Marine Leaders of The Americas Conference (MLAC) 2025

Lt. Col. Chris Eldridge, the Chief Military Liaison Officer for the U.S. Embassy in Belize, and his wife, Jennifer Eldridge, greet the Marines and Sailors at a Thanksgiving celebration hosted by the U.S. Ambassador to Belize, Nov. 26. The Marines and sailors are in Belize as a part of the first Security Cooperation Marine Air-Ground Task Force, where they are participating in military-to-military training events, setting up an emergent dental clinic and working to improve conditions at a local primary school. The SCMAGTF is currently deployed on Southern Partnership Station-Amphib with Destroyer Squadron 40 embarked onboard USS Wasp (LHD 1). Southern Partnership Station is part of the Partnership of the Americas Maritime Strategy that focuses on building interoperability and cooperation in the region to meet common challenges. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Sgt. Heather Brewer/Released)