U.S. Marine Sgt. Erik Maehler, left, demonstrates loading a M9 Beretta pistol to Hospital Corpsman 1st Class Sunshine Padilla aboard the amphibious assault ship USS Essex (LHD 2). Maehler is a member of the 15th Marine Expeditionary Unit’s Maritime Raid Force and Padilla is a hospital corpsman with Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron 161 (Reinforced), 15th MEU. The Marines practice marksmanship fundamentals dry to ensure safety and accuracy when shooting. The 15th MEU is embarked on the Essex Amphibious Ready Group and deployed to maintain regional security in the U.S. 5th Fleet area of operations. - U.S. Marine Sgt. Erik Maehler, left, demonstrates loading a M9 Beretta pistol to Hospital Corpsman 1st Class Sunshine Padilla aboard the amphibious assault ship USS Essex (LHD 2). Maehler is a member of the 15th Marine Expeditionary Unit’s Maritime Raid Force and Padilla is a hospital corpsman with Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron 161 (Reinforced), 15th MEU. The Marines practice marksmanship fundamentals dry to ensure safety and accuracy when shooting. The 15th MEU is embarked on the Essex Amphibious Ready Group and deployed to maintain regional security in the U.S. 5th Fleet area of operations.
7/13/2026 - https://www.armyrecognition.com/news/army-news/2026/u-s-marines-demonstrate-jltv-mounted-tow-missile-capability-for-distributed-warfare-in-the-indo-pacific
7/10/2026 - https://news.usni.org/2026/07/07/u-s-marines-demonstrate-dual-mef-strategy-in-western-pacific-drills
7/09/2026 - https://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/2026/07/06/camp-pendleton-leading-historic-effort-by-marine-corps-to-deepen-role-of-human-scouts/
7/07/2026 - https://news.usni.org/2026/07/02/marines-deploy-iron-dome-air-defense-systems-to-the-western-pacific
7/02/2026 - https://www.hawaiipublicradio.org/the-conversation/2026-06-29/military-exercises-kick-off-across-the-islands-with-rimpac-2026