Stories

Brigadier General Kevin M. Iiams took the command battle colors from Sgt. Maj. James N. Calbough, sergeant major for U.S. Marine Corps Forces, South, as he assumed the role of commander Jan. 7, 2016. The Marines from MARFORSOUTH hosted the senior leadership of U.S. Southern Command and other service members during an Assumption of Command ceremony. (Official Marine Corps Photo by SSgt. Earnest J. Barnes/Released) - Brigadier General Kevin M. Iiams took the command battle colors from Sgt. Maj. James N. Calbough, sergeant major for U.S. Marine Corps Forces, South, as he assumed the role of commander Jan. 7, 2016. The Marines from MARFORSOUTH hosted the senior leadership of U.S. Southern Command and other service members during an Assumption of Command ceremony. (Official Marine Corps Photo by SSgt. Earnest J. Barnes/Released)

U. S. Marine Capt. Ismael Lopez, team leader, 4th Civil Affairs Group, Force Headquarters Group, Marine Forces Reserve, interacts with the students at Jornalista Dantas during UNITAS Amphibous 2015 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, Nov. 17, 2015. 4th CAG, Mexican Marines, along with Brazilian sailors and Marines provided food, soccer balls, pens and paper. In addition to the distribution of school materials, 4th CAG joined partner nations to teach local students about English translation, a brief explanation of what UNITAS Amphib is and a class on dental hygiene. (Photo taken by U.S. Marine Lance Cpl. Issac Velasquez/Released) - U. S. Marine Capt. Ismael Lopez, team leader, 4th Civil Affairs Group, Force Headquarters Group, Marine Forces Reserve, interacts with the students at Jornalista Dantas during UNITAS Amphibous 2015 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, Nov. 17, 2015. 4th CAG, Mexican Marines, along with Brazilian sailors and Marines provided food, soccer balls, pens and paper. In addition to the distribution of school materials, 4th CAG joined partner nations to teach local students about English translation, a brief explanation of what UNITAS Amphib is and a class on dental hygiene. (Photo taken by U.S. Marine Lance Cpl. Issac Velasquez/Released)

Maj. Gen. John M. Croley (right) relinquished command of MARFORSOUTH to Brig. Gen. W. “Blake” Crowe (left) during a ceremony at the U.S. Southern Command headquarters Sept. 20. MARFORSOUTH is the U. S. Marine Corps Service Component Command for U. S. Southern Command. MARFORSOUTH commands all Marine forces assigned to Commander SOUTHCOM; advises the Commander SOUTHCOM on the proper employment and support of Marine forces; conducts deployment and redeployment planning and execution of assigned, attached Marine forces, and accomplishes other operational missions as assigned. (Official Department of Defense photo by Juan Chiari//Released) - Maj. Gen. John M. Croley (right) relinquished command of MARFORSOUTH to Brig. Gen. W. “Blake” Crowe (left) during a ceremony at the U.S. Southern Command headquarters Sept. 20. MARFORSOUTH is the U. S. Marine Corps Service Component Command for U. S. Southern Command. MARFORSOUTH commands all Marine forces assigned to Commander SOUTHCOM; advises the Commander SOUTHCOM on the proper employment and support of Marine forces; conducts deployment and redeployment planning and execution of assigned, attached Marine forces, and accomplishes other operational missions as assigned. (Official Department of Defense photo by Juan Chiari//Released)

(Pictured from left to right) Master Gunnery Sgt. Ramon Reyes, the Traditional Commander Activities Coordinator, U.S. Marine Corps Forces, South, Brig. Gen. Luis Gomez Vasquez, Commandant of the Colombian Marine Corps, Sgt. Maj. William F. Fitzgerald, Sergeant Major of Marine Corps Forces, South and Sgt. Maj. Antonio Perez Duran (Ret.), former Sergeant Major of the Colombian Marine Corps, pose for a photo after Reyes and Fitzgerald were awarded the Colombian Marine Corps' Distinguished Service Medal during a ceremony at the Batallón de Seguridad de Infantería de Marina (BASEGIM), the Colombian Marine Corps’ Security Battalion Headquarters Base here. - (Pictured from left to right) Master Gunnery Sgt. Ramon Reyes, the Traditional Commander Activities Coordinator, U.S. Marine Corps Forces, South, Brig. Gen. Luis Gomez Vasquez, Commandant of the Colombian Marine Corps, Sgt. Maj. William F. Fitzgerald, Sergeant Major of Marine Corps Forces, South and Sgt. Maj. Antonio Perez Duran (Ret.), former Sergeant Major of the Colombian Marine Corps, pose for a photo after Reyes and Fitzgerald were awarded the Colombian Marine Corps' Distinguished Service Medal during a ceremony at the Batallón de Seguridad de Infantería de Marina (BASEGIM), the Colombian Marine Corps’ Security Battalion Headquarters Base here.

U.S. Marines attached to Special Purpose Air Ground Task Force (SPMAGTF) prepare to hook the support straps to the bottom of CH-46E 'Sea Knight" helicopter Dec. 9. The Sea Knight delivered the antenna repeater to "antenna alley" to broadcast emergency messages to the local community of Santo Tomas. The SPMAGTF is in Guatemala as a part of Amphibious-Southern Partnership Station 2012 (AMPHIB-SPS 12), an annual deployment of U.S. military teams to the U.S. Southern Command area of responsibility. - U.S. Marines attached to Special Purpose Air Ground Task Force (SPMAGTF) prepare to hook the support straps to the bottom of CH-46E 'Sea Knight" helicopter Dec. 9. The Sea Knight delivered the antenna repeater to "antenna alley" to broadcast emergency messages to the local community of Santo Tomas. The SPMAGTF is in Guatemala as a part of Amphibious-Southern Partnership Station 2012 (AMPHIB-SPS 12), an annual deployment of U.S. military teams to the U.S. Southern Command area of responsibility.

Dominican Republic Navy Capt. Samuel Jimenez, Navy Director of Training, and LtCol. John Robinson, U.S. Marine Corps Forces, South, Security Cooperations Team, Officer in Charge, participate in a Marine Corps Birthday cake-cutting ceremony, marking the 236th year of the U.S. Marine Corps. The Marines are in the Dominican Republic as part of Southern Partnership Station 2012. - Dominican Republic Navy Capt. Samuel Jimenez, Navy Director of Training, and LtCol. John Robinson, U.S. Marine Corps Forces, South, Security Cooperations Team, Officer in Charge, participate in a Marine Corps Birthday cake-cutting ceremony, marking the 236th year of the U.S. Marine Corps. The Marines are in the Dominican Republic as part of Southern Partnership Station 2012.

A U.S. Marine Corps CH-46E Sea Knight Helicopter prepares for landing in order to transport Marines to the Amphibious Dock Landing Ship USS Oak Hill, Oct. 16, 2011. Marines from Special Purpose Marine Air Ground Task Force are in Matuntugo in support of Amphibious Southern Partnership Station 12, an annual deployment of U.S. military training teams to the U.S. Southern Command area of responsibility for the purpose of conducting Subject Matter Expert Exchanges (SMEE). - A U.S. Marine Corps CH-46E Sea Knight Helicopter prepares for landing in order to transport Marines to the Amphibious Dock Landing Ship USS Oak Hill, Oct. 16, 2011. Marines from Special Purpose Marine Air Ground Task Force are in Matuntugo in support of Amphibious Southern Partnership Station 12, an annual deployment of U.S. military training teams to the U.S. Southern Command area of responsibility for the purpose of conducting Subject Matter Expert Exchanges (SMEE).

U.S. Marines from High Speed Vessel (HSV) 2 Swift, HSV-SPS 12 Marine Detachment, conduct a site survey on a 200 meter range, for joint marksmanship training with officers from the Dominican Republic Marine Corps. The joint training will also include first aid, land navigation and squad tactics. The Swift is deployed on Southern Partnership Station (SPS) 2012. SPS is an annual deployment of U.S. ships to the U.S. Southern Command’s area of responsibility in the Caribbean, Central and South America. This mission involves sharing information between local host countries Navies, Coast Guards and civilian services throughout the region.::r::::n:: - U.S. Marines from High Speed Vessel (HSV) 2 Swift, HSV-SPS 12 Marine Detachment, conduct a site survey on a 200 meter range, for joint marksmanship training with officers from the Dominican Republic Marine Corps. The joint training will also include first aid, land navigation and squad tactics. The Swift is deployed on Southern Partnership Station (SPS) 2012. SPS is an annual deployment of U.S. ships to the U.S. Southern Command’s area of responsibility in the Caribbean, Central and South America. This mission involves sharing information between local host countries Navies, Coast Guards and civilian services throughout the region.::r::::n::