Marine Leaders of The Americas Conference (MLAC) 2025

The USS Mesa Verde, a San Antonio-class amphibious transport dock vessel out of Norfolk, Va. transports U.S. The USS Mesa Verde, a San Antonio-class amphibious transport dock vessel out of Norfolk, Va., transports U.S. Marines, Sailors and foreign troops from various countries participating in Exercise Partnership of the Americas (POA) 2009 off the coast of Naval Station Mayport, Fl. The Marines of Special Purpose Marine Air Ground Task Force 24 (SPMAGTF-24) are participating in POA jointly with UNITAS Gold, the oldest joint naval exercise in the Department of Defense. The Operational Fleet is comprised of more than 25 vessels, 50 rotary and fixed wing aircraft, 650 U.S. Marines, 6,500 U.S. Sailors and four submarines supported by cooperating countries to include troops from Canada, Brazil, Germany, Chile, Colombia, Mexico, Peru, and Uruguay. (USMC photo by Sgt. Jonathan T. Spencer)