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)

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. Marines with 2nd Battalion, 1st Marine Regiment, Marine Rotational Force – Darwin 25.3, and Australian Army soldiers with 5th/7th Battalion, The Royal Australian Regiment, fire their weapons during a Maritime Key Terrain Security Operations event, in support of Exercise Balikatan 25 near Puerto Princesa, Palawan, Philippines May 5, 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 Corps photo by Cpl. Keegan Jones) - U.S. Marines with 2nd Battalion, 1st Marine Regiment, Marine Rotational Force – Darwin 25.3, and Australian Army soldiers with 5th/7th Battalion, The Royal Australian Regiment, fire their weapons during a Maritime Key Terrain Security Operations event, in support of Exercise Balikatan 25 near Puerto Princesa, Palawan, Philippines May 5, 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 Corps photo by Cpl. Keegan Jones)

U.S. Marines with 2nd Battalion, 1st Marine Regiment, Marine Rotational Force – Darwin 25.3 unload cargo from a U.S. Air Force C-130J. - U.S. Marines with 2nd Battalion, 1st Marine Regiment, Marine Rotational Force – Darwin 25.3 unload cargo from a U.S. Air Force C-130J with 36th Airlift Squadron, 374th Airlift Wing after their arrival to Puerto Princesa, Palawan, Philippines, from Mindanao for Balikatan 2025, April 15, 2025. Balikatan is a longstanding annual exercise between 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 Corps photo by Sgt. Ezekieljay Correa)

Philippine and U.S. government and military representatives furl the Balikatan flag during the closing ceremony to conclude Exercise Balikatan 25 at Camp Aguinaldo, Manila, Philippines, May 9, 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 Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Erica S. Padgett) - Philippine and U.S. government and military representatives furl the Balikatan flag during the closing ceremony to conclude Exercise Balikatan 25 at Camp Aguinaldo, Manila, Philippines, May 9, 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 Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Erica S. Padgett)

U.S. Marines with 2nd Battalion, 1st Marine Regiment, Marine Rotational Force – Darwin 25.3 unload cargo from a U.S. Air Force C-130J. - U.S. Marines with 2nd Battalion, 1st Marine Regiment, Marine Rotational Force – Darwin 25.3 unload cargo from a U.S. Air Force C-130J with 36th Airlift Squadron, 374th Airlift Wing after their arrival to Puerto Princesa, Palawan, Philippines, from Mindanao for Balikatan 2025, April 15, 2025. Balikatan is a longstanding annual exercise between 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 Corps photo by Sgt. Ezekieljay Correa)

Philippine and U.S. government and military representatives conduct the “crossing of hands” during the opening ceremony to commence Exercise Balikatan 25 at Camp Aguinaldo, Manila, Philippines, April 21, 2025 - Philippine and U.S. government and military representatives conduct the “crossing of hands” during the opening ceremony to commence Exercise Balikatan 25 at Camp Aguinaldo, Manila, Philippines, April 21, 2025. Balikatan is a longstanding annual exercise between the Armed Forces of the Philippines and the 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. Erica Padgett)

Philippine and U.S. government and military representatives pose for a photo at the closing ceremony for Exercise Balikatan 24 at Camp Aguinaldo, Manila, Philippines, May 10, 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. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Pedro Tenorio) - Philippine and U.S. government and military representatives pose for a photo at the closing ceremony for Exercise Balikatan 24 at Camp Aguinaldo, Manila, Philippines, May 10, 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. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Pedro Tenorio)