Stories

U.S. Navy Hospital Corpsman 2nd Class David Doyle, a preventative medical technician with Marine Rotational Force-Southeast Asia, poses for a photo during KAMANDAG 8 at Camp Cape Bojeador, Burgos, Philippines, Oct. 20, 2024. KAMANDAG is an annual Philippine and U.S. Marine Corps-led exercise aimed at enhancing the Armed Forces of the Philippines’ defense and humanitarian capabilities by providing valuable training in combined operations with foreign militaries in the advancement of a Free and Open Indo-Pacific. This year marks the eighth iteration of this exercise and includes participants from the French Armed Forces, Royal Thai Marine Corps, and Indonesian Marine Corps; including continued participation from the Australian Defense Force, British Armed Forces, Japan Ground Self-Defense Force, and Republic of Korea Marine Corps. MRF-SEA is a rotational unit derived from elements of I Marine Expeditionary Force executing a U.S. Marine Corps Forces Pacific operational model that involves training events and exchanges with partner military subject matter experts, promotes security goals with Allied and partner nations, and ensures a persistent I MEF presence west of the International Date Line. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Sgt. Shaina Jupiter) - U.S. Navy Hospital Corpsman 2nd Class David Doyle, a preventative medical technician with Marine Rotational Force-Southeast Asia, poses for a photo during KAMANDAG 8 at Camp Cape Bojeador, Burgos, Philippines, Oct. 20, 2024. KAMANDAG is an annual Philippine and U.S. Marine Corps-led exercise aimed at enhancing the Armed Forces of the Philippines’ defense and humanitarian capabilities by providing valuable training in combined operations with foreign militaries in the advancement of a Free and Open Indo-Pacific. This year marks the eighth iteration of this exercise and includes participants from the French Armed Forces, Royal Thai Marine Corps, and Indonesian Marine Corps; including continued participation from the Australian Defense Force, British Armed Forces, Japan Ground Self-Defense Force, and Republic of Korea Marine Corps. MRF-SEA is a rotational unit derived from elements of I Marine Expeditionary Force executing a U.S. Marine Corps Forces Pacific operational model that involves training events and exchanges with partner military subject matter experts, promotes security goals with Allied and partner nations, and ensures a persistent I MEF presence west of the International Date Line. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Sgt. Shaina Jupiter)

MARINE CORPS BASE CAMP PENDLETON, Calif. – Master Chief Petty Officer Michael Smith, outgoing command master chief of I Marine Expeditionary force, ‘goes ashore’ for the last time at the conclusion of his change of charge and retirement ceremony on Camp Pendleton June 3, 2016. Stemming from the naval tradition of requesting permission to leave the ship, ‘going ashore’ signifies the honorable retirement of a sailor from naval service. Master Chief Petty Officer Frank Dominguez, a Superior, Arizona native, is replacing Smith, a Ridgecrest native, as the command master chief of I Marine Expeditionary Force. (U.S. Marine Corps Photo By Cpl. Garrett White/Released) - MARINE CORPS BASE CAMP PENDLETON, Calif. – Master Chief Petty Officer Michael Smith, outgoing command master chief of I Marine Expeditionary force, ‘goes ashore’ for the last time at the conclusion of his change of charge and retirement ceremony on Camp Pendleton June 3, 2016. Stemming from the naval tradition of requesting permission to leave the ship, ‘going ashore’ signifies the honorable retirement of a sailor from naval service. Master Chief Petty Officer Frank Dominguez, a Superior, Arizona native, is replacing Smith, a Ridgecrest native, as the command master chief of I Marine Expeditionary Force. (U.S. Marine Corps Photo By Cpl. Garrett White/Released)

U.S. Navy Petty Officer 2nd Class Ambrose McGill, a hospital corpsman with Special Purpose Marine Air Ground Task Force—Crisis Response—Central Command, was awarded the Fleet Marine Force pin during a recognition ceremony at an undisclosed location in Southwest Asia, Dec. 12, 2015. McGill spent countless hours reviewing the vast amount of material required to earn the pin. McGill said, he wanted to earn this since the first day he became a hospital corpsman. (Marine Corps photo by Sgt. Owen Kimbrel/RELEASED) - U.S. Navy Petty Officer 2nd Class Ambrose McGill, a hospital corpsman with Special Purpose Marine Air Ground Task Force—Crisis Response—Central Command, was awarded the Fleet Marine Force pin during a recognition ceremony at an undisclosed location in Southwest Asia, Dec. 12, 2015. McGill spent countless hours reviewing the vast amount of material required to earn the pin. McGill said, he wanted to earn this since the first day he became a hospital corpsman. (Marine Corps photo by Sgt. Owen Kimbrel/RELEASED)

A Marine escorts an ambulatory HMMWV to a Shock Trauma Platoon during Exercise Steel Night’s mass casualty drill at Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center Twentynine Palms, Calif., Dec. 12, 2015. The drill tested the 1st Marine Division’s ability to react to a large influx of injuries and wounds from battling the enemy. Steel Knight provides tough, realistic training for the Marines and sailors of 1st Marine Division. - A Marine escorts an ambulatory HMMWV to a Shock Trauma Platoon during Exercise Steel Night’s mass casualty drill at Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center Twentynine Palms, Calif., Dec. 12, 2015. The drill tested the 1st Marine Division’s ability to react to a large influx of injuries and wounds from battling the enemy. Steel Knight provides tough, realistic training for the Marines and sailors of 1st Marine Division.

Students of the Field Medical Service Technician Course set off on a 6-mile hike aboard Camp Pendleton, Calif., Sept. 1, 2015. The hike is one of three hikes that every student must complete on their journey to becoming a “greenside” corpsman, working side- by-side and caring for Marines. (Photo by Pvt. Robert Bliss/Released) - Students of the Field Medical Service Technician Course set off on a 6-mile hike aboard Camp Pendleton, Calif., Sept. 1, 2015. The hike is one of three hikes that every student must complete on their journey to becoming a “greenside” corpsman, working side- by-side and caring for Marines. (Photo by Pvt. Robert Bliss/Released)

He’s a pillar of health, literally. At 6’3” and 210 pounds, armed with six years of college and eight years of military experience, Petty Officer 2nd Class John H. Holscher is a veritable tower of care and comfort for the people here, regardless of nationality. Not that any of them have a choice, because the next nearest medic is more than 100 kilometers away. 'The biggest challenge to being out here is being the only doc. (Iraqi) medics depend on me to train them, Iraqis patients depend on me, taking care of the Marines, going on every patrol, and then the villagers, I can’t take care of them all,' said Holscher, corpsman, Border Transition Team 4222. - He’s a pillar of health, literally. At 6’3” and 210 pounds, armed with six years of college and eight years of military experience, Petty Officer 2nd Class John H. Holscher is a veritable tower of care and comfort for the people here, regardless of nationality. Not that any of them have a choice, because the next nearest medic is more than 100 kilometers away. 'The biggest challenge to being out here is being the only doc. (Iraqi) medics depend on me to train them, Iraqis patients depend on me, taking care of the Marines, going on every patrol, and then the villagers, I can’t take care of them all,' said Holscher, corpsman, Border Transition Team 4222.