U.S. Marines and Sailors wave from a distance to their friends and family as they depart San Diego, Calif. aboard USNS City of Bismarck (EPF-9) July 2. - U.S. Marines and Sailors wave from a distance to their friends and family as they depart San Diego, Calif. aboard USNS City of Bismarck (EPF-9) July 2.

A Royal Thai Marine showcases a scorpion to U.S. Marines during jungle survival training at Camp Lotawin, Kingdom of Thailand, March 4. - A Royal Thai Marine showcases a scorpion to U.S. Marines during jungle survival training at Camp Lotawin, Kingdom of Thailand, March 4.

U.S. Marines with Marine Wing Support Squadron 172, 1st Marine Aircraft Wing, III Marine Expeditionary Force board a CH-53E Super Stallion helicopter during a rapid deployment exercise conducted by 1st MAW, Okinawa, Japan, Oct. 25, 2019. Marines with 1st MAW conducted a rapid deployment exercise to increase the confidence of III MEF’s ability to rapidly deploy and maintain a secure Indo-Pacific region. As the only forward-deployed MEF, III MEF is strategically postured to quickly and effectively respond to any crisis within the Indo-Pacific region. - U.S. Marines with Marine Wing Support Squadron 172, 1st Marine Aircraft Wing, III Marine Expeditionary Force board a CH-53E Super Stallion helicopter during a rapid deployment exercise conducted by 1st MAW, Okinawa, Japan, Oct. 25, 2019. Marines with 1st MAW conducted a rapid deployment exercise to increase the confidence of III MEF’s ability to rapidly deploy and maintain a secure Indo-Pacific region. As the only forward-deployed MEF, III MEF is strategically postured to quickly and effectively respond to any crisis within the Indo-Pacific region.

Marines from the Royal Thai Marine Corps Secuity Regiment stand in formation Feb. 13, 2018, during the opening ceremony of Exercise Cobra Gold 2018 at U-Tapao International Airport, Ban Chang district, Rayong province, Thailand. Exercise Cobra Gold, in its 37th iteration, is designed to advance regional security and ensure effective responses to regional crises by bringing together a robust multinational force to address shared goals and security commitments in the Indo-Pacific region. The annual exercise is conducted in the Kingdom of Thailand held from Feb. 13-23 with seven full participating nations. - Marines from the Royal Thai Marine Corps Secuity Regiment stand in formation Feb. 13, 2018, during the opening ceremony of Exercise Cobra Gold 2018 at U-Tapao International Airport, Ban Chang district, Rayong province, Thailand. Exercise Cobra Gold, in its 37th iteration, is designed to advance regional security and ensure effective responses to regional crises by bringing together a robust multinational force to address shared goals and security commitments in the Indo-Pacific region. The annual exercise is conducted in the Kingdom of Thailand held from Feb. 13-23 with seven full participating nations.