Above the Arctic Circle, winter dominates the landscape. Snow blankets the mountains and subzero winds cut across frozen valleys. For most people, this terrain can feel remote and inhospitable. However, for U.S. Marines alongside NATO Allies and partners, it is a proving ground. In the Arctic, the environment can be as lethal as any adversary. This reality makes joint readiness, training, and the ability to rapidly mobilize equipment and personnel to crisis not optional, but essential to operational success in the event of armed conflict.
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In a ceremony reflecting the strength of the ROK–U.S. alliance, a senior U.S. Marine enlisted leader received one of the Republic of Korea government’s highest honors for his sustained contributions to combined readiness and cooperation on the Korean Peninsula.Sgt. Maj. Ismael G. Bamba, command senior enlisted leader for U.S. Marine Corps Forces Korea, received the Prime Minister’s Commendation during a ceremony at ROK Marine Corps Headquarters Feb. 4, 2026. The award was presented by Republic of Korea Marine Corps Lt. Gen. Ju Il-Suk, Commandant of the Republic of Korea Marine Corps, in recognition of Sgt. Maj. Bamba’s leadership and continued efforts to strengthen trust, coordination and operational partnership between the two Marine
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The 317th Airlift Wing led the Spring 2026 C-130 Weapon System Council (WSC) at Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, California, coordinating with I Marine Expeditionary Force to further integration of rapid air mobility concepts and strengthen Joint tactical airlift capabilities across the Joint and Total Force, Feb. 4-5, 2026.
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T-minus 3, 2, 1 … We have liftoff! The ground rumbled as the engines roared to life. Smoke and flames erupted out of the bottom as it began to lift into the sky, ascending higher until it was finally out of sight. There are some kids who see a rocket take off and begin to dream of becoming astronauts; there are some kids who make that dream come true.Lt. Col. Katherine Spies graduated from the University of Southern California with a bachelor’s degree in chemical engineering and later earned a master's degree in design engineering from Harvard University. She was sure that she would become an engineer and maybe a pilot in the future. She made that happen one step at a time, accomplishing every goal she set her mind to.Spies joined the
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The Navy-Marine Corps team has concluded Quarterly Underway Amphibious Readiness Training (QUART) 26.2, which took place from Jan. 20-30, 2026. The exercise, led by the 13th Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU) and Amphibious Squadron (PHIBRON) 7, featured the Wasp-class amphibious assault ship USS Makin Island (LHD 8), which expanded the training's ability to prepare MEUs and Amphibious Ready Groups (ARGs) for future deployments and operations afloat. Further strengthening international partnerships, Peruvian naval officers were aboard to observe the exercise, fostering shared learning and military cooperation.
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