Stories

U.S. Marine Corps 1st Lt. Jonathan Berklich, a ground intelligence officer with Weapons Company, 2nd Battalion, 1st Marine Regiment, Marine Rotational Force – Darwin 25.3, conducts planning with members of the Japan Ground Self-Defense Force during Exercise Southern Jackaroo at Townsville Field Training Area, Queensland, Australia, June 1, 2025. - U.S. Marine Corps 1st Lt. Jonathan Berklich, a ground intelligence officer with Weapons Company, 2nd Battalion, 1st Marine Regiment, Marine Rotational Force – Darwin 25.3, conducts planning with members of the Japan Ground Self-Defense Force during Exercise Southern Jackaroo at Townsville Field Training Area, Queensland, Australia, June 1, 2025. Southern Jackaroo is an annual exercise held between the U.S. Marine Corps, Australian Defence Force, and Japan Ground Self-Defense Force designed to enhance interoperability and combined readiness with Allies and partners. 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. Berklich is a native of Michigan. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Angelina Sara)

U.S. Marines with 1st Air Naval Gunfire Liaison Company, I Marine Expeditionary Force Information Group, and members of the United Arab Emirates Presidential Guard point out targets during United Arab Emirates Unit Enhancement Training at Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, California, May 8, 2025. - U.S. Marines with 1st Air Naval Gunfire Liaison Company, I Marine Expeditionary Force Information Group, and members of the United Arab Emirates Presidential Guard point out targets during United Arab Emirates Unit Enhancement Training at Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, California, May 8, 2025. The training aims to strengthen partner relations and enhance the UAE Presidential Guard’s understanding of Marine Corps tactics and procedures for indirect fire and close air support. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Ricardo Ramirez)

U.S. Marine Corps Brig. Gen. Jeremy Winters, left, the deputy commanding general of operations for Joint Task Force - Southern Border, and Maj. Gen. Thomas B. Savage, the commanding general of 1st Marine Division, bow their heads during the benediction at the memorial service of two fallen Marines at the chapel at Marine Corps Air Station Miramar, California, May 22, 2025. - U.S. Marine Corps Brig. Gen. Jeremy Winters, left, the deputy commanding general of operations for Joint Task Force - Southern Border, and Maj. Gen. Thomas B. Savage, the commanding general of 1st Marine Division, bow their heads during the benediction at the memorial service of two fallen Marines at the chapel at Marine Corps Air Station Miramar, California, May 22, 2025. The memorial service was held in honor of Lance Cpl. Albert A. Aguilera and Lance Cpl. Marcelino M. Gamino, who lost their lives in the line of duty April 15, 2025. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Nataly Espitia)

U.S. Marine Corps Cpl. Geronimo Vela Jr., an intelligence specialist with the 13th Marine Expeditionary Unit, I Marine Expeditionary Force, poses for a portrait with his mother after an award ceremony at Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, California, March 31, 2025. - U.S. Marine Corps Cpl. Geronimo Vela Jr., an intelligence specialist with the 13th Marine Expeditionary Unit, I Marine Expeditionary Force, poses for a portrait with his mother after an award ceremony at Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, California, March 31, 2025. Vela was named Marine of the Year for his superior performance of duties, positive attitude and dedication to mission accomplishment. The ceremony acknowledges the hard work, accomplishments and sacrifices made over the last year by recognized service members and their families in support of I MEF mission success. Vela is a native of Uvalde, Texas. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Staff Sgt. Jennifer Andrade)

U.S. Marine Corps Maj. Gen. Thomas B. Savage, left, the commanding general of 1st Marine Division, gifts a 1st MARDIV coin and patch to Republic of Korea Marine Corps Maj. Gen. Lee Ho Jong, the commanding general of 1st Marine Division, ROK Marine Corps, during a meeting in Pohang, South Korea, March 7, 2025. - U.S. Marine Corps Maj. Gen. Thomas B. Savage, left, the commanding general of 1st Marine Division, gifts a 1st MARDIV coin and patch to Republic of Korea Marine Corps Maj. Gen. Lee Ho Jong, the commanding general of 1st Marine Division, ROK Marine Corps, during a meeting in Pohang, South Korea, March 7, 2025. Freedom Shield is an exercise that provides iterative opportunities for Republic of Korea Marine Corps and U.S. Marine Corps units to train together, improving their combined capabilities to deter threats and maintain peace on the Korean Peninsula. (Courtesy photo from Republic of Korea Marine Corps)

U.S. Marine Corps Col. Jason C. Armas, center, the commanding officer of Marine Rotational Force – Darwin 25.3, and Sgt. Maj. Michael T. Escobar, right, the sergeant major of MRF – D 25.3, pose for a photo with Group Captain Melissa Neilson, the commander of Northern Command, at Royal Australian Air Force Base Darwin, Northern Territory, Australia, March 17, 2025. - U.S. Marine Corps Col. Jason C. Armas, center, the commanding officer of Marine Rotational Force – Darwin 25.3, and Sgt. Maj. Michael T. Escobar, right, the sergeant major of MRF – D 25.3, pose for a photo with Group Captain Melissa Neilson, the commander of Northern Command, at Royal Australian Air Force Base Darwin, Northern Territory, Australia, March 17, 2025. MRF-D 25.3 is part of 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 Sgt. Ezekieljay Correa)

U.S. Navy Capt. Henry F. Holcombe Jr., chaplain of I Marine Expeditionary Force, welcomes guests to a spouse brunch hosted by I MEF Religious Ministries at Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, California, Nov. 23, 2024. I MEF Religious Ministries’ spouse brunch brought together spouses of I MEF Marines and Sailors, aligning with the Marine Corps' focus on spiritual fitness as part of overall well-being. Spiritual fitness encompasses personal faith, foundational values, and moral living, fostered through participation in a supportive community, shared sacrifices for a greater cause, and a commitment to honor and character. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Erica S. Padgett) - U.S. Navy Capt. Henry F. Holcombe Jr., chaplain of I Marine Expeditionary Force, welcomes guests to a spouse brunch hosted by I MEF Religious Ministries at Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, California, Nov. 23, 2024. I MEF Religious Ministries’ spouse brunch brought together spouses of I MEF Marines and Sailors, aligning with the Marine Corps' focus on spiritual fitness as part of overall well-being. Spiritual fitness encompasses personal faith, foundational values, and moral living, fostered through participation in a supportive community, shared sacrifices for a greater cause, and a commitment to honor and character. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Erica S. Padgett)

U.S. Marine Corps 2nd Lt. Adam T. Taitano, 1st Combat Engineer Battalion logistics officer along with U.S. Marine Corps Lance Cpl. Jared R. Wilbanks, 1st CEB combat engineer, fix a door lock during Operation Clean Sweep at Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, Calif., Oct. 29, 2024. Operation Clean Sweep is a joint initiative between Marine Corps Installations West and I Marine Expeditionary Force at Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton to improve living conditions for Marines and Sailors. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Jeslianne A. Torres). - U.S. Marine Corps 2nd Lt. Adam T. Taitano, 1st Combat Engineer Battalion logistics officer along with U.S. Marine Corps Lance Cpl. Jared R. Wilbanks, 1st CEB combat engineer, fix a door lock during Operation Clean Sweep at Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, Calif., Oct. 29, 2024. Operation Clean Sweep is a joint initiative between Marine Corps Installations West and I Marine Expeditionary Force at Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton to improve living conditions for Marines and Sailors. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Jeslianne A. Torres).

U.S. Marine Corps Col. Matthew K. Mulvey, commanding officer of Combat Logistics Regiment 17, answers questions from 1st Marine Logistic Group Marines and Sailors about the Barracks 360 Reset initiative during a town hall event at Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, California, Oct. 3, 2024. The Barracks 360 Reset initiative aims to improve the living conditions and operational readiness of Marines and Sailors through increased oversight by command teams, a dedicated effort to reduce the maintenance backlog and shared ownership of the barracks. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Sgt. Bryant Rodriguez) - U.S. Marine Corps Col. Matthew K. Mulvey, commanding officer of Combat Logistics Regiment 17, answers questions from 1st Marine Logistic Group Marines and Sailors about the Barracks 360 Reset initiative during a town hall event at Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, California, Oct. 3, 2024. The Barracks 360 Reset initiative aims to improve the living conditions and operational readiness of Marines and Sailors through increased oversight by command teams, a dedicated effort to reduce the maintenance backlog and shared ownership of the barracks. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Sgt. Bryant Rodriguez)

U.S. Navy Senior Chief Petty Officer Kevin Jurek, the Navy senior enlisted leader of Marine Rotational Force – Darwin 24.3, uses the Joint Operational Medicine Information Systems Medical Common Operating Picture as part of a mass casualty training event during Exercise Predator’s Run 24 at Mount Bundey Training Area, July 24, 2024. - U.S. Navy Senior Chief Petty Officer Kevin Jurek, the Navy senior enlisted leader of Marine Rotational Force – Darwin 24.3, uses the Joint Operational Medicine Information Systems Medical Common Operating Picture as part of a mass casualty training event during Exercise Predator’s Run 24 at Mount Bundey Training Area, July 24, 2024. Exercise Predator’s Run 24 is a littoral-focused, multilateral training exercise led by the Australian’s Army 1st Brigade, involving the Australian Defence Force, the United Kingdom Commando Force, the Republic of the Philippines Army, the U.S. Marine Corps and the U.S. Navy. MedCOP is an interactive decision-support platform arming command surgeons and medical commanders with near real-time health surveillance and medical operations visibility to enable well-informed decisions. Jurek is a native of Oklahoma. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Gunnery Sgt. Kassie McDole)