Photos

A Neros Archer first-person view drone operated by U.S. Marine Corps Lance Cpl. Josh Pinon, a radio operator with Alpha Company, 1st Battalion, 5th Marine Regiment, Marine Rotational Force – Darwin 26, flies during a demonstration as part of a platoon exchange at the Indonesian Marine Corps 7th Battalion base near Lampung, Indonesia, Aug. 24, 2026. This year’s iteration of the annual platoon exchange is between MRF-D and the Indonesian Armed Forces 7th Infantry Battalion, 4th Brigade, designed to enhance combined combat readiness, strengthen tactical interoperability, and reinforce the enduring partnership between both nations. Pinon is a native of Illinois. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Sgt. Kyle Chan)

Photo by Sgt. Kyle Chan

U.S. Marines with Alpha Company, 1st Battalion, 5th Marine Regiment, Marine Rotational Force – Darwin 26, and Indonesian marines with 7th Infantry Battalion, 4th Brigade, practice how to clear a room during an urban combat tactics class as part of a platoon exchange at the Indonesian Marine Corps 7th Battalion base near Lampung, Indonesia, Aug. 24, 2026. This year’s iteration of the annual platoon exchange is between MRF-D and the Indonesian Armed Forces 7th Infantry Battalion, 4th Brigade, designed to enhance combined combat readiness, strengthen tactical interoperability, and reinforce the enduring partnership between both nations. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Sgt. Kyle Chan)

Photo by Sgt. Kyle Chan

U.S. Marine Corps Lance Cpl. Miguel Sepulveda, a grenadier with 1st Battalion, 5th Marine Regiment, Marine Rotational Force – Darwin 26, aims in a point-man reaction course during Exercise DELAYEN 26 in Tahiti, French Polynesia, Aug. 21, 2026. Exercise DELAYEN 26 is a bilateral training exercise between Marine Rotational Force – Darwin 26 and the French Armed Forces in French Polynesia designed to enhance tactical interoperability among forces in the Indo-Pacific. Sepulveda is a native of California. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Nan Yang)

Photo by Cpl. Nan Yang

U.S. Marine Corps Cpl. Michaelpau Riceweber, a team leader with 1st Battalion, 5th Marine Regiment, Marine Rotational Force – Darwin 26, shoots a target in a point-man reaction course during Exercise DELAYEN 26 in Tahiti, French Polynesia, Aug. 21, 2026. Exercise DELAYEN 26 is a bilateral training exercise between Marine Rotational Force – Darwin 26 and the French Armed Forces in French Polynesia designed to enhance tactical interoperability among forces in the Indo-Pacific. Riceweber is a native of South Carolina. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Nan Yang)

Photo by Cpl. Nan Yang

A U.S. Marine Corps F-35B Lightning II assigned to Marine Fighter Attack Squadron (VMFA) 225, Marine Aircraft Group 13, 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing, takes off during exercise Red Flag-Alaska 26-3 at Eielson Air Force Base, Alaska, Aug. 18, 2026. Red Flag-Alaska is an exercise designed to simulate complex combat scenarios in a realistic training environment, providing unique opportunities to integrate joint and coalition forces into multilateral training, enhancing 3rd MAW’s ability to project combat power west of the International Date Line. The 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing's mission is to provide combat ready expeditionary aviation forces capable of short notice worldwide deployment to Marine Air Ground Task Force, fleet and unified commanders. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Jacob Gabris)

Photo by Lance Cpl. Jacob Gabris

Indonesian marines with 7th Infantry Battalion, 4th Brigade, patrol during a point man course as part of a platoon exchange near Lampung, Indonesia, Aug. 18, 2026. This year’s iteration of the annual platoon exchange is between Marine Rotational Force – Darwin 26 and the Indonesian Armed Forces 7th Infantry Battalion, 4th Brigade, designed to enhance combined combat readiness, strengthen tactical interoperability, and reinforce the enduring partnership between both nations. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Sgt. Kyle Chan)

Photo by Sgt. Kyle Chan

U.S. Marine Corps Capt. Jacob Decelles a pilot with Marine Fighter Attack Squadron (VMFA) 225, Marine Aircraft Group 13, 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing, prepares for flight in an F-35B Lightning II assigned to VMFA-225 during exercise Red Flag-Alaska 26-3 at Eielson Air Force Base, Alaska, Aug. 18, 2026. Red Flag-Alaska is an exercise designed to simulate complex combat scenarios in a realistic training environment, providing unique opportunities to integrate joint and coalition forces into multilateral training, enhancing 3rd MAW’s ability to project combat power west of the International Date Line. The 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing's mission is to provide combat ready expeditionary aviation forces capable of short notice worldwide deployment to Marine Air Ground Task Force, fleet and unified commanders. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Jacob Gabris)

Photo by Lance Cpl. Jacob Gabris

U.S. Marine Corps Cpl. Trent Ai, a team leader with Alpha Company, 1st Battalion, 5th Marine Regiment, Marine Rotational Force – Darwin 26, provides security during a point man course as part of a platoon exchange near Lampung, Indonesia, Aug. 18, 2026. This year’s iteration of the annual platoon exchange is between MRF-D and the Indonesian Armed Forces 7th Infantry Battalion, 4th Brigade, designed to enhance combined combat readiness, strengthen tactical interoperability, and reinforce the enduring partnership between both nations. Ai is a native of Hawaii. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Sgt. Kyle Chan)

Photo by Sgt. Kyle Chan

A U.S. Marine Corps medium tactical vehicle replacement with Aviation Command and Control Detachment, Marine Rotational Force – Southeast Asia, I Marine Expeditionary Force, tows an AN/TPS-80 Ground and Air Task Oriented Radar during training in the Philippines, Aug. 17, 2026. The training supports the Philippine Marine Corps’ Archipelagic Coastal Defense Concept and provides U.S. and Philippine forces opportunities to refine fires integration while testing capabilities that improve command and control and enhance fires integration. MRF-SEA serves as I MEF’s forward command element in the Philippines, supporting Task Force-Philippines and integrating with the Armed Forces of the Philippines to strengthen interoperability and improve combined readiness. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Ryan Ramsammy)

Photo by Cpl. Ryan Ramsammy

A U.S. Marine Corps Osprey with Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron (VMM) 268 (Reinforced), Marine Rotational Force – Darwin 26, preforms during the final day of the Pacific Airshow Gold Coast 2026 in Gold Coast, Australia, Aug. 16. 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. (U.S. Marine Corps video by Lance Cpl. Andrew Whistler)

Photo by Lance Cpl. Andrew Whistler

U.S. Air Force C-17 Globemaster III preforms during the final day of the Pacific Airshow Gold Coast 2026 in Gold Coast, Australia, Aug. 16. 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. (U.S. Marine Corps video by Lance Cpl. Andrew Whistler)

Photo by Lance Cpl. Andrew Whistler

U.S. Marine Corps Lance Cpl. Eric Cardona, a rifleman with Alpha Company, 1st Battalion, 5th Marine Regiment, Marine Rotational Force – Darwin 26, speaks to Indonesian marines with 7th Infantry Battalion, 4th Brigade, on the capabilities of an M203 40 mm grenade launcher as part of a platoon exchange at the Indonesian Marine Corps 9th Battalion base near Lampung, Indonesia, Aug. 14, 2026. This year’s iteration of the annual platoon exchange is between MRF-D and the Indonesian Armed Forces 7th Infantry Battalion, 4th Brigade, designed to enhance combined combat readiness, strengthen tactical interoperability, and reinforce the enduring partnership between both nations. Cardona is a native of Colorado. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Sgt. Kyle Chan)

Photo by Sgt. Kyle Chan

U.S. Marines with Alpha Company, 1st Battalion, 5th Marine Regiment, Marine Rotational Force – Darwin 26, observe Indonesian marines with 7th Infantry Battalion, 4th Brigade, break down a Pindad SM-2 general-purpose machine gun as part of a platoon exchange at the Indonesian Marine Corps 9th Battalion base near Lampung, Indonesia, Aug. 14, 2026. This year’s iteration of the annual platoon exchange is between MRF-D and the Indonesian Armed Forces 7th Infantry Battalion, 4th Brigade, designed to enhance combined combat readiness, strengthen tactical interoperability, and reinforce the enduring partnership between both nations. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Sgt. Kyle Chan)

Photo by Sgt. Kyle Chan

U.S. Marines with Weapons Company, Battalion Landing Team 3/5, 11th Marine Expeditionary Unit, conduct an M240B machine gun live-fire range on the flight deck of San Antonio-class amphibious transport dock USS Portland (LPD 27) in the U.S. Central Command area of responsibility, August 14, 2026. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Avery Wayland)

Photo by Cpl. Avery Wayland

U.S. Marines assigned to 15th Marine Expeditionary Unit, offload personnel and equipment from U.S. Navy Landing Craft, Air Cushion (LCAC) 57 attached to Assault Craft Unit 5 during an in-stream offload at Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, Aug. 13, 2026. The in-stream offload transported personnel and equipment off Wasp-class amphibious assault ship USS Essex (LHD 2) as part of the 15th MEU’s disembarkation process after participating in exercise RIMPAC 2026. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Kenneth Twaddell)

Photo by Cpl. Kenneth Twaddell

U.S. Navy Landing Craft, Air Cushion (LCAC) 90 attached to Assault Craft Unit 5 prepares to leave the beach during an in-stream offload at Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, Aug. 13, 2026. The in-stream offload transported personnel and equipment off Wasp-class amphibious assault ship USS Essex (LHD 2) as part of the 15th Marine Expeditionary Unit’s disembarkation process after participating in exercise RIMPAC 2026.  (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Kenneth Twaddell)

Photo by Cpl. Kenneth Twaddell

7.62mm rounds are staged for firing during M240B machine gun familiarization training on the flight deck of San Antonio-class amphibious transport dock USS Portland (LPD 27) in the U.S. Central Command area of responsibility, August 14, 2026. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Avery Wayland)

Photo by Cpl. Avery Wayland

U.S. Marine Corps Cpl. Curtis Jeffress, a fire support Marine with 1st Air Naval Gunfire Liaison Company, I Marine Expeditionary Force Information Group, observes key terrain during a terminal attack control training event at Barry M. Goldwater Range, Arizona, August 11, 2026. The training brought together all-domain effects teams to sustain and enhance proficiency in terminal attack control and tactical air control party operations in unfamiliar and austere environments. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Hubert Maliszewski)

Photo by Lance Cpl. Hubert Maliszewski

U.S. Marine Corps Cpl. Curtis Jeffress, a fire support Marine with 1st Air Naval Gunfire Liaison Company, I Marine Expeditionary Force Information Group, observes a show of force during a terminal attack control training event at Barry M. Goldwater Range, Arizona, August 11, 2026. The training brought together all-domain effects teams to sustain and enhance proficiency in terminal attack control and tactical air control party operations in unfamiliar and austere environments. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Hubert Maliszewski)

Photo by Lance Cpl. Hubert Maliszewski

U.S. Marines with Weapons Company, 2nd Battalion, 1st Marine Regiment, 1st Marine Division, fire an illumination round during an M252 81 mm mortar range as a part of Adversary Force Exercise 4-26 at Marine Corps Air-Ground Combat Center Twentynine Palms, California, Aug. 9, 2026. AFX serves as an opportunity for units to receive training and certification across multiple warfighting functions in realistic force-on-force scenarios. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Sgt. Vincent Needham)

Photo by Sgt. Vincent Needham