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Marines

PRESS RELEASES

III MARINE EXPEDITIONARY FORCE

Okinawa, Japan

U.S. and ROK Marines Conclude Freedom Shield 25

III Marine Expeditionary Force (III MEF) and 1st Marine Division successfully completed a significant training milestone alongside their Republic of Korea (ROK) Marine Corps counterparts as exercise Freedom Shield (FS) 25 concludes. While this phase of training

U.S.-based F-35s replace Hornets in rotational deployments to Japan

The U.S. Marine Corps’ Japan-based aviation forces received their first F-35 deployment from the continental United States on March 8, 2025. Based out of Marine Corps Air Station Yuma, Arizona, Marine Fighter Attack Squadron (VMFA) 214, an F-35B squadron of Marine Aircraft Group 13, 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing, deployed to MCAS Iwakuni, Japan, under the Marine Corps’ Unit Deployment Program to temporarily support MAG-12, 1st MAW flight operations in the Indo-Pacific.

U.S. and ROK Marines Train Together during Freedom Shield 25 and the Korean Marine Exercise Program 25.1

Marines from III Marine Expeditionary Force (III MEF) and 1st Marine Division, join their Republic of Korea (ROK) Marine Corps counterparts for annual exercise Freedom Shield 25 and the Korean Marine Exercise Program (KMEP) 25.1.

Iron Fist 25, Strengthening U.S. Marine and Japan Forces Combined Amphibious Capabilities

Exercise Iron Fist 2025 begins today, Feb. 19, with an opening ceremony on Camp Hansen, Okinawa, Japan. This 19th iteration of the exercise will occur in various locations in Japan, from Kyushu to Okinawa, and at sea in February and March, 2025.

U.S. Marines and Sailors Participate in Bilateral Humanitarian Aid Training

U.S. Marines and U.S. Navy Sailors with III Marine Expeditionary Force, alongside the Japan Self-Defense Force (JSDF) conducted humanitarian aid/disaster response training in Ishigaki City December 1, 2024, during Tomodachi Rescue Exercise and Remote Island Disaster Exercise (T/RIDEX).

3d Marine Littoral Regiment Receives NMESIS

U.S. Marines with 3d Marine Littoral Regiment, 3d Marine Division, formally received the Navy-Marine Expeditionary Ship Interdiction System – a mountable, ground-based anti-ship missile launcher – on November 26, 2024. In order to commemorate the intra-service hand-off and acknowledge the months of initial operational testing and evaluation that went into fielding the new weapon system, 3d MLR held a receiving ceremony and NMESIS static display at Dewey Square on Marine Corps Base Hawaii and invited distinguished visitors from across both U.S. and partnered militaries to take part.

Senior U.S. Marines Visit Ishigaki

Lt. Gen. James Glynn, commander U.S Marine Corps Forces Pacific, joined Lt. Gen. Roger Turner, III Marine Expeditionary Force commanding general, during a recent trip to Japan Ground Self-Defense Force Camp Ishigaki, Okinawa, Japan October 23, 2024.

U.S. Marines Participate in Keen Sword 25

III Marine Expeditionary Force Marines and Sailors will participate in exercise Keen Sword 25, a joint-bilateral biennial exercise, alongside the Japan Self-Defense Force from October 23 through November 1, 2024, throughout Japan.

U.S. Marines Deliver Emergency Relief to Phillipines

At the request of the Government of the Republic of the Philippines, Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin directed U.S. Indo-Pacific Command to support the U.S. Agency for International Development's efforts in foreign disaster relief operations in the Philippines following Typhoon Krathon (locally known as Julian), which made landfall on the Province of Cagayan, Philippines Sep. 30.

12th MLR Receives Subordinate Logistics Element, CLB-12 Redesignates to 12th LLB

CAMP HANSEN, OKINAWA, Japan – Combat Logistics Battalion 12 redesignated to 12th Littoral Logistics Battalion (LLB) on October 3, 2024. 12th LLB’s redesignation signifies the next milestone for 12th Marine Littoral Regiment as 12th LLB is their first subordinate element. This redesignation highlights the enduring commitment of the U.S. to the defense of Japan and to peace and stability in the Indo-Pacific.

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III Marine Expeditionary Force