Stories

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) - 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)

U.S. Marines and Navy Hospital Corpsmen with Combat Logistics Battalion 1, Marine Rotational Force – Darwin 25.3, remove simulated casualties from a 7-ton truck while conducting a mass casualty drill during Talisman Sabre 25, in the Northern Territory, Australia, July 21, 2025. Talisman Sabre is the largest bilateral military exercise between Australia and the United States advancing a free and open Indo-Pacific by strengthening relationships and interoperability among key allies and partners, while enhancing our collective capabilities to respond to a wide array of potential security concerns. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Sgt. Brian A. Stippey) - U.S. Marines and Navy Hospital Corpsmen with Combat Logistics Battalion 1, Marine Rotational Force – Darwin 25.3, remove simulated casualties from a 7-ton truck while conducting a mass casualty drill during Talisman Sabre 25, in the Northern Territory, Australia, July 21, 2025. Talisman Sabre is the largest bilateral military exercise between Australia and the United States advancing a free and open Indo-Pacific by strengthening relationships and interoperability among key allies and partners, while enhancing our collective capabilities to respond to a wide array of potential security concerns. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Sgt. Brian A. Stippey)

U.S. Marine Corps Cpl. Treyton Cronk, a satellite transmissions systems operator with 9th Communication Battalion, I Marine Expeditionary Force Information Group, establishes services for an expeditionary network by using a ViaSat Multi-Mission Terminal during a sustainment exercise at Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, California, Aug. 14, 2025. - U.S. Marine Corps Cpl. Treyton Cronk, a satellite transmissions systems operator with 9th Communication Battalion, I Marine Expeditionary Force Information Group, establishes services for an expeditionary network by using a ViaSat Multi-Mission Terminal during a sustainment exercise at Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, California, Aug. 14, 2025. 9th Communication Battalion is responsible for both establishing secure communication networks and defending them against cyber-attacks in support of I MEF. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Sgt. Kristin Long)

3rd MAW Marines compete in rugby championship - U.S. Marine Corps Sgt. Kendall Curtis, an aircraft ordnance technician with Marine Light Attack Helicopter Training Squadron (HMLAT) 303, Marine Aircraft Group 39, 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing, advances the ball during the 2025 Armed Forces Championship in Chula Vista, San Diego, Sept. 6, 2025. The Marine Corps Sports Program enables exceptional Marine athletes to compete in the AFC to promote goodwill through competitive sports across the service branches. (U.S. Marine Corps Photo by Lance Cpl. Nan Yang)

U.S. Marine Corps Lt. Gen. Christian F. Wortman, commanding general of I Marine Expeditionary Force, left, and Lance Cpl. Elijah Merino, a grenadier with 1st Marine Regiment, 1st Marine Division, repair a wall locker during Operation Clean Sweep III at Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, California, Sept. 16, 2025. - U.S. Marine Corps Lt. Gen. Christian F. Wortman, commanding general of I Marine Expeditionary Force, left, and Lance Cpl. Elijah Merino, a grenadier with 1st Marine Regiment, 1st Marine Division, repair a wall locker during Operation Clean Sweep III at Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, California, Sept. 16, 2025. OCS III, part of the ongoing Barracks 360 Reset initiative, demonstrates a collective commitment to improving living conditions through shared ownership, sustained accountability, and tangible improvements to the barracks. Wortman is a native of Pennsylvania and Merino is a native of California. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Sgt. Bryant Rodriguez)

U.S. Marines, members of the San Diego Padres organization, and volunteers pose for a photo after assembling care packages to be shipped to Marines with Marine Fighter Attack Squadron (VMFA) 232, MAG-11, 3rd MAW at Petco Park, San Diego, Sept. 15, 2025. - U.S. Marines, members of the San Diego Padres organization, and volunteers pose for a photo after assembling care packages to be shipped to Marines with Marine Fighter Attack Squadron (VMFA) 232, MAG-11, 3rd MAW at Petco Park, San Diego, Sept. 15, 2025. VMFA-232 is currently attached to MAG-12, 1st MAW, as part of the unit deployment program, enhancing squadron readiness and providing flexible fighter attack capabilities to support U.S. forces in the Indo-Pacific region. The San Diego Padres demonstrate their commitment to U.S. service members and their families with over 30 years of support through donations, Military Sundays, and community programs via the Padres Foundation. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Samantha Devine)

U.S. Navy Petty Officer Second Class Austin Washington, an aviation boatswain mate handler, directs an MV-22B Osprey assigned to Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron (VMM) 363, Marine Rotational Force – Darwin 25.3, for landing aboard the expeditionary sea base USS Miguel Keith (ESB 5) in the Philippine Sea, Aug. 29, 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. Washington is a native of California. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Angelina Sara) - U.S. Navy Petty Officer Second Class Austin Washington, an aviation boatswain mate handler, directs an MV-22B Osprey assigned to Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron (VMM) 363, Marine Rotational Force – Darwin 25.3, for landing aboard the expeditionary sea base USS Miguel Keith (ESB 5) in the Philippine Sea, Aug. 29, 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. Washington is a native of California. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Angelina Sara)

U.S. Marine Corps Cpl. Pay Reh, left, an engineer equipment electrical system technician with Marine Wing Support Squadron 373, Marine Air Control Group 38, 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing and Lance Cpl. Elias Morales, right, an electrician with MWSS-373, stand security during water purification at Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, California, Sept. 8, 2025. - U.S. Marine Corps Cpl. Pay Reh, left, an engineer equipment electrical system technician with Marine Wing Support Squadron 373, Marine Air Control Group 38, 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing and Lance Cpl. Elias Morales, right, an electrician with MWSS-373, stand security during water purification at Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, California, Sept. 8, 2025. Exercise Coastal Forge tested Marines’ ability to rapidly set up spoke sites, giving aviation units the ability to launch and sustain missions from forward locations across the world. Reh is a native of South Dakota and Morales is a native of Texas. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Samantha Devine)

U.S. Marine Corps Capt. Erik Carlson, left, and Sgt. Ceaser Luna, both joint terminal attack controllers with Marine Rotational Force – Darwin 25.3, and Australian Army officer Lt. Benjamin Buchanon, a Royal Australian Artillery Fire Support officer, observe a target during a close-air support rehearsal during Exercise Balikatan 25, April 26, 2025. - U.S. Marine Corps Capt. Erik Carlson, left, and Sgt. Ceaser Luna, both joint terminal attack controllers with Marine Rotational Force – Darwin 25.3, and Australian Army officer Lt. Benjamin Buchanon, a Royal Australian Artillery Fire Support officer, observe a target during a close-air support rehearsal during Exercise Balikatan 25, April 26, 2025. Balikatan is a longstanding annual exercise between the U.S. and Philippine armed forces designed to strengthen the alliance, showcase the capable combined force, and demonstrate the commitment to regional security and stability. (U.S. Marine C5rps photo by Sgt, Ezekieljay Correa)

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)