Marine Leaders of The Americas Conference (MLAC) 2025

U.S. Marines with Special Purpose Marine Air-Ground Task Force - Southern Command unload gear from the Spearhead-class USNS Burlington (T-EPF 10) at Joint Expeditionary Base Little Creek-Fort Story, Virginia, Dec. 28, 2020. A team of 10 Marines from the task force supported the noncombatant vessel’s deployment to the U.S. 4th Fleet area of operations as an embarked security team, providing force protection for the duration of the deployment. The USNS Burlington is an expeditionary fast transport ship used to transport personnel or up to 600 tons of cargo, and able to operate in austere ports and waterways. This iteration of the task force marks the end of the sixth consecutive year the Marines and Sailors formed SPMAGTF-SC to serve as the crisis response force assigned to U.S. Southern Command. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Jose Gonzalez)