Stories

A U.S. Marine Corps medium tactical vehicle replacement with Aviation Command and Control Detachment, Marine Rotational Force – Southeast Asia, I Marine Expeditionary Force, tows an AN/TPS-80 Ground and Air Task Oriented Radar during training in the Philippines, Aug. 17, 2026. - A U.S. Marine Corps medium tactical vehicle replacement with Aviation Command and Control Detachment, Marine Rotational Force – Southeast Asia, I Marine Expeditionary Force, tows an AN/TPS-80 Ground and Air Task Oriented Radar during training in the Philippines, Aug. 17, 2026. The training supports the Philippine Marine Corps’ Archipelagic Coastal Defense Concept and provides U.S. and Philippine forces opportunities to refine fires integration while testing capabilities that improve command and control and enhance fires integration. MRF-SEA serves as I MEF’s forward command element in the Philippines, supporting Task Force-Philippines and integrating with the Armed Forces of the Philippines to strengthen interoperability and improve combined readiness. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Ryan Ramsammy)

U.S. Marines with Marine Rotational Force – Southeast Asia, I Marine Expeditionary Force, pose for a photo during a staff ride in honor of Memorial Day at Mount Samat National Shrine of Valor, Bataan, Philippines, May 23, 2026. - U.S. Marines with Marine Rotational Force – Southeast Asia, I Marine Expeditionary Force, pose for a photo during a staff ride in honor of Memorial Day at Mount Samat National Shrine of Valor, Bataan, Philippines, May 23, 2026. MRF-SEA serves as I MEF’s forward command element, supporting Task Force - Philippines and integrating with the Armed Forces of the Philippines to strengthen interoperability and improve combined readiness. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Ryan Ramsammy)

Marines aboard a UH-1Y Venom assigned to Marine Light Attack Helicopter Squadron (HMLA) 169, Marine Aircraft Group 39, 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing, toss a first person view unmanned aircraft system during an integration assessment exercise at Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center, Twentynine Palms, California, May 13, 2026. - Marines aboard a UH-1Y Venom assigned to Marine Light Attack Helicopter Squadron (HMLA) 169, Marine Aircraft Group 39, 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing, toss a first person view unmanned aircraft system during an integration assessment exercise at Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center, Twentynine Palms, California, May 13, 2026. The collaborative exercise allowed Marines to determine the feasibility of using FPV UAS from an aircraft and evaluate how to best integrate them to increase combat capabilities and lethality. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Sgt. Symira Bostic)

U.S. Marine Corps Sgt. Trey Leonard, a rifleman assigned to 1st Battalion, 5th Marine Regiment, Marine Rotational Force - Darwin, conducts a live-fire exercise during Exercise Balikatan 2026 at Philippines Naval Detachment Oyster Bay, Palawan, Philippines, May 5, 2026. - U.S. Marine Corps Sgt. Trey Leonard, a rifleman assigned to 1st Battalion, 5th Marine Regiment, Marine Rotational Force - Darwin, conducts a live-fire exercise during Exercise Balikatan 2026 at Philippines Naval Detachment Oyster Bay, Palawan, Philippines, May 5, 2026. Balikatan is a longstanding annual exercise between the Armed Forces of the Philippines and U.S. military that represents the strength of our alliance, improves our capable combined force, and demonstrates our commitment to regional peace and prosperity. Leonard is native of Texas. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Caleb Goodwin)

Philippine Nurse Corps 2nd Lt. Ronaldo Lucas, left, a nurse assigned to 2nd Technical Administrative Services Brigade and U.S. Navy Hospital Corpsman 1st Class Sheena Beltran, a corpsman assigned to 1st Medical Battalion, 1st Marine Logistics Group, I Marine Expeditionary Force, converse during a cooperative health engagement as part of Exercise Balikatan 2026 in San Vicente, Philippines, April 21, 2026. - Philippine Nurse Corps 2nd Lt. Ronaldo Lucas, left, a nurse assigned to 2nd Technical Administrative Services Brigade and U.S. Navy Hospital Corpsman 1st Class Sheena Beltran, a corpsman assigned to 1st Medical Battalion, 1st Marine Logistics Group, I Marine Expeditionary Force, converse during a cooperative health engagement as part of Exercise Balikatan 2026 in San Vicente, Philippines, April 21, 2026. Balikatan is a longstanding annual exercise between the Armed Forces of the Philippines and U.S. military that represents the strength of our alliance, improves our capable combined force, and demonstrates our commitment to regional peace and prosperity. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Mia Ocampo)

From left, U.S. Marine Corps Col. Robert Bunn, deputy commanding officer of the Marine Air-Ground Task Force for Exercise Balikatan 2026, Brig. Gen. Omar Randall, commanding general of the MAGTF for Exercise Balikatan 2026, Navy Command Master Chief Casey Wheeler, senior enlisted leader of the MAGTF for Exercise Balikatan 2026, and Master Gunnery Sgt. Rene Camarillo, senior enlisted leader of the MAGTF for Exercise Balikatan 2026 command element, pose for a photo with Marines and Sailors with the command element for the MAGTF for Exercise Balikatan 2026 on Fort Bonifacio, Philippines, May 7, 2026. Balikatan is a longstanding annual exercise between the Armed Forces of the Philippines and U.S. military that represents the strength of our alliance, improves our capable combined force, and demonstrates our commitment to regional peace and prosperity. (U.S. Marine Corps courtesy photo by 1st Lt. Chase Colin) - From left, U.S. Marine Corps Col. Robert Bunn, deputy commanding officer of the Marine Air-Ground Task Force for Exercise Balikatan 2026, Brig. Gen. Omar Randall, commanding general of the MAGTF for Exercise Balikatan 2026, Navy Command Master Chief Casey Wheeler, senior enlisted leader of the MAGTF for Exercise Balikatan 2026, and Master Gunnery Sgt. Rene Camarillo, senior enlisted leader of the MAGTF for Exercise Balikatan 2026 command element, pose for a photo with Marines and Sailors with the command element for the MAGTF for Exercise Balikatan 2026 on Fort Bonifacio, Philippines, May 7, 2026. Balikatan is a longstanding annual exercise between the Armed Forces of the Philippines and U.S. military that represents the strength of our alliance, improves our capable combined force, and demonstrates our commitment to regional peace and prosperity. (U.S. Marine Corps courtesy photo by 1st Lt. Chase Colin)

U.S. Marines assigned to 1st Battalion, 5th Marine Regiment, Marine Rotational Force – Darwin, supervise their units as they clear the flightline during an airfield seizure as a part of Exercise Balikatan 2026 at Balabac Island, Philippines, May 3, 2026. - U.S. Marines assigned to 1st Battalion, 5th Marine Regiment, Marine Rotational Force – Darwin, supervise their units as they clear the flightline during an airfield seizure as a part of Exercise Balikatan 2026 at Balabac Island, Philippines, May 3, 2026. Balikatan is a longstanding annual exercise between the Armed Forces of the Philippines and U.S. military that represents the strength of our alliance, improves our capable combined force, and demonstrates our commitment to regional peace and prosperity. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Staff Sgt. Bryant Rodriguez)

U.S. Marines assigned to 1st Battalion, 5th Marine Regiment, 1st Marine Division, Marine Rotational Force – Darwin, and Philippine marines stand by to engage during a counter-landing live-fire exercise as part of Exercise Balikatan 2026 in Aporawan, Philippines, April 27, 2026. - U.S. Marines assigned to 1st Battalion, 5th Marine Regiment, 1st Marine Division, Marine Rotational Force – Darwin, and Philippine marines stand by to engage during a counter-landing live-fire exercise as part of Exercise Balikatan 2026 in Aporawan, Philippines, April 27, 2026. Balikatan is a longstanding annual exercise between the Armed Forces of the Philippines and U.S. military that represents the strength of our alliance, improves our capable combined force, and demonstrates our commitment to regional peace and prosperity. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Caleb Goodwin)

U.S. Marines assigned to I Marine Expeditionary Force and Philippine contractors onload a Medium Tactical Vehicle Replacement onto a Philippine barge in Cagayan de Oro, Philippines, March 17, 2026. - U.S. Marines assigned to I Marine Expeditionary Force and Philippine contractors onload a Medium Tactical Vehicle Replacement onto a Philippine barge in Cagayan de Oro, Philippines, March 17, 2026. The prepositioning of equipment in support of Exercise Balikatan 26 demonstrates how Maritime Prepositioning Force processes operationalize distributed sustainment by conducting offload, distribution, and regeneration of equipment through afloat platforms, ashore nodes, and transportation networks to distribute equipment across multiple locations. Balikatan is a longstanding annual exercise between the Armed Forces of the Philippines and U.S. military designed to strengthen our ironclad alliance, improve our capable combined force, and demonstrate our commitment to regional security and stability.  (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Madison M. Luciano)