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VMFA-225 Holds joint MCMAP course in Puerto Rico

U.S. Marines with Marine Fighter Attack Squadron (VMFA) 225, U.S. Marine Corps Forces, South, grapple during a joint Marine Corps Martial Arts Program course at Jose Aponte de la Torre Airport in Ceiba, Puerto Rico, Feb. 19, 2026. U.S. military forces are deployed to the Caribbean in support of the U.S. Southern Command mission, Department of War-directed operations, and the president’s priorities to disrupt illicit drug trafficking and protect the homeland. (U.S. Marine Corps photo)

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From One Corps to Another

U.S. Marine Corps Lance Cpl. Juan Ipialesparedes, a personnel administrator with 1st Marine Logistics Group, reflects on his path from Ecuadorian Marine Corps Special Forces to becoming a United States Marine, Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, California, Feb. 12, 2026. After training alongside U.S. Marines during multinational engagements, Ipialesparedes recognized shared standards of discipline and professionalism that ultimately led him to join the Marine Corps. His experience reflects the trust and shared values that strengthen military cooperation between the United States and Ecuador at the individual level. (U.S. Marine Corps video by Sgt. Samuel Qin) This video contains USMC licensed assets and music from Adobe Stock.

The 39th Commandant of the Marine Corps, Gen. Eric M. Smith, center, pins new chevrons on a a U.S. Marine with Marine Fighter Attack Squadron (VMFA) 225, U.S. Marine Corps Forces, South, after meritoriously promoting him to the rank of sergeant at Jose Aponte de la Torre Airport in Ceiba, Puerto Rico, Dec. 16, 2025. U.S. military forces are deployed to the Caribbean in support of the U.S. Southern Command mission, Department of War-directed operations, and the president’s priorities to disrupt illicit drug trafficking and protect the homeland. (U.S. Marine Corps photo)

CMC Visits Jose Aponte

VMFA-225 in Puerto Rico

A U.S. Marine Corps pilot and plane captain with Marine Fighter Attack Squadron (VMFA) 225, U.S. Marine Corps Forces South, conduct preflight checks on a U.S. Marine Corps F-35B Lightning II assigned to VMFA-225 at Jose Aponte de la Torre Airport in Ceiba, Puerto Rico, Nov. 20, 2025. U.S. military forces are deployed to the Caribbean in support of the U.S. Southern Command mission, Department of War-directed operations, and the president’s priorities to disrupt illicit drug trafficking and protect the homeland. (U.S. Marine Corps photo)

VMFA-225 Unit WebpageMORE VMFA-225 PHOTOS

UNITAS 2025

U.S. Marines, Sailors trained alongside allies and partner-nation marines and naval infantry during exercise UNITAS 2025 at Camp Lejeune, Sept. 12–Oct. 6, 2025. Events included visit, board, search and seizure, live-fire ranges, amphibious ship-to-shore movement, urban operations and water survival to enhance interoperability, maritime domain awareness and regional security. This year marks the 66th iteration of the world’s longest running annual multinational maritime exercise since since it was conceived in 1959. (U.S. Marine Corps video by Sgt. Samuel Qin) The video contains music from a USMC licensed asset from AdobeStock. Public-domain scores sourced via the International Music Score Library Project.

UNITAS 2025 Feature Page

U.S. Marines and Panamanians graduate from combined jungle course

Jungle Orientation Course

Leadership, instructors, and students from across the Joint Security Cooperation Group - Panama, U.S. Army 25th Infantry Division, Panamanian National Border Service, National Aeronaval Service, and Panamanian National Police, pose for a photo at a graduation ceremony after a jungle orientation course at Aeronaval Base Cristóbal Colón, Panama, Aug. 22, 2025. The course consisted of teachings from a combined team of jungle instructors from across the U.S. Army 25th Infantry Division, Panamanian National Border Service, National Aeronaval Service, and Panamanian National Police, who provided hands-on instruction about knot-tying, proper river crossing procedures, identifying and harvesting edible flora and fauna, medical evacuation procedures, and more jungle survival skills and techniques. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Julia Lebens)

UNITAS 2025

The U.S., allies and partner nation forces will be participating in exercise UNITAS LXVI, along the eastern coast of the United States, 10 Sept., 2025. UNITAS, which is Latin for “unity,” was conceived in 1959 and has taken place annually since first conducted in 1960. This year marks the 66th iteration of the world’s longest running annual multinational maritime exercise. (U.S. Marine Corps video by Sgt. Gabriel Durand) By License - This video contains audio from a USMC enterprise licensed asset from Adobe Stock: "Tense Serious Drama" - by TastyTunes" / https://stock.adobe.com/

UNITAS 2025 Feature Page

Leaders of the Americas Conference 2025: Sunset Parade

MLAC 2025

Members of the 2025 Marine Leaders of the Americas Conference pose for a photo with U.S. Marine Corps Gen. Eric Smith, the 39th Commandant of the Marine Corps, during a visit to the Military Women’s Memorial at Arlington National Cemetery, Aug. 5, 2025.The 2025 Marine Leaders of the Americas Conference, hosted by the Commandant of the Marine Corps and sponsored by U.S. Marine Corps Forces, South, convenes senior Marine and naval infantry leaders from Argentina, Australia, Belize, Brazil, Canada, Chile, Colombia, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, France, Guatemala, Honduras, Mexico, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, United Kingdom and the United States to discuss shared security challenges and enhance regional cooperation. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Payton Goodrich)

MLAC 2025 Feature Page

SMMC Ruiz MLAC 2025 Keynote

U.S. Marine Corps Sgt. Maj. Carlos A. Ruiz, the 20th Sergeant Major of the Marine Corps, delivers keynote remarks as part of the 2025 Marine Leaders of the Americas Conference (MLAC), Washington, D.C., August 5, 2025. The 2025 Marine Leaders of the Americas Conference, hosted by the Commandant of the Marine Corps and sponsored by U.S. Marine Corps Forces, South, convenes senior Marine and naval infantry leaders from Argentina, Australia, Belize, Brazil, Canada, Chile, Colombia, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, France, Guatemala, Honduras, Mexico, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, United Kingdom and the United States to discuss shared security challenges and enhance regional cooperation. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by GySgt Jordan E. Gilbert)

MLAC 2025

Video by Sgt. Samuel Qin

U.S. and Ecuador strengthen maritime cooperation during FY26 Maritime Staff Talks

U.S. Marine Corps Forces, South

March 2, 2026 | 4:40

U.S. service members with U.S. Marine Corps Forces South and U.S. Naval Forces Southern Command conduct FY26 Maritime Staff Talks with Ecuadorian counterparts with Armada del Ecuador in Quito, Ecuador, Feb. 22-27, 2026. The talks strengthen maritime security cooperation and interoperability through combined planning, information sharing, and measurable objectives focused on countering illicit maritime activity and supporting regional stability. (U.S. Marine Corps video by Sgt. Samuel Qin)

This video contains USMC licensed assets and music from Adobe Stock.