Stories

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)

U.S. Marine Corps Col. Robert S. Bunn, center left, the incoming commanding officer of Marine Rotational Force – Southeast Asia, I Marine Expeditionary Force, and Col. Robb T. McDonald, the outgoing commanding officer of MRF-SEA, pose for a photo with Philippine Air Force Lt. Gen. Aristotle D. Gonzalez, left, the commanding general of Northern Luzon Command, and Brig. Gen. Cesar A. Molina, the deputy commander of NOLCOM, during a key leader engagement at Camp Aquino, Philippines, March 31, 2026. - U.S. Marine Corps Col. Robert S. Bunn, center left, the incoming commanding officer of Marine Rotational Force – Southeast Asia, I Marine Expeditionary Force, and Col. Robb T. McDonald, the outgoing commanding officer of MRF-SEA, pose for a photo with Philippine Air Force Lt. Gen. Aristotle D. Gonzalez, left, the commanding general of Northern Luzon Command, and Brig. Gen. Cesar A. Molina, the deputy commander of NOLCOM, during a key leader engagement at Camp Aquino, Philippines, March 31, 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)

U.S. Marines and Sailors with various commands across 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing, pose for a group photo during a senior leader’s course at Marine Corps Air Station Miramar, California, Feb. 24, 2026. - U.S. Marines and Sailors with various commands across 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing, pose for a group photo during a senior leader’s course at Marine Corps Air Station Miramar, California, Feb. 24, 2026. The course emphasized 3rd MAW’s leadership priorities and fostered discussions among attendees on effective leadership approaches and strategies. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Nikolas Mascroft)

U.S. Marines and Sailors assigned to Task Force Ashland, I Marine Expeditionary Force, man the rails aboard amphibious dock landing ship USS Ashland (LSD 48) during a sea and anchor detail upon arrival for Exercise Cobra Gold 2026 in the Gulf of Thailand, Feb. 22, 2026. - U.S. Marines and Sailors assigned to Task Force Ashland, I Marine Expeditionary Force, man the rails aboard amphibious dock landing ship USS Ashland (LSD 48) during a sea and anchor detail upon arrival for Exercise Cobra Gold 2026 in the Gulf of Thailand, Feb. 22, 2026. Cobra Gold is the Indo-Pacific’s largest annual military exercise in mainland Asia, co-hosted by the U.S. and Thailand. The exercise brings together participants from multiple nations for military training and humanitarian projects that strengthens regional partnerships and demonstrates U.S. commitment to Indo-Pacific security. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Sgt. Brian Knowles)

U.S. Marine Corps Cpl. Alex Morgan, a metal worker with 1st Maintenance Battalion, 1st Marine Logistics Group, practices welding techniques on Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, California, Feb. 4, 2026. - U.S. Marine Corps Cpl. Alex Morgan, a metal worker with 1st Maintenance Battalion, 1st Marine Logistics Group, practices welding techniques on Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, California, Feb. 4, 2026. U.S. Marines with 1st Maintenance Battalion utilize fabrication and additive manufacturing to create plastic and metal parts for innovative and cost-effective uses, increasing mission readiness across I Marine Expeditionary Force. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Sgt. Seaira Moore)

Two U.S. Air Force C-130J Super Hercules assigned to the 19th Airlift Wing and 317th Airlift Wing remain running while U.S. Marines assigned to Marine Wing Support Squadron 372 prepare fuel lines during Specialized Fueling Operations at Naval Landing Field, San Clemente Island, California, Feb. 4, 2026. The training validated repeatable joint fueling procedures in support of distributed operations during the Spring 2026 C-130 Weapon System Council led by the 317th AW. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Jade M. Caldwell) - Two U.S. Air Force C-130J Super Hercules assigned to the 19th Airlift Wing and 317th Airlift Wing remain running while U.S. Marines assigned to Marine Wing Support Squadron 372 prepare fuel lines during Specialized Fueling Operations at Naval Landing Field, San Clemente Island, California, Feb. 4, 2026. The training validated repeatable joint fueling procedures in support of distributed operations during the Spring 2026 C-130 Weapon System Council led by the 317th AW. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Jade M. Caldwell)