MISSION

Commander, Marine Forces, South (COMMARFORSOUTH), serves as the U.S. Marine Corps Service Component Commander for Commander, U.S. Southern Command (CDRUSSOUTHCOM), commands assigned or attached Marine Corps forces; engages CDRUSOUTHCOM and his/her staff to set conditions for Marine Forces most effective employment and sustainment; conducts planning in support of U.S SOUTHERN COMMAND (USSOUTHCOM) operations, exercises and theater engagements; advises CDRUSSOUTHCOM, other Component Commanders, and Task Force Commanders on the capabilities and proper employment of U.S. Marine Corps forces; and validates and facilitates the deployment, sustainment and redeployment of all designated forces in order to ensure the effective employment and support of assigned, allocated, and apportioned Marine Forces in the USSOUTHCOM Area of Responsibility

news / PHOTOS

CJCS visits Jose Aponte

(From left to right) Senior Enlisted Advisor to the Chairman David L. Isom, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. Dan Caine, the Commanding Officer and the Command Senior Enlisted Leader of Marine Fighter Attack Squadron (VMFA) 225, U.S. Marine Corps Forces, South, pose for a photo Jose Aponte de la Torre Airport in Ceiba, Puerto Rico, Nov. 24, 2025. U.S. military forces are deployed to the Caribbean in support of the U.S. Southern Command mission, Department of War-directed operations, and the president’s priorities to disrupt illicit drug trafficking and protect the homeland. (U.S. Marine Corps photo)

VMFA-225 conducts flight operations in Puerto Rico

A U.S. Marine Corps pilot and plane captain with Marine Fighter Attack Squadron (VMFA) 225, U.S. Marine Corps Forces South, conduct preflight checks on a U.S. Marine Corps F-35B Lightning II assigned to VMFA-225 at Jose Aponte de la Torre Airport in Ceiba, Puerto Rico, Nov. 20, 2025. U.S. military forces are deployed to the Caribbean in support of the U.S. Southern Command mission, Department of War-directed operations, and the president’s priorities to disrupt illicit drug trafficking and protect the homeland. (U.S. Marine Corps photo)

VMFA-225 conducts flight operations in Puerto Rico

A U.S. Marine Corps KC-130J Super Hercules assigned to Marine Aerial Refueler Transport Squadron (VMGR) 252, Marine Aircraft Group 14, 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing, is parked on the flightline while a U.S. Marine Corps F-35B Lightning II assigned to Marine Fighter Attack Squadron (VMFA) 225, U.S. Marine Corps Forces, South, takes off at Jose Aponte de la Torre Airport in Ceiba, Puerto Rico, Nov. 20, 2025. U.S. military forces are deployed to the Caribbean in support of the U.S. Southern Command mission, Department of War-directed operations, and the president’s priorities to disrupt illicit drug trafficking and protect the homeland. (U.S. Marine Corps photo)

UNITAS 2025: Different Uniforms, One Team

U.S. Marines, Sailors trained alongside allies and partner-nation marines and naval infantry during exercise UNITAS 2025 at Camp Lejeune, Sept. 12–Oct. 6, 2025. Events included visit, board, search and seizure, live-fire ranges, amphibious ship-to-shore movement, urban operations and water survival to enhance interoperability, maritime domain awareness and regional security. This year marks the 66th iteration of the world’s longest running annual multinational maritime exercise since since it was conceived in 1959. (U.S. Marine Corps video by Sgt. Samuel Qin) The video contains music from a USMC licensed asset from AdobeStock. Public-domain scores sourced via the International Music Score Library Project.

UNITAS 2025 SIMULCAS Interviews

U.S. Marines and Infanteria de Marina (Spanish Marines) participate in an interview for exercise UNITAS 2025 at Camp Lejeune, North Carolina, Sept. 17, 2025. UNITAS, which is Latin for “unity,” was conceived in 1959 and has taken place annually since first conducted in 1960. This year marks the 66th iteration of the world’s longest running annual multinational maritime exercise. The exercise trains forces in joint maritime operations that enhance tactical proficiency and increase interoperability with the presence of unmanned air, surface and submarine systems. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Sgt. Eduardo Delatorre)

MARFORRES, MARFORSOUTH Celebrate 250th Marine Corps Birthday with Largest Ball in the Corps

Marines, Sailors and distinguished guests gathered beneath the lights of the Caesars Superdome on Nov. 1, 2025, to celebrate the 250th anniversary of the United States Marine Corps during the annual U.S. Marine Corps Forces Reserve and U.S. Marine Corps Forces, South Birthday Ball, the largest Marine Corps Ball across the service. This year’s celebration marked not only a historic milestone for the Corps, but also a moment of pride for the city of New Orleans, home to Marine Forces Reserve Headquarters. Over 3,500 attendees filled the Superdome to celebrate the Marine Corps’ 250 years of honor, courage, commitment, and service to the nation.

UNITAS LXVI: Marines Train with Allies and partners teaser

The U.S., allies and partner nation forces will be participating in exercise UNITAS LXVI, along the eastern coast of the United States, 10 Sept., 2025. UNITAS, which is Latin for “unity,” was conceived in 1959 and has taken place annually since first conducted in 1960. This year marks the 66th iteration of the world’s longest running annual multinational maritime exercise. (U.S. Marine Corps video by Sgt. Gabriel Durand) By License - This video contains audio from a USMC enterprise licensed asset from Adobe Stock: "Tense Serious Drama" - by TastyTunes" / https://stock.adobe.com/

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 concluding video

Video summarizing the Marine Leaders of the Americas Conference 2025, held in Washington, D.C., July, 4-6, 2025. MLAC 2025, 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 video by Sgt Samuel Qin)

Leaders of the Americas Conference 2025: Sunset Parade

Members of the 2025 Marine Leaders of the Americas Conference pose for a photo with U.S. Marine Corps Gen. Eric Smith, the 39th Commandant of the Marine Corps, during a visit to the Military Women’s Memorial at Arlington National Cemetery, 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)

SMMC Ruiz delivers keynote at MLAC 2025

U.S. Marine Corps Sgt. Maj. Carlos A. Ruiz, the 20th Sergeant Major of the Marine Corps, delivers keynote remarks as part of the 2025 Marine Leaders of the Americas Conference (MLAC), Washington, D.C., August 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 GySgt Jordan E. Gilbert)

MLAC 2025

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)

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U.S. Marine Corps Forces South

MISSION

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OVERVIEW VIDEO: U.S. MaRINE CORPS FORCES, SOUTH

Overview of U.S. Marine Corps Forces South

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