Stories

U.S. Marine Corps Cpl. Steele Armstrong, a satellite transmissions systems operator, and U.S. Marine Corps Lance Cpl. Jaden Coleman, a transmission systems operator, both with MarineWing Communications Squadron 18, Marine Air Control Group 18, 1st Marine Aircraft Wing,set up a radio call during the inaugural Thunderstruck Communications Competition, hosted byMWCS-38, MACG-38, 3rd MAW, at Marine Corps Air Station Miramar, California, Sept. 10,2025 - U.S. Marine Corps Cpl. Steele Armstrong, a satellite transmissions systems operator, and U.S. Marine Corps Lance Cpl. Jaden Coleman, a transmission systems operator, both with Marine Wing Communications Squadron 18, Marine Air Control Group 18, 1st Marine Aircraft Wing, set up a radio call during the inaugural Thunderstruck Communications Competition, hosted by MWCS-38, MACG-38, 3rd MAW, at Marine Corps Air Station Miramar, California, Sept. 10, 2025. Thunderstruck is a service-wide competition dedicated to communications Marines, showcasing the increasing importance of resilient command and control in distributed operations. The six-mile course integrated high frequency radio, Mobile User Objective System satellite communications, and data networking tasks under expeditionary conditions, testing the tactical, technical, and physical proficiency of Marine Corps communicators. Armstrong is a native of Minnesota, and Coleman is a native of Florida. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Renee Gray)

U.S. Marines with 1st Marine Division watch a vendor loaned small unmanned aircraft system fly during Project G.I. at Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, California, Aug. 26, 2025. - U.S. Marines with 1st Marine Division watch a vendor loaned small unmanned aircraft system fly during Project G.I. at Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, California, Aug. 26, 2025. The Defense Innovation Unit’s Project G.I. Challenge brought together Marines with I Marine Expeditionary Force, industry partners, and Department of Defense leaders to evaluate commercial sUAS, with Marine feedback shaping future procurement decisions and advancing modernization for contested environments. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Sawyer Carleton)

U.S. Marine Corps Col. Roy J. Nicka, the outgoing commanding officer of Marine Aircraft Group 13, 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing, and family pose in front of an F-35B Lightning II assigned to Marine Fighter Attack Squadron (VMFA) 225, MAG-13, 3rd MAW, before his change of command ceremony at Marine Corps Air Station Yuma, Arizona, Aug. 29, 2025. - U.S. Marine Corps Col. Roy J. Nicka, the outgoing commanding officer of Marine Aircraft Group 13, 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing, and family pose in front of an F-35B Lightning II assigned to Marine Fighter Attack Squadron (VMFA) 225, MAG-13, 3rd MAW, before his change of command ceremony at Marine Corps Air Station Yuma, Arizona, Aug. 29, 2025. During his command, Nicka balanced readiness across four fifth generation fighter squadrons, enabling three unit deployments and one bilateral exercise, spearheaded the Marine Corps’ first MQ-9A Reaper inter-theater redeployment into the Indo-Pacific region, and ultimately generated more than 7,000 flight hours of strike, fighter and reconnaissance mission in support of 3rd MAW. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Samantha Devine)

A U.S. Army AH-64E Apache Guardian helicopter assigned to the 4th Squadron, 6th Cavalry Regiment, 16th Combat Aviation Brigade, Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Washington, engages a simulated target at the joint land strike exercise with the Indonesian National Armed Forces and Australian Defence Forces during Super Garuda Shield 25 in Baturaja, Indonesia, Sept. 1, 2025. - A U.S. Army AH-64E Apache Guardian helicopter assigned to the 4th Squadron, 6th Cavalry Regiment, 16th Combat Aviation Brigade, Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Washington, engages a simulated target at the joint land strike exercise with the Indonesian National Armed Forces and Australian Defence Forces during Super Garuda Shield 25 in Baturaja, Indonesia, Sept. 1, 2025. Super Garuda Shield is an annual exercise between the Indonesian National Armed Forces and the U.S. military designed to strengthen bilateral interoperability, capabilities, and cooperation. (U.S. Army photo by Pfc. Seu Chan)

U.S. Marines with Combat Logistics Battalion 15, Combat Logistics Regiment 17, 1st Marine Logistics Group, and staff from the Pohnpei Public Library pose for a photo during Koa Moana 25 at Pohnpei Public Library on Pohnpei, Federated States of Micronesia, Sept. 1, 2025. - U.S. Marines with Combat Logistics Battalion 15, Combat Logistics Regiment 17, 1st Marine Logistics Group, and staff from the Pohnpei Public Library pose for a photo during Koa Moana 25 at Pohnpei Public Library on Pohnpei, Federated States of Micronesia, Sept. 1, 2025. Koa Moana 25 is an annual partnership in the Indo-Pacific region that strengthens established relationships, bolsters theater security cooperation, and enhances the resilience of our allies and partners through community outreach, medical and civic assistance, infrastructure improvement projects, and key leader exchanges. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Ryan Ramsammy)

U.S. Marine Corps Cpl. Darrien Philpot, an infantryman with Fox Company, 2nd Battalion, 1st Marine Regiment, Marine Rotational Force – Darwin 25.3, conducts weapons handling drills aboard the expeditionary sea base USS Miguel Keith (ESB 5) in the Philippine Sea, Sept. 1, 2025. - U.S. Marine Corps Cpl. Darrien Philpot, an infantryman with Fox Company, 2nd Battalion, 1st Marine Regiment, Marine Rotational Force – Darwin 25.3, conducts weapons handling drills aboard the expeditionary sea base USS Miguel Keith (ESB 5) in the Philippine Sea, Sept. 1, 2025. For the first time in the rotation’s history, the MRF-D Marine Air-Ground Task Force's Aviation and Ground Combat Elements embarked aboard a U.S. Navy vessel to extend operational reach and provide flexible, combat-credible options across the Indo-Pacific. MRF-D is an annual six-month rotational deployment to enhance interoperability with the Australian Defence Force and allies and partners and provide a forward postured crisis response force in the Indo-Pacific. Philpot is a native of Oklahoma. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Angelina Sara)

The I Marine Expeditionary Force commanding general salutes the colors with past I MEF commanding generals during the I MEF change of command ceremony at Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, California, Aug. 21, 2025 - The I Marine Expeditionary Force commanding general salutes the colors with past I MEF commanding generals during the I MEF change of command ceremony at Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, California, Aug. 21, 2025. Lt. Gen. Michael S. Cederholm relinquished command of I MEF to Lt. Gen. Christian F. Wortman during the ceremony, signifying the transfer of command and responsibility of I MEF. I MEF provides combatant commanders a globally responsive, expeditionary, and fully scalable Marine Air-Ground Task Force, capable of generating, deploying, and employing ready forces and formations for crisis response, forward presence, major combat operations, and campaigns. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Jordan Searls)

VMFA-232 Centennial Ceremony - VMFA-232 Centennial Ceremony

An MV-22B Osprey assigned to Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron (VMM) 363, Marine Rotational Force - Darwin 25.3, flies in a formation flight with CV-22 Ospreys assigned to 21st Special Operations Squadron, 353rd Special Operations Wing, near Lal-lo, Philippines, during a foreign disaster relief operation, Aug. 3, 2025. - An MV-22B Osprey assigned to Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron (VMM) 363, Marine Rotational Force - Darwin 25.3, flies in a formation flight with CV-22 Ospreys assigned to 21st Special Operations Squadron, 353rd Special Operations Wing, near Lal-lo, Philippines, during a foreign disaster relief operation, Aug. 3, 2025. At the request of the Government of the Philippines, the MRF-D 25.3 Marine Air-Ground Task Force is working alongside the Armed Forces of the Philippines to provide foreign disaster relief to communities affected by consecutive storms and the southwest monsoon. The forward presence and ready posture of United States Indo-Pacific Command in the region facilitates rapid and effective response to crisis, demonstrating the U.S.’s commitment to Allies and partners during times of need. MRF-D is an annual six-month rotational deployment to enhance interoperability with the Australian Defence Force and allies and partners and provide a forward postured crisis response force in the Indo-Pacific. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Angelina Sara)

Multinational service members, veterans, Solomon Islands government leaders, members of the diplomatic community, and civilians attend the 83rd Anniversary of the Battle of Guadalcanal Ceremony at the Guadalcanal American Memorial in Honiara, Solomon Islands, Aug. 7, 2025. The ceremony commemorated the 83rd anniversary of the battle and served to honor the fallen and strengthen the U.S. relationship with the Solomon Islands and other Pacific allies and partners. The historic battle was codenamed Operation Watchtower and was the first major offensive and decisive victory for Allied forces in the Pacific theater. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Anita Ramos) - Multinational service members, veterans, Solomon Islands government leaders, members of the diplomatic community, and civilians attend the 83rd Anniversary of the Battle of Guadalcanal Ceremony at the Guadalcanal American Memorial in Honiara, Solomon Islands, Aug. 7, 2025. The ceremony commemorated the 83rd anniversary of the battle and served to honor the fallen and strengthen the U.S. relationship with the Solomon Islands and other Pacific allies and partners. The historic battle was codenamed Operation Watchtower and was the first major offensive and decisive victory for Allied forces in the Pacific theater. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Anita Ramos)