Stories - Tag 15th MEU

U.S. Marine Corps Gunnery Sgt. Joseph Morelli, left, the communications maintenance chief assigned to the 15th Marine Expeditionary Unit, and Sgt. Albert Morelli, an assistant patrol leader assigned to Bravo Company, Battalion Landing Team 1/5, 15th MEU, pose for a photo in the well deck of the amphibious assault ship USS Boxer (LHD 4) in the Pacific Ocean Aug. 4, 2024. - U.S. Marine Corps Gunnery Sgt. Joseph Morelli, left, the communications maintenance chief assigned to the 15th Marine Expeditionary Unit, and Sgt. Albert Morelli, an assistant patrol leader assigned to Bravo Company, Battalion Landing Team 1/5, 15th MEU, pose for a photo in the well deck of the amphibious assault ship USS Boxer (LHD 4) in the Pacific Ocean Aug. 4, 2024. Gunnery Sgt. Morelli and Sgt. Morelli, identical twins from Cheyenne, Wyoming, enlisted together in the Marine Corps in 2009 and are both underway aboard Boxer supporting the 15th MEU’s routine operations in the U.S. 7th Fleet area of operations. 7th Fleet is the U.S. Navy’s largest forward-deployed numbered fleet, and routinely interacts and operates with allies and partners in preserving a free and open Indo-Pacific region. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Luis Agostini)

Marines First, Brothers Always: Marine Promotes Twin Brother during 15th MEU Deployment

Marines everywhere know that red binders on the first of the month means promotions. As Gunnery Sgt. Joseph Morelli read a promotion warrant aboard USS Boxer Aug. 1, it was a curious sight for those in the formation.

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U.S. Marine Corps Capt. Steven Maire, left, an AH-1Z Viper pilot and a native of Cleveland, Ohio, and Capt. Joseph Carey, an MV-22B Osprey and a native of Hanover, New Hampshire, both assigned to Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron (VMM) 165 (Reinforced), 15th Marine Expeditionary Unit, pose for a photo after receiving Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medals during a ceremony at Marine Corps Air Station Miramar, California, June 10, 2024. - U.S. Marine Corps Capt. Steven Maire, left, an AH-1Z Viper pilot and a native of Cleveland, Ohio, and Capt. Joseph Carey, an MV-22B Osprey and a native of Hanover, New Hampshire, both assigned to Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron (VMM) 165 (Reinforced), 15th Marine Expeditionary Unit, pose for a photo after receiving Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medals during a ceremony at Marine Corps Air Station Miramar, California, June 10, 2024. Maire and Carey were presented awards for providing lifesaving aid to a man suffering a medical emergency May 23, 2024, at Dallas Fort Worth International Airport. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Amelia Kang)

15th MEU Pilots Awarded for Lifesaving Actions

Two Marines assigned to Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron 165 (Reinforced), 15th Marine Expeditionary Unit, were recognized June 10, 2024, for their lifesaving actions helping a man suffering a medical emergency at the at Dallas Fort Worth International Airport May 23, 2024.

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U.S. Marine Corps Col. Sean Dynan, right, commanding officer of the 15th Marine Expeditionary Unit gifts his command challenge coin to Malaysia Army Lt. Col. Mohd Zaki, commanding officer of 18th Battalion, Royal Malay Regiment, 10th Brigade (Para), during a key leader engagement at Sri Pantai Camp, Kuala Terengganu, Malaysia, May 28, 2024. - U.S. Marine Corps Col. Sean Dynan, right, commanding officer of the 15th Marine Expeditionary Unit gifts his command challenge coin to Malaysia Army Lt. Col. Mohd Zaki, commanding officer of 18th Battalion, Royal Malay Regiment, 10th Brigade (Para), during a key leader engagement at Sri Pantai Camp, Kuala Terengganu, Malaysia, May 28, 2024. Tiger Strike is a bilateral exercise between U.S. and Malaysia armed forces designed to enhance communication and build combat readiness through combined amphibious operations and subject matter expert exchanges in support of a shared vision for security and stability in the region. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by 1st Lt. Robert Nanna)

Tiger Strike 2024: USMC and Navy to Conduct Bilateral Training Exercise with Malaysia Armed Forces

Members of the Malaysian and United States armed forces are scheduled to participate in Tiger Strike 2024, a bilateral training exercise in Kuantan and Kuala Terengganu, Malaysia, from May 29 to June 6, 2024.

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U.S. Marine Corps Col. Sean Dynan, commanding officer of the 15th Marine Expeditionary Unit gifts a 15th MEU plaque to Indonesian Navy (TNI-AL) Rear Adm. Yoos Suryono Hadi, commander of 1st Fleet Command, prior to the opening ceremony of Cooperation Afloat Readiness and Training (CARAT) Indonesia 24 in Bandar Lampung, Indonesia, May 13, 2024. This year marks the 30th iteration of CARAT, a multinational exercise series designed to enhance U.S. and partner navies' abilities to operate together in response to traditional and non-traditional maritime security challenges in the Indo-Pacific region. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Sgt. Patrick Katz) - U.S. Marine Corps Col. Sean Dynan, commanding officer of the 15th Marine Expeditionary Unit gifts a 15th MEU plaque to Indonesian Navy (TNI-AL) Rear Adm. Yoos Suryono Hadi, commander of 1st Fleet Command, prior to the opening ceremony of Cooperation Afloat Readiness and Training (CARAT) Indonesia 24 in Bandar Lampung, Indonesia, May 13, 2024. This year marks the 30th iteration of CARAT, a multinational exercise series designed to enhance U.S. and partner navies' abilities to operate together in response to traditional and non-traditional maritime security challenges in the Indo-Pacific region. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Sgt. Patrick Katz)

CARAT Indonesia Celebrates 75 Years of Diplomatic Relations Between U.S., Indonesia

The U.S. Navy and Marine Corps began Exercise Cooperation Afloat Readiness and Training (CARAT) Indonesia 2024 with the Indonesian Navy (TNI-AL) and Marine Corps (KORMAR RI) in Bandar Lampung, Indonesia, May 13.

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A U.S. Marine Corps amphibious combat vehicle attached to Alpha Company, Battalion Landing Team 1/5, 15th Marine Expeditionary Unit, splashes off the amphibious dock landing ship USS Harpers Ferry (LSD 49) during Exercise Balikatan 24 in Naval Detachment Oyster Bay, Palawan, Philippines, May 4, 2024. - A U.S. Marine Corps amphibious combat vehicle attached to Alpha Company, Battalion Landing Team 1/5, 15th Marine Expeditionary Unit, splashes off the amphibious dock landing ship USS Harpers Ferry (LSD 49) during Exercise Balikatan 24 in Naval Detachment Oyster Bay, Palawan, Philippines, May 4, 2024. BK 24 is an annual exercise between the Armed Forces of the Philippines and the U.S. military designed to strengthen bilateral interoperability, capabilities, trust, and cooperation built over decades of shared experiences. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Peyton Kahle)

Amphibious Combat Vehicles Mark Operational Debut in Pacific During Balikatan 24

OYSTER BAY, Philippines – The 15th Marine Expeditionary Unit’s Amphibious Combat Vehicles Platoon conducted a live-fire, waterborne gunnery range exercise in Oyster Bay, Philippines, May 4, 2024, marking the first overseas employment of the ACVs during their initial deployment. The ACV platoon launched from aboard amphibious dock landing ship USS Harpers Ferry (LSD 49) before organizing into assault sections to close with and engage multiple shore-based targets, using their Remote Weapons Systems to control externally-mounted Mark 19 40 mm grenade machine guns. Section leaders within the ACV Platoon, which is part of Alpha Company, Battalion Landing Team 1/5, used the opportunity to coordinate and control the simultaneous fires of all of their section’s weapons while afloat to maximize the effect against the targets ashore. The ACV provides unique capabilities to the amphibious force, increasing command and control capability, mobility ashore, and a stabilized weapon system to support maneuver. “The hard work and dedication of our Marines is what made today’s training successful,” said U.S. Marine Corps Col. Sean Dynan, commanding officer of the 15th MEU. “Today’s training is a proof of concept across the Marine Corps for successful ACV employment in its intended environment.” The ACVs fired 40 mm training rounds that mark targets with orange chalk upon impact, instead of using high explosives in Oyster Bay. Upon completion of the gunnery exercise, the ACV platoon and all ACVs reembarked aboard Harpers Ferry. This waterborne gunnery range took place while the 15th MEU continues to participate in other bilateral training events during Exercise Balikatan 24, which incorporates several combined joint all-domain operation events that increase U.S.-Philippine bilateral interoperability and lethality across land, air, sea, space, and cyberspace domains. The exercise is a tangible demonstration of U.S. and Philippine cooperation to strengthen the Alliance in an increasingly complex Indo-Pacific security environment. The ACV Platoon, along with Alpha Co. and other elements from across the 15th MEU, deployed from Southern California March 19 aboard Harpers Ferry. During this first deployment, 15th MEU will continue to provide insights for ACV employment, embarkation, maintenance requirements, logistics trains, and integration with our allies and partners. These insights are vital for the service to ensure we continue to provide our Marines with the most operationally ready and capable platforms. The 15th MEU is under the command and control of Combined Task Force 76/3, employed by U.S. 7th Fleet to operate with allies and partners in preserving a free and open Indo-Pacific. Please direct all Balikatan 2024 related questions to Capt. Josephine Rios at Josephine.rios.1@us.af.mil.

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Cpl. Dominique A. Sparacino is welcomed home by his loving wife, Victoria Sparacino, upon return from a seven-month deployment with the 15th Marine Expeditionary Unit at Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, California. While deployed, the 15th MEU participated in more than 15 different theater security cooperation or bi-lateral exercises including combined arms and desert survival training with French forces in Djibouti, the Malaysia-US Amphibious Exercise, Combined Afloat Readiness and Training in Brunei, and more than 12 subject matter expert exchanges with partner nations throughout the Middle East. Sparacino is an infantryman with Lima Company, 3rd Battalion, 1st Marine Regiment, 1st Marine Division, I Marine Expeditionary Force. (Marine Corps photo by Cpl. April L. Price/ Released) - Cpl. Dominique A. Sparacino is welcomed home by his loving wife, Victoria Sparacino, upon return from a seven-month deployment with the 15th Marine Expeditionary Unit at Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, California. While deployed, the 15th MEU participated in more than 15 different theater security cooperation or bi-lateral exercises including combined arms and desert survival training with French forces in Djibouti, the Malaysia-US Amphibious Exercise, Combined Afloat Readiness and Training in Brunei, and more than 12 subject matter expert exchanges with partner nations throughout the Middle East. Sparacino is an infantryman with Lima Company, 3rd Battalion, 1st Marine Regiment, 1st Marine Division, I Marine Expeditionary Force. (Marine Corps photo by Cpl. April L. Price/ Released)

From ship to shore, the 15th MEU returns home

It's been eight months, but families of the 15th Marine Expeditionary Unit eagerly gathered from across the country, Dec. 12- 15, at Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton to welcome their loved ones.Newborn babies, wives, husbands, families, and a few dogs huddled around personalized signs and American flags watching their breathe in the cold, waiting

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15th MEU returns from 7-month deployment

Elements of the 15th Marine Expeditionary Unit will begin returning to Marine Corps Air Station Miramar, Calif. and Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, Calif. throughout the weekend from a seven-month deployment to the Western Pacific and Central Command areas of responsibility. While deployed, the MEU participated in more than 15 different theater

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