Stories

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.

U.S. Marines with Special-Purpose Marine Air-Ground Task Force Continuing Promise 2010 (CP10) prepare to commence the Marine Corps 235th birthday celebration in the hangar bay of the amphibious assault ship USS Iwo Jima (LHD7), Nov. 10, 2010. Service members and civilians are deployed in support of CP10 providing medical, dental, veterinary, engineering assistance and subject-matter exchanges to Caribbean, Central and South American nations. Service members and civilians are currently off the coast of Cuba. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Sgt. Samuel R. Beyers/Released)::r::::n::::r::::n:: - U.S. Marines with Special-Purpose Marine Air-Ground Task Force Continuing Promise 2010 (CP10) prepare to commence the Marine Corps 235th birthday celebration in the hangar bay of the amphibious assault ship USS Iwo Jima (LHD7), Nov. 10, 2010. Service members and civilians are deployed in support of CP10 providing medical, dental, veterinary, engineering assistance and subject-matter exchanges to Caribbean, Central and South American nations. Service members and civilians are currently off the coast of Cuba. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Sgt. Samuel R. Beyers/Released)::r::::n::::r::::n::

A CH-46E Sea Knight helicopter assigned to Marine Medium Helicopter Squadron (HMM) 774, embarked aboard the multi-purpose amphibious assault ship USS Iwo Jima (LHD 7), conducts aerial assessments of Haiti after Hurricane Tomas made landfall. Iwo Jima is preparing to support of the Government of Haiti, the UN Stabilization Mission in Haiti and the U.S. Agency for International Relief.::r::::n:: - A CH-46E Sea Knight helicopter assigned to Marine Medium Helicopter Squadron (HMM) 774, embarked aboard the multi-purpose amphibious assault ship USS Iwo Jima (LHD 7), conducts aerial assessments of Haiti after Hurricane Tomas made landfall. Iwo Jima is preparing to support of the Government of Haiti, the UN Stabilization Mission in Haiti and the U.S. Agency for International Relief.::r::::n::

Lance Cpl. Carlos Fuentes, a civil affairs Marine deployed from the 4th Civil Affairs Group, helps children assemble rubber band airplanes at the Sansonsito School July 12. (U.S. Air Force photo/Tech. Sgt. Eric Petosky) - Lance Cpl. Carlos Fuentes, a civil affairs Marine deployed from the 4th Civil Affairs Group, helps children assemble rubber band airplanes at the Sansonsito School July 12. (U.S. Air Force photo/Tech. Sgt. Eric Petosky)

A Colombian drill instructor mentors two recruits on the rifle range in Covenas, Colombia. For more than 30 years the United States Marine Corps has mentored their counterparts in the Colombian Marine Corps, establishing a recruit depot that trains to USMC standards. - A Colombian drill instructor mentors two recruits on the rifle range in Covenas, Colombia. For more than 30 years the United States Marine Corps has mentored their counterparts in the Colombian Marine Corps, establishing a recruit depot that trains to USMC standards.

Cpl. Nick Hefley talks with a member of the Nicaraguan military before the Nicaraguan Armed Forces 30th Anniversary Celebration, Sept. 12 in Managua, Republic of Nicaragua. Hefley is a squad leader with 2nd Platoon, Company A, Marine Barracks Washington. - Cpl. Nick Hefley talks with a member of the Nicaraguan military before the Nicaraguan Armed Forces 30th Anniversary Celebration, Sept. 12 in Managua, Republic of Nicaragua. Hefley is a squad leader with 2nd Platoon, Company A, Marine Barracks Washington.