the commanding general of III Marine Expeditionary Force, right, presents Lt. Gen. Sang Hoon Lee, commandant of the of the Republic of Korea Marine Corps, left, with a gift Dec. 11, 2015 at III MEF Headquarters, Camp Courtney, Okinawa, Japan. Lee was on Okinawa from Dec. 11 to increase awareness of senior leader collaboration and oneness as the Combined Marine Component Command. The CMCC is a focused combined force designed to protect the safety and security of the people of Korea.