Stories

U.S. Marine Corps Lance Cpl. Juan Ipialesparedes, an administrative specialist with Headquarters and Service Battalion, 1st Marine Logistics Group, poses for a photo on Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, California, Jan. 6, 2026. - U.S. Marine Corps Lance Cpl. Juan Ipialesparedes, an administrative specialist with Headquarters and Service Battalion, 1st Marine Logistics Group, poses for a photo on Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, California, Jan. 6, 2026. Ipialesparedes, a native of Quito, Ecuador, previously served 11 years as a special operator in the Ecuadorian Marines before enlisting in the U.S. Marine Corps at the age of 33 and earning U.S. citizenship during recruit training. (U.S Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Alan Gomez)

U.S. Marine Corps Col. Austine L. Rawllins Meets With Chilean Marine Corps Leadership during SPWG - U.S. Marine Corps Col. Austine L. Rawllins, Marine Corps Forces, South chief of staff, and Cuerpo de Infantería de Marina de Chile, Capt. Gonzalo Carcamo, the Chilean marine corps chief of staff, pose with the meeting minutes document detailing discussions between MARFORSOUTH and the Chilean marine corps representatives during a Staff Planning Working Group at Marine Corps Support Facility New Orleans, Oct. 23, 2025. MARFORSOUTH Marines and Chilean marine corps discussed opportunities for the U.S. and Chilean Marine Corps that align with U.S. Department of State’s goals for the next five years. SPWG’s give the opportunity to engage in meaningful discussions, exchanges and foster a deeper understanding of individual maritime strategies. (U.S. Marine Corps photos by Lance Cpl. Payton Goodrich)

A U.S. Navy landing craft, air cushion assigned to Assault Craft Unit 4 arrives at Onslow Beach during exercise UNITAS 2025 at Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune, North Carolina, Sept. 25, 2025. UNITAS, Latin for “unity,” was conceived in 1959 and has taken place annually since 1960. This year marks the 66th iteration of the world’s longest-running multinational maritime exercise. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Payton Goodrich) - A U.S. Navy landing craft, air cushion assigned to Assault Craft Unit 4 arrives at Onslow Beach during exercise UNITAS 2025 at Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune, North Carolina, Sept. 25, 2025. UNITAS, Latin for “unity,” was conceived in 1959 and has taken place annually since 1960. This year marks the 66th iteration of the world’s longest-running multinational maritime exercise. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Payton Goodrich)

Uruguayan Infantes de Marina demonstrate hand and arm signals on rigid inflatable boats during a subject matter expert exchange in Uruguay, August 14, 2025. This subject matter expert exchange enhances the training and readiness standards for the United States and Uruguay as well as facilitating the exchange of formalized readiness standards between both countries. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Sgt. Eduardo Delatorre) - Uruguayan Infantes de Marina demonstrate hand and arm signals on rigid inflatable boats during a subject matter expert exchange in Uruguay, August 14, 2025. This subject matter expert exchange enhances the training and readiness standards for the United States and Uruguay as well as facilitating the exchange of formalized readiness standards between both countries. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Sgt. Eduardo Delatorre)

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

Marine Leaders of the Americas Conference 2025: Sunset Parade - U.S. Marine Corps Gen. Eric Smith, the 39th Commandant of the Marine Corps, walks down the steps of the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier with Vice Adm. Freed Pérez Burguete, commandant of the Mexican Marine Corps, left, and Director General Luis Antonio De Gracia, commander of the Panama National Aeronaval Service, right, in Washington, D.C., 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)

Marine Leaders of the Americas Conference 2025 - U.S. Marine Corps Gen. Eric M. Smith, the 39th Commandant of the Marine Corps, stands with senior naval infantry and Marine Corps leaders from 20 Allied or partnered nations during the 2025 Marine Leaders of the Americas Conference in Washington, D.C., on Aug. 4, 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)

U.S., Chilean Marines conduct live-fire ranges during Exercise UNITAS 2024 - U.S. Marines with Golf Company, 2nd Battalion, 7th Marine Regiment, 1st Marine Division, observe a Chilean Marine firing his rifle during Exercise UNITAS LXV at Puerto Aldea, Chile, Sept. 3, 2024. UNITAS 2024 is a Chilean hosted, combined naval forces with integrated partner nations designed to increase the readiness of all participating forces, improve regional security and interoperability, strengthen partnership in the region and foster innovation and experimentation. (U.S. photo by Lance Cpl. Logan Courtright)

Scales and Rifles: Marine reflects on his Grandfather’s service during CENTAM Guardian 25 - U.S. Marine Corps Sgt. John Murphy, a rifleman with 1st Battalion, 25th Marines, 4th Marine Division, executes a hand and arm signal at Puerto San Jose, Guatemala on May 20, 2025. CG25 fosters collaboration by enabling participating nations to share and build on their collective knowledge and experiences. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Sgt. Eduardo Delatorre.)

U.S. Marine Corps Lance Cpl. Anthony Hodge, cyber warfare operator, Defensive Cyberspace Operations Internal Defensive Measures, works through simulated cyber threats during exercise Southern Defender 25 in Augusta, Georgia, May 6, 2025. SD 25 is a defensive cyberspace operations focused exercise designed for the U.S. and Allies and partners to collectively strengthen cyberspace awareness, exercise joint all domain operations and counter harmful actors while building multi-lateral capacity. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Sgt. Samuel Qin) - U.S. Marine Corps Lance Cpl. Anthony Hodge, cyber warfare operator, Defensive Cyberspace Operations Internal Defensive Measures, works through simulated cyber threats during exercise Southern Defender 25 in Augusta, Georgia, May 6, 2025. SD 25 is a defensive cyberspace operations focused exercise designed for the U.S. and Allies and partners to collectively strengthen cyberspace awareness, exercise joint all domain operations and counter harmful actors while building multi-lateral capacity. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Sgt. Samuel Qin)