An AH-1Z Viper helicopter and two UH-1Y Venom helicopters assigned to Marine Light Attack Helicopter Squadron 269 fly over Lamar, Colorado, Nov. 12, 2021. Marines with HMLA-269 trained in a cold-weather, high-altitude environment to increase proficiency in expeditionary advanced basing operations. HMLA-269 is a subordinate unit of 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing, the aviation combat element of II Marine Expeditionary Force. - An AH-1Z Viper helicopter and two UH-1Y Venom helicopters assigned to Marine Light Attack Helicopter Squadron 269 fly over Lamar, Colorado, Nov. 12, 2021. Marines with HMLA-269 trained in a cold-weather, high-altitude environment to increase proficiency in expeditionary advanced basing operations. HMLA-269 is a subordinate unit of 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing, the aviation combat element of II Marine Expeditionary Force.

U.S. Marine Corps Lt. Gen. Steven R. Rudder, commander, U.S. Marine Corps Forces, Pacific, participates in a global video teleconference during the Pacific Amphibious Leaders Symposium 21.2 at Camp H.M. Smith, Hawaii, Oct. 6. This iteration of PALS brought senior leaders of allied and partner militaries together to discuss Marine Corps Force Design 2030, expeditionary advanced base operations, intermediate force capabilities, and ways to improve interoperability between partners within the Indo-Pacific region. A total of 20 allies and partners from Asia, Australia, Europe, South America, and North America participated in the symposium. PALS was conducted virtually for the second time to comply with COVID-19 mitigation efforts. - U.S. Marine Corps Lt. Gen. Steven R. Rudder, commander, U.S. Marine Corps Forces, Pacific, participates in a global video teleconference during the Pacific Amphibious Leaders Symposium 21.2 at Camp H.M. Smith, Hawaii, Oct. 6. This iteration of PALS brought senior leaders of allied and partner militaries together to discuss Marine Corps Force Design 2030, expeditionary advanced base operations, intermediate force capabilities, and ways to improve interoperability between partners within the Indo-Pacific region. A total of 20 allies and partners from Asia, Australia, Europe, South America, and North America participated in the symposium. PALS was conducted virtually for the second time to comply with COVID-19 mitigation efforts.

U.S. Marine Corps High Mobility Artillery Rocket Systems with 3rd Battalion, 12th Marines conduct a fire mission during Exercise Noble Jaguar 2021 within the Central Training Area on Okinawa, Japan, Sept. 30, 2021. The Marine Corps and Navy leveraged integrated command and control and joint sensors to expand battlefield awareness, share targeting data, and conduct long-range precision strikes in support of sea control and sea denial in contested maritime environments. III Marine Expeditionary Force executed these actions as a part of an integrated operation with 7th Fleet to maintain readiness and demonstrate U.S. resolve to preserve regional security. - U.S. Marine Corps High Mobility Artillery Rocket Systems with 3rd Battalion, 12th Marines conduct a fire mission during Exercise Noble Jaguar 2021 within the Central Training Area on Okinawa, Japan, Sept. 30, 2021. The Marine Corps and Navy leveraged integrated command and control and joint sensors to expand battlefield awareness, share targeting data, and conduct long-range precision strikes in support of sea control and sea denial in contested maritime environments. III Marine Expeditionary Force executed these actions as a part of an integrated operation with 7th Fleet to maintain readiness and demonstrate U.S. resolve to preserve regional security.

An artillery Marine from 1st Battalion, 12th Marines maneuvers a Navy Marine Expeditionary Ship Interdiction System launcher across the beach aboard Pacific Missile Range Facility Barking Sands, Hawaii, Aug. 16, 2021. During Large Scale Exercise 2021, the Marines of 1/12 struck a naval target ship with two Naval Strike Missiles which flew more than 100 nautical miles before striking the ship. LSE 2021 allowed Marines to refine concepts such as expeditionary advanced base operations and littoral operations in a contested environment in order to provide sea control or contribute to sea denial near key maritime terrain. - An artillery Marine from 1st Battalion, 12th Marines maneuvers a Navy Marine Expeditionary Ship Interdiction System launcher across the beach aboard Pacific Missile Range Facility Barking Sands, Hawaii, Aug. 16, 2021. During Large Scale Exercise 2021, the Marines of 1/12 struck a naval target ship with two Naval Strike Missiles which flew more than 100 nautical miles before striking the ship. LSE 2021 allowed Marines to refine concepts such as expeditionary advanced base operations and littoral operations in a contested environment in order to provide sea control or contribute to sea denial near key maritime terrain.

U.S. Marine Sgt. Nicholas D. Niner caries tubes during Large Scale Exercise 2021 at Camp Lejeune, North Carolina, Aug. 8, 2021. LSE 2021 demonstrates the Navy’s ability to employ precise, lethal, and overwhelming force globally across three naval component commands, five numbered fleets, and 17 time zones. LSE 2021 merges live and synthetic training capabilities to create an intense, robust training environment. It will connect high-fidelity training and real-world operations, to build knowledge and skills needed in today’s complex, multi-domain, and contested environment. - U.S. Marine Sgt. Nicholas D. Niner caries tubes during Large Scale Exercise 2021 at Camp Lejeune, North Carolina, Aug. 8, 2021. LSE 2021 demonstrates the Navy’s ability to employ precise, lethal, and overwhelming force globally across three naval component commands, five numbered fleets, and 17 time zones. LSE 2021 merges live and synthetic training capabilities to create an intense, robust training environment. It will connect high-fidelity training and real-world operations, to build knowledge and skills needed in today’s complex, multi-domain, and contested environment.

U.S. Marine Corps Cpl. Dustin Nguyen, a Richmond, Va., native and a transmissions systems operator with 1st Battalion, 2nd Marine Regiment, 2nd Marine Division, sets up an AN/PRC-160(V) radio as part of the 2nd MARDIV High-Frequency Competition on Naval Submarine Base Kings Bay, Ga., July 12, 2021. The competition enhanced HF transmission proficiency and capabilities to prepare Marines for future expeditionary conflicts where the area is either contested or degraded. - U.S. Marine Corps Cpl. Dustin Nguyen, a Richmond, Va., native and a transmissions systems operator with 1st Battalion, 2nd Marine Regiment, 2nd Marine Division, sets up an AN/PRC-160(V) radio as part of the 2nd MARDIV High-Frequency Competition on Naval Submarine Base Kings Bay, Ga., July 12, 2021. The competition enhanced HF transmission proficiency and capabilities to prepare Marines for future expeditionary conflicts where the area is either contested or degraded.

Staff Sgt. Gustavo Lopez, a Plane Captain assigned to the “Vipers” of Marine Light Attack Helicopter Squadron 169, guides an UH-1Y Venom as it arrives at Naval Air Facility Misawa. HMLA-169 is at NAF Misawa to conduct Tilt Rotor/Rotary Wing training exercises and reduce the training activity impact on Okinawa. - Staff Sgt. Gustavo Lopez, a Plane Captain assigned to the “Vipers” of Marine Light Attack Helicopter Squadron 169, guides an UH-1Y Venom as it arrives at Naval Air Facility Misawa. HMLA-169 is at NAF Misawa to conduct Tilt Rotor/Rotary Wing training exercises and reduce the training activity impact on Okinawa.

U.S. Navy ET2 Paul Saldana, left, electronics technician, and CM2 Adam Long, construction mechanic, both with Naval Beach Unit 7, conduct ramp marshall duties to guide a Landing Craft Air Cushion into port on Naval Base White Beach, Okinawa, Japan, June 1, 2021. Marines from 3d MLG and Sailors from NBU-7 integrated to load and transport personnel and equipment in support of exercise Poseidon’s Watchtower. NBU-7 is an operational, forward deployed unit that directly contributes to the core capabilities of U.S. Maritime Sea Power by facilitating the movement of troops, equipment, vehicles and supplies from amphibious shipping across the beach. 3d MLG, based out of Okinawa, Japan, is a forward deployed combat unit that serves as III MEF’s comprehensive logistics and combat service support backbone for operations throughout the Indo-Pacific area of responsibility. Saldana is a native of Miramar, Florida, and Long is a native of Sanford, North Carolina. - U.S. Navy ET2 Paul Saldana, left, electronics technician, and CM2 Adam Long, construction mechanic, both with Naval Beach Unit 7, conduct ramp marshall duties to guide a Landing Craft Air Cushion into port on Naval Base White Beach, Okinawa, Japan, June 1, 2021. Marines from 3d MLG and Sailors from NBU-7 integrated to load and transport personnel and equipment in support of exercise Poseidon’s Watchtower. NBU-7 is an operational, forward deployed unit that directly contributes to the core capabilities of U.S. Maritime Sea Power by facilitating the movement of troops, equipment, vehicles and supplies from amphibious shipping across the beach. 3d MLG, based out of Okinawa, Japan, is a forward deployed combat unit that serves as III MEF’s comprehensive logistics and combat service support backbone for operations throughout the Indo-Pacific area of responsibility. Saldana is a native of Miramar, Florida, and Long is a native of Sanford, North Carolina.

U.S. Marines with 1st Battalion, 10th Marine Regiment, 2nd Marine Division, fire a High Mobility Artillery Rocket System during Exercise Rolling Thunder 21.2 on Fort Bragg, N.C., April 26, 2021. This is a live-fire artillery exercise where 10th Marines employed distributed fires via simulated Expeditionary Advanced Bases. The training increased 2nd MARDIV’s combat readiness against a peer competitor. HIMARS are an advanced long-range and mobile rocket system that allows 2nd MARDIV to employ precision fires onto a target. - U.S. Marines with 1st Battalion, 10th Marine Regiment, 2nd Marine Division, fire a High Mobility Artillery Rocket System during Exercise Rolling Thunder 21.2 on Fort Bragg, N.C., April 26, 2021. This is a live-fire artillery exercise where 10th Marines employed distributed fires via simulated Expeditionary Advanced Bases. The training increased 2nd MARDIV’s combat readiness against a peer competitor. HIMARS are an advanced long-range and mobile rocket system that allows 2nd MARDIV to employ precision fires onto a target.

U.S. Marines with 9th Engineer Support Battalion and Navy Seabees with Naval Mobile Construction Battalion 4 load a Joint Light Tactical Vehicle onto an improved ribbon bridge during exercise Pacific Pioneer, Naha Port, April 21, 2021. Pacific Pioneer serves as 9th ESB’s Marine Corps Combat Readiness Evaluation as well as an opportunity to demonstrate the ability to sustain expeditionary advanced bases with survivable force protection, practice naval integration, and position long range precision fires and tactical logistics nodes across littoral regions in support of naval operations. - U.S. Marines with 9th Engineer Support Battalion and Navy Seabees with Naval Mobile Construction Battalion 4 load a Joint Light Tactical Vehicle onto an improved ribbon bridge during exercise Pacific Pioneer, Naha Port, April 21, 2021. Pacific Pioneer serves as 9th ESB’s Marine Corps Combat Readiness Evaluation as well as an opportunity to demonstrate the ability to sustain expeditionary advanced bases with survivable force protection, practice naval integration, and position long range precision fires and tactical logistics nodes across littoral regions in support of naval operations.

U.S. Marine Corps AH-1Z Viper attack helicopters assigned to Marine Light Attack Helicopter Squadron 267 fly during a mission rehearsal exercise over Okinawa, Japan, April 16, 2021. The MRX served as a culminating event for HMLA-267 as they near the end of their time in Okinawa as part of the Unit Deployment Program. - U.S. Marine Corps AH-1Z Viper attack helicopters assigned to Marine Light Attack Helicopter Squadron 267 fly during a mission rehearsal exercise over Okinawa, Japan, April 16, 2021. The MRX served as a culminating event for HMLA-267 as they near the end of their time in Okinawa as part of the Unit Deployment Program.

U.S. Marines with Marine Wing Support Squadron 172 prepare to refuel a UH-1Y Venom helicopter assigned to Marine Light Helicopter Squadron 267 during a forward arming and refueling point training event as part of a Marine Corps combat readiness evaluation held by MWSS-172 at the Ie Shima training facility, Okinawa, Japan, April 15, 2021. The MCCRE creates a challenging, realistic training environment that produces combat-ready forces capable of operating as a deployed unit at any time. - U.S. Marines with Marine Wing Support Squadron 172 prepare to refuel a UH-1Y Venom helicopter assigned to Marine Light Helicopter Squadron 267 during a forward arming and refueling point training event as part of a Marine Corps combat readiness evaluation held by MWSS-172 at the Ie Shima training facility, Okinawa, Japan, April 15, 2021. The MCCRE creates a challenging, realistic training environment that produces combat-ready forces capable of operating as a deployed unit at any time.

U.S. Marines and Navy Sailors conduct external lifts for a vertical replenishment of the aircraft carrier USS Theodore Roosevelt, Naval Base Guam, Feb. 25. - U.S. Marines and Navy Sailors conduct external lifts for a vertical replenishment of the aircraft carrier USS Theodore Roosevelt, Naval Base Guam, Feb. 25.