Exhausted, starving and surrounded, more than 75,000 American and Filipino soldiers surrendered on the Bataan Peninsula on April 9, 1942, unaware they were about to endure one of the most brutal atrocities of World War II. Forced to march nearly 65 miles under the scorching Philippine sun with little food and water, thousands died during what would become known as the Bataan Death March.
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The 15th Marine Expeditionary Unit concluded its rotation with Marine Rotational Force – Southeast Asia on March 31, after enhancing combined readiness with the Armed Forces of the Philippines and regional partners in Indonesia, Malaysia, Brunei, and Thailand. Building on that success, a new command element from I Marine Expeditionary Force arrived to continue the mission with a focused effort in the Philippines, integrating Marine Corps forces in support of Task Force – Philippines and strengthening the U.S.-Philippines Alliance.
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The 27th iteration of Exercise Valiant Mark came to a close on March 26, 2025, as U.S. Marines and Sailors with Marine Rotational Force-Southeast Asia, I Marine Expeditionary Force, and Singapore Guardsmen with 3rd Battalion Singapore Guards, 7th Singapore Infantry Brigade, culminated the exercise with a field-expedient closing ceremony at SAFTI City training facility, Singapore. The U.S. force included Marines from 1st Battalion, 5th Marine Regiment, attached to MRF-SEA and integrated with the Singapore Guardsmen during the 10 days of training.
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U.S. Marines with Marine Rotational Force-Southeast Asia (MRF-SEA) began Exercise Valiant Mark 2025, alongside the 3rd Battalion Singapore Guards (3 GDS) and 7th Singapore Infantry Brigade (7 SIB), in a ceremony held on Monday, March 17, aboard Bedok Camp, Singapore. This year’s exercise marks the 27th iteration of Valiant Mark, since its inception in 1991. The ceremony was presided over by Lieutenant General Michael S. Cederholm, the commanding general of I Marine Expeditionary Force, and Colonel Wong Pui Chuan, Chief Guards Officer (CGO), commanding officer, 21st Singapore Division. Valiant Mark 25 training will continue through March 26.
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The U.S. Marine Corps' newest rotational force, Marine Rotational Force-Southeast Asia (MRF-SEA), played a key role during Exercise Cobra Gold 2025, which took place in Thailand from Feb. 25 to March 7
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U.S. Marines with the 1st Light Armored Reconnaissance Battalion, 1st Marine Division, attached to Marine Rotational Force-Southeast Asia, conducted combat marksmanship practice at a short bay range with marines from the Royal Thai Marine Corps and Republic of Korea Marines at the Thai Reconnaissance Battalion base in Thailand Feb. 28, 2025, as part of exercise Cobra Gold.
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From Dec. 9 to 13, Marine Rotational Force-Southeast Asia (MRF-SEA) conducted Exercise Valiant Mark 2024 with the Singapore Armed Forces' (SAF) 3rd Battalion Singapore Guards (3 GDS), 7th Singapore Infantry Brigade (7 SIB), strengthening interoperability and partnerships between forces. The bilateral exercise aimed to enhance cooperation within the Indo-Pacific region, reinforce working relationships between each nation’s personnel, and prepare each unit for near-future Valiant Mark training set to take place in 2025.
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The Singapore Armed Forces (SAF) and Marine Rotational Force-Southeast Asia (MRF-SEA) commenced Exercise Valiant Mark 2024 in a ceremony today at Bedok Camp, Singapore. The combined U.S.-Singapore force will continue Valiant Mark 24 training through Dec. 13, focusing heavily on increasing interoperability between forces and building a sense of partnership among personnel.
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After completing the first three exercises of their current rotation in the Indo-Pacific, a group of subject matter experts from Marine Rotational Force - Southeast Asia (MRF-SEA) traveled to Brunei to join the U.S. Navy for its most recent iteration of the Cooperation Afloat Readiness and Training (CARAT) exercise series from Nov. 18 to 25. Hosted by the Royal Brunei Armed Forces (RBAF), MRF-SEA Marines were joined by attached forces from 2nd Battalion, 7th Marines, resulting in a purpose-built U.S. Marine Corps team ready to train and engage with Brunei forces. While the U.S. Navy executed the at-sea phase of CARAT Brunei 2024, Marines trained ashore with the RBAF to build improved relations and bolster bilateral interoperability.
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On Nov. 19, a combined force of nearly 600 personnel from the U.S. Marine Corps’ Marine Rotational Force - Southeast Asia (MRF-SEA), and the 10th Marine Infantry Battalion of the Korps Marinir Republik Indonesia (KORMAR), or Indonesian Marine Corps, concluded Keris Marine Exercise (MAREX) 2024 in a ceremony held aboard Yonif 10 Marinir, Batam, Indonesia.
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Lumut Naval Base in Lumut, Perak, Malaysia, dates back to the creation of the Royal Malaysian Navy, serving as the institution’s headquarters since Sept. 9, 1984. In October, the Royal Malaysian Armed Forces hosted a detachment of personnel from Marine Rotational Force - Southeast Asia (MRF-SEA) aboard the installation during the execution of the U.S. Navy-lead exercise Cooperation Afloat Readiness and Training 2024, also called CARAT Malaysia. From Oct. 29 to Nov. 5, U.S. Marines and Sailors joined Royal Malaysian Armed Forces personnel to build relationships, increase interoperability, and ensure regional stability.
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Growing up, David Doyle loved watching movies about the military and popular superheroes. In his mind, joining the service would be the closest thing to living a life like those of his favorite movie characters, “Maybe without the powers or abilities but a hero nonetheless.” Growing up around veterans and a heavy military influence in his family impacted his decision to ultimately walk into a recruiter’s office, with the aspiration to become what he envisioned as a child. The occupation he was assigned was not one he envisioned, but it led him down a path to where he is today as 1st Medical Battalion’s Sailor of the Year, while performing a vital medical role for Marine Rotational Force-Southeast Asia.
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U.S. Marines with Marine Rotational Force–Southeast Asia (MRF-SEA), and elements of Korps Marinir Republik Indonesia (KORMAR), began Keris Marine Exercise (MAREX) 2024 today aboard Yonif 10 Marinir, Batam, Indonesia. This year’s iteration of Keris MAREX, taking place from Nov. 6 to 19, marks the exercise’s third year in execution.
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In a historic first, six nations converged on Filipino soil in the wake of a super typhoon to train, learn, and strengthen their partnership during KAMANDAG 8, reaffirming the exercise's importance to regional peace and stability in the Indo-Pacific.
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BURGOS, Philippines – A peaceful coastal town in Ilocos Norte, Philippines, showcases a blend of natural beauty and rural charm. Stretching along the northernmost coast of Luzon, it is bordered by the blue waters of the western Pacific Ocean. During October, Burgos became the location where the proverbial rubber met the road as three different nations trained together to accomplish one common goal.
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The U.S. Marine Corps, including personnel from Marine Rotational Force – Southeast Asia (MRF-SEA) and the 15th Marine Expeditionary Unit (15th MEU), and the Philippine Marine Corps (PMC) have begun KAMANDAG 8, a bilateral exercise scheduled from Oct. 15-25, 2024. Conducted under the annual Mutual Defense Board and Security Engagement Board (MDB-SEB) activities for 2024, the exercise aims to strengthen the interoperability of participating nations while promoting regional security and cooperation within the Indo-Pacific region.
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U.S. Marines across multiple forward-deployed commands concluded six days of foreign disaster relief efforts in the Philippines Oct. 10, 2024, supporting the U.S. Agency for International Development’s humanitarian response to Typhoon Krathon (locally known as Julian) at the request of the Philippine government.
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U.S. Marines and Sailors from I Marine Expeditionary Force have arrived in the Philippines as part of the third annual rotational deployment of Marine Rotational Force - Southeast Asia. MRF-SEA forces will begin their six-month stint in the region by training alongside Philippine Allies in exercises Sama Sama 2024 and KAMANDAG 8 from Oct. 7-24, 2024.
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