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NEWS

III MEF Logo
III MARINE EXPEDITIONARY FORCE
Okinawa, Japan

The Marines conducted the training utilizing buoys to detect underwater acoustics for ships and submarines in order to increase U.S. naval forces capabilities to detect and deter in the undersea domain. The 31st MEU is operating aboard ships of the USS America Amphibious Ready Group in the 7th Fleet area of operations, the U.S. Navy’s largest forward-deployed numbered fleet, and routinely interacts and operates with allies and partners in preserving a free and open Indo-Pacific region. Workman is a native of Indiana. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Alora Finigan) - U.S. Marine Corps Sgt. Mason Workman, an aerial observer with Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron (VMM) 265 (Rein.), 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit, sets parameters for the directional command activated sonobuoy system buoy during anti-submarine warfare training, in the Philippine Sea, Aug. 8, 2025.

The MKTSO involved elements of 3d MLR, U.S. Soldiers with 1st Multi-Domain Task Force, and Philippine Marines with Marine Battalion Landing Team 10 inserting via air and sea into various islands in the Batanes and Babuyan Island chains in order to rehearse securing and defending key maritime terrain with the NMESIS, Marine Air Defense Integrated System, and High Mobility Rocket Artillery System. KAMANDAG is an annual Philippine Marine Corps and U.S. Marine Corps-led exercise aimed at enhancing the Armed Forces of the Philippines’ defense and humanitarian capabilities by providing valuable training in combined operations with foreign militaries in the advancement of a Free and Open Indo-Pacific. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Malia Sparks) - U.S. Marines with 3d Littoral Combat Team, 3d Marine Littoral Regiment, 3d Marine Division, stage the Navy-Marine Expeditionary Ship Interdiction System during the Maritime Key Terrain Security Operation as a part of Exercise KAMANDAG 9 in the Philippines, May 25, 2025.

 
III Marine Expeditionary Force