U.S. Marines with Medium Tiltrotor Squadron (VMM) 163, 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing, and U.S. Navy Sailors with Helicopter Maritime Strike Squadron (HSM) 41 participated in a tactical recovery of aircraft and personnel course off the coast of Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, California, May 5, 2025. The Amphibious Raids Branch, Expeditionary Operations Training Group, conducted the waterborne TRAP operation to develop and standardize procedures for hoist operations in a maritime environment while utilizing the MV-22 Osprey and U.S. Navy rescue swimmers. (U.S. Marine Corps video by Sgt. Bryant Rodriguez)

The single mature Serianthes nelsonii tree on Guam, located at Ritidian Point (also known as Litekyan in CHamoru), succumbed to severe damage sustained during Typhoon Mawar in May of 2023. By September of 2024, there was no living tissue observed on the decomposing remains of the tree. Leading up to the typhoon, the Ritidian tree was already in very poor condition due to a split trunk that led to heart rot (a type of fungal infection) that worsened over two decades and had insect infestations. Marine Corps Base Camp Blaz Natural Resources Specialists alongside island partners continue to propagate the species. To preserve the genetics of the last mature tree on Guam, Joint Region Marianas will continue maintenance of young trees that originated from the Ritidian mother tree: 99 saplings growing at the MCB Camp Blaz Mason Live Fire Training Range Complex, 8 saplings growing at Andersen Air Force Base, and 100 saplings outplanted in the MCB Camp Blaz Caiguat Forest Enhancement Site. Through the collection and specialized storage of seeds since 2014, the future propagation of the 4,007 seeds from the Ritidian tree lineage will be utilized to continue the outplanting of trees on Guam in ungulate-free fenced areas. (U.S. Marine Corps video by Lance Cpl. Rey Moreno Marilao)

U.S. Marines with Battalion Landing Team 1/4, 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit, conduct a combat rubber raiding crafts launch and recovery exercise aboard the amphibious transport dock ship USS Green Bay (LPD 20), off the coast of Okinawa, Japan, July 27, 2024. BLT 1/4 conducted the exercise to refine their abilities in launching and recovering CRRCs when transiting between ship to shore. The 31st MEU is operating aboard ships of USS America Amphibious Ready Group in the 7th fleet area of operations to enhance interoperability with allies and partners and serve as a ready response force to defend peace and stability in the Indo-Pacific region. (U.S. Marine Corps video by Cpl. Osmar Gutierrez)