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)