Marine Corps Mountain Warfare Training Center instructors hike as 3-man glacier teams alongside Argentine marines to the summit of a mountain range in Argentina, Sept. 6, 2024. Knowledge exchanges such as these foster camaraderie and mutual reliance between U.S. and Argentine forces which aims to strengthen their ability to cooperate for future exercises. U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Samuel Qin
Army
A Soldier trains during Joint Pacific Multinational Readiness Center 25-01 at Kahuku Training Area, Hawaii, Oct. 14, 2024. The training prepares service members for various environments and conditions where they are most likely to operate. (U.S. Army photo by Pfc. Mariah Aguilar)
Navy
The Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Howard (DDG 83), the Philippine Navy’s first-in-class frigate BRP Jose Rizal (FF 150), and a Royal Canadian Navy CH-148 Cyclone helicopter and the Halifax-class frigate HMCS Vancouver (FFH-331) conduct a maneuvering exercise in the South China Sea during Sama Sama 2024, Oct. 16, 2024. Sama Sama is a bilateral exercise hosted by the Philippines and the United States with participants from Australia, Canada, France and Japan, designed to promote regional security, cooperation, maintain and strengthen maritime partnerships, and enhance maritime interoperability. (U.S. Navy photo by Naval Air Crewman (Helicopter) 2nd Class Brenden Dalrymple)
Marine Corps
A U.S. Marine Corps AH-1Z Viper helicopter assigned to Marine Aviation Weapons and Tactics Squadron One (MAWTS-1), fires missiles during Assault Support Tactics 4 as part of Weapons and Tactics Instructor course 1-25, at Marine Corps Air-Ground Combat Center, California, Oct. 22, 2024. WTI is a seven-week training event hosted by MAWTS-1, which emphasizes operational integration of the six functions of Marine aviation in support of the Marine Air Ground Task Force, Joint ,and Coalition Forces. U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Jack Labrador
Air Force
A C-130 Hercules assigned to the 920th Rescue Wing departs Patrick Space Force Base, Fla., Oct. 7, 2024, in preparation for the arrival of Hurricane Milton. In under 24 hours, aircraft were prepped, inspected and flown to an alternate location, demonstrating the wing’s ready now mindset for rapid-deployment rescue operations. (U.S. Air Force photo by Tech. Sgt. Darius Sostre-Miroir)
Coast Guard
Coast Guard Cutter Florence Finch (WPC 1157) moves closer to the pier before mooring in its new homeport of Astoria, Ore., Aug. 17, 2024. The Florence Finch will primarily serve in the Pacific Ocean, Puget Sound, Strait of Juan de Fuca, and the Columbia River. (U.S. Coast Guard photo by Petty Officer Will Kirk)
Featured Image Caption: Airmen from the 97th Mission Support Group extinguish a controlled aircraft fire during a live fire exposition at Altus Air Force Base, Okla., Oct. 9, 2024. Firefighters from the 97th Civil Engineer Squadron hosted multiple events during the week, including a fire extinguisher demonstration, a fire station open house and a parade through the base. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Jonah Bliss)
Army
U.S. Army Soldiers assigned to 1st Battalion, 27th Infantry Regiment, 2nd Light Brigade Combat Team, 25th Infantry Division, established a defensive posture after seizing the objective during Joint Pacific Multinational Readiness Center (JPMRC)… (U.S. Army photo by Sgt. 1st Class Ryele Bertoch)
Navy
The Ticonderoga-class guided-missile cruiser USS Gettysburg (CG 64) transits the Strait of Dover, Oct. 14, 2024, in the North Sea where the strike group will conduct operations with Allies and partners. USS Harry S. Truman, the flagship of the Harry S. Truman Carrier Strike Group, is on a scheduled deployment in the U.S. 6th Fleet area of operations supporting U.S. Naval Forces Europe-Africa to defend U.S., allied and partner interests. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Mike Shen)
Marine Corps
U.S. Marine Corps MV-22B Ospreys attached to 15th Marine Expeditionary Unit, land at Basco Airport during foreign disaster relief operations in Philippines, Oct. 8, 2024. The U.S. Department of Defense is supporting the Republic of the Philippines at the request of the Government of the Philippines providing foreign disaster relief in the aftermath of Typhoon Krathon (Julian). U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Joseph Helms/
Air Force
A U.S. Air Force KC-135 Stratotanker assigned to the 100th Air Refueling Wing prepares to refuel a U.S. Air Force F-35A Lightning II during exercise Ramstein Flag 2024, while flying over the coast of Greece, Oct. 4, 2024. RAFL24 demonstrates NATO’s unity and strength as allies across the Euro-Atlantic area train side-by-side in offensive and defensive air operations scenarios, enhancing their ability to adapt to the emerging environment. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Edgar Grimaldo)
Coast Guard
A 47-foot Motor Lifeboat crew arrives on scene during a search and rescue case off the coast of La Push, Washington, October 18, 2024. The Coast Guard rescued five people from the 130-foot commercial tug Luther after it lost steering 10 miles from shore while towing a cement barge. (U.S. Coast Guard photo by Chief Petty Officer Taylor Robinson)
Happy Birthday Squids. You don’t look a day over 230. . .
Army
A U.S. Army M1265A1 Stryker Alpha Battery, 6th battalion, 56th Air Defense Artillery Regiment, at the ammunition point to receive ammunition before the Table IV iteration, as part of a crew qualification gunnery, at Dalton Mountain Multi-Use Range… (U.S. Army photo by Sgt. Nicholas Goodman)
Navy
An F/A-18E Super Hornet attached to the “Fist of the Fleet” of Strike Fighter Squadron (VFA) 25 launches from the flight deck aboard the Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS Theodore Roosevelt (CVN 71) in the Pacific Ocean, Oct. 8, 2024. Theodore Roosevelt, flagship of Carrier Strike Group 9, is underway conducting routine operations in the U.S. 3rd Fleet area of operations. An integral part of U.S. Pacific Fleet, U.S. 3rd Fleet operates naval forces in the Indo-Pacific and provides the realistic, relevant training necessary to execute the U.S. Navy’s role across the full spectrum of military operations – from combat operations to humanitarian assistance and disaster relief. U.S. 3rd Fleet works together with our allies and partners to advance freedom of navigation, the rule of law, and other principles that underpin security for the Indo-Pacific region. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist Seaman Ryan Holloway)
Marine Corps
Marine Corps Sgt. Mitchell Parcell, a V-22 tiltrotor crew chief assigned to 15th Marine Expeditionary Unit, observes the amphibious assault ship USS Boxer (LHD 4) in the Luzon Strait, Oct. 8, 2024. The U.S. Department of Defense is supporting the Republic of the Philippines at the request of the Government of the Philippines providing foreign disaster relief in the aftermath of Typhoon Krathon (Julian).
Air Force
Second Lt. Madison Marsh, Miss America 2024, dons a bite sleeve during a K-9 training event Oct. 8, 2024, at Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland, Texas. The 341st Training Squadron represents the heart of the Department of Defense military working dog program, training over 600 handlers and nearly 300 canines annually. (U.S. Air Force photo by Miriam Thurber)
Coast Guard
Coast Guard returns 58 migrants to Dominican Republic following at-sea interdiction near Puerto Rico
The Coast Guard Cutter Joseph Doyle interdicts an unlawful maritime migration voyage in Mona Passage waters east of Mona Island, Puerto Rico, Oct. 2, 2024. The migrants were all repatriated at-sea to a Dominican Republic Navy vessel just off Punta Cana, Dominican Republic. (U.S. Coast Guard photo)
Featured image caption: A U.S. Marine Corps XQ-58A Valkyrie, highly autonomous, low-cost tactical unmanned air vehicle, soars overhead during its second test flight at Eglin Air Force Base, Fla., Feb. 23, 2023. The XQ-58A Valkyrie test flight and the data collected inform future requirements for the Marine Corps in a rapidly evolving security environment, while successfully fueling joint innovation and experimentation opportunities. (U.S. Air Force photo by Master Sgt. John McRell)
Army
Army Maj. Wayland Griffin and Spc. Salim Hercules prepare for a crew qualification at Fort Cavazos, Texas, Sept. 19, 2024. Crew qualifications verify the lethality and effectiveness of a unit’s crews and the ability to efficiently complete… (U.S. Army photo by Sgt. Nicholas Goodman)
Navy
Lt. Cmdr. John Brennan, from Nashville, Tennessee, divisional officer of air department’s flight deck crash and salvage division, and Lt. Sarah Amorio, from Petaluma, California, divisional officer of air department’s primary flight control division, signal an F/A-18F Super Hornet, attached to the Flying Eagles of Strike Fighter Squadron (VFA) 122, to take off from the flight deck of Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS George Washington (CVN 73) while underway in the Pacific Ocean, Sept. 25, 2024. As an integral part of U.S. Pacific Fleet, U.S. 3rd Fleet operates naval forces in the Indo-Pacific in addition to providing realistic and relevant training necessary to flawlessly execute our Navy’s timeless roles of sea control and power projection. U.S. 3rd Fleet works in close coordination with other numbered fleets to provide commanders with capable, ready forces to deploy forward and win in day-to-day competition, in crisis, and in conflict. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class August Clawson)
Marine Corps
U.S. Marines assigned to Reconnaissance Company, 15th Marine Expeditionary Unit, fast-rope from a U.S. Navy MH-60S Sea Hawk, attached to Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron 23, during a visit, board, search, and seizure mission rehearsal aboard the amphibious assault ship USS Boxer (LHD 4) in the Tsushima Strait, Sept. 18, 2024. USINDOPACOM forces perform operations in and around critical sea passages and trade thoroughfares to deter threats that create regional instability and impinge on the free flow of goods, people, and ideas. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Joseph Helms)
Air Force
A CV-22 Osprey, assigned to the 20th Special Operations Squadron, approaches the air-refueling receptacle of an MC-130J Commando II during a night flight at Cannon Air Force Base, N.M., Sept. 12, 2024. The Osprey is a tiltrotor aircraft that combines a helicopter’s vertical takeoff, hover and vertical landing qualities with the long-range, fuel efficiency and speed characteristics of a turboprop aircraft. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Gracelyn Hess)
Coast Guard
Coast Guard Cutter Kathleen Moore interdicts an overloaded makeshift vessel with 14 migrants in Mona Passage waters north of Mona Island, Puerto Rico, Sept. 23, 2024. The migrant group was repatriated at-sea to Dominican Republic Navy authorities just off Punta Cana, Dominican Republic, Sept. 25, 2024. (U.S. Coast Guard photo)
Featured Image caption: U.S. Marines with 1st Marine Division, prepare an M142 High Mobility Artillery Rocket System for a dry-fire iteration during exercise Intrepid Maven Oasis at an undisclosed location within the U.S. Central Command area of responsibility, Aug. 4, 2024. IMO provides Marine Corps forces with the opportunity to enhance their proficiency across various military tactics and fields of expertise in support of regional security priorities. U.S. Marine Corps photo by Sgt. Angela Wilcox
Army
Members of the U.S. Army Band play during an arrival ceremony hosted by Air Force Gen. CQ Brown, Jr., chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, for United Arab Emirates Chief of Staff of the Armed Forces Lieutenant General Eisa Saif Mohammed Al… (Benjamin D. Applebaum)
Navy
The Nimitz-class aircraft carriers USS Harry S. Truman (CVN 75), front, and USS Dwight D. Eisenhower (CVN 69), left, and the Ford-class aircraft carrier USS Gerald R. Ford (CVN 78) transit the Atlantic Ocean during an ordnance transfer, Aug. 24, 2024. The aircraft carriers are underway for an ordnance transfer between the three ships and the Lewis and Clark-class dry cargo and ammunition ship USNS William McLean (T-AKE 12). (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Matthew Nass)
Marines
U.S. Marine Corps Lance Cpl. Eli Gregg, an assistant M3E1 multipurpose anti-armor anti-personnel weapon system gunner with Marine Rotational Force –Darwin 24.3, assists Lance Cpl. Ryan Waskosky, a MAAW gunner also with MRF-D 24.3, while firing a MAAW during a live-fire range as a part of Exercise Predator’s Run 24 at Mount Bundey Training Area, NT, Australia, July 30, 2024. Exercise Predator’s Run 24 is a littoral-focused, multilateral training exercise led by the Australian Army’s 1st Brigade. U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Juan Torres
Air Force
An F-35A Lightning II assigned to the 388th Fighter Wing advances towards a KC-135 Stratotanker assigned to the 92nd Air Refueling Wing during an aerial refueling mission over Utah, Aug. 15, 2024. Aerial refueling capabilities are essential for strategic and tactical operations, as well as humanitarian relief efforts in support of Air Mobility Command, U.S. Transportation Command and Department of Defense priorities. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Clare Werner)
Coast Guard
A U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Escanaba (WMEC 907) boat crew destroys a go-fast vessel interdicted in the Eastern Pacific Ocean, July 28, 2024. The crew of USCGC Escanaba offloaded more than 3,400 pounds of cocaine and 4,410 pounds of marijuana with a combined assessed street value of approximately $50 million in Port Everglades, Florida, Aug. 23, 2024. (U.S. Coast Guard photo by Petty Officer 3rd Class Nadia Sands)
Featured image caption: An M1A2 Abrams assigned to 1st Armored Division, fires during a live-fire exercise at Rodriguez Live-Fire Complex, South Korea, Aug. 5, 2024. The unit is participating in a deployment readiness exercise in support of Operation Pacific Fortitude,… (U.S. Army photo by Pfc. Dariel J. Cortes De Jesus)
Army
A U.S. Army Paratrooper descends to drop zone using his MC-6 Parachute during Leapfest 2024 at Glenrock Drop Zone, Exeter, Rhode Island, August 3, 2024. Leapfest is the largest, longest standing, international static line parachute training event… ( U.S. Army photo by Sgt. 1st Class Austin Berner)
Navy
The Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN 72), left, and the guided-missile destroyer USS Frank J. Petersen Jr. (DDG 121) transit the Singapore Strait, Aug. 15, 2024. Abraham Lincoln, flagship of the Abraham Lincoln Carrier Strike Group, is underway conducting routine operations in the U.S. 7th Fleet area of operations. U.S. 7th Fleet is the U.S. Navy’s largest forward-deployed numbered fleet, and routinely interacts and operates with allies and partners in preserving a free and open Indo-Pacific region. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist Seaman Joey Sitter)
Marine Corps
Marine Lance Cpl. James Hackworth, a rifleman with Marine Barracks Washington, fires at a target during advanced marksmanship training at Marine Corps Base Quantico. The purpose of this live-fire training was to build joint-based camaraderie with the United States Army and enhance lethality. U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Iyer Ramakrishna
Air Force
Harry, a military working dog, waits for his handler’s command at Little Rock Air Force Base, Ark., Aug. 14, 2024. All MWDs complete an obedience training course at least twice a week, while also performing multiple drug detection scenarios to maintain their proficiencies. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Saisha Cornett)
Coast Guard
The crew of the USCGC Oliver Henry (WPC 1140) tow a disabled 22-foot fiberglass boat with six fishermen in good condition aboard about 11 nautical miles off Satawal, Federated States of Micronesia, on Aug. 18, 2024. The vessel, which had been adrift after experiencing engine failure, was towed to Satawal Atoll by the Oliver Henry. The Joint Rescue Sub-Center (JRSC) Guam watch received a distress alert from a 406MHz Personal Locator Beacon (PLB) registered in the United States at approximately 9 a.m. local time on Aug. 17. The beacon, lent out by a Yap-based owner to outer island fishermen, was activated, signaling potential distress about 27 nautical miles north northeast of Satawal. (U.S. Coast Guard photo by Petty Officer 3rd Class Ryder Nollan)
Sgt. Stout M-SHORAD (Maneuver Short-Range Air Defense) Stryker combat vehicle at the National Museum of the U.S. Army, Fort Belvoir, Va., June 15, 2024. The M-SHORAD uses the M-1126 Stryker combat vehicle as its chassis. The M-SHORAD’s… (U.S. Army photo by Christopher Kaufmann) Read more about the Sgt. Stout M_SHORAD system HEREThe first few days in “the box” have wrapped up for our troops at the Joint Readiness Training Center, during which they completed blank and live fire training exercises that put their skills to the test while bringing Soldiers from across the United States and Canada together to work as cohesive teams. The units now are moving into the simulated force-on-force maneuvers while utilizing MILES (multiple integrated laser engagement system) on everything from personal weapons to all varieties of vehicles. (32nd IBCT Photo by Staff Sgt. Kati Volkman / released) (Photo Credit: Staff Sgt. Kati Volkman)
Navy
PHILIPPINE SEA (June 18, 2024) An F/A-18E Super Hornet assigned to the “Flying Checkmates” of Strike Fighter Squadron (VFA) 211 launches off the flight deck of the Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS Theodore Roosevelt (CVN 71), June 18, 2024. Theodore Roosevelt, flagship of Carrier Strike Group (CSG) 9, is underway conducting routine operations in the U.S. 7th Fleet area of operations. U.S. 7th Fleet is the U.S. Navy’s largest forward-deployed numbered fleet, and routinely interacts and operates with allies and partners in preserving a free and open Indo-Pacific region. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist Seaman Aaron Haro Gonzalez)SAN DIEGO (June 14, 2024) The Arleigh Burke-class guided missile destroyer USS Curtis Wilbur (DDG 54), left, renders honors as USS Fitzgerald (DDG 62) transits out of San Diego Bay to participate in exercise Rim of the Pacific (RIMPAC) 2024. Twenty nine nations, 40 surface ships, three submarines, 14 national land forces, more than 150 aircraft and 25,000 personnel are participating in RIMPAC in and around the Hawaiian Islands, June 27 to Aug. 1. The world’s largest international maritime exercise, RIMPAC provides a unique training opportunity while fostering and sustaining cooperative relationships among participants critical to ensuring the safety of sea lanes and security on the world’s oceans. RIMPAC 2024 is the 29th exercise in the series that began in 1971. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Jordan Jennings)
Marine Corps
A U.S. Marine with the maritime raid force, 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit, posts security for a UH-1Y Venom during a helicopter rope suspension techniques exercise at Camp Schwab, Okinawa, Japan, June 25, 2024. The training was conducted to rehearse insertion of a reconnaissance and surveillance team into a limited opening insertion point. The 31st MEU, the Marine Corps’ only continuously forward-deployed MEU, provides a flexible and lethal force ready to perform a wide range of military operations as the premiere crisis response force in the Indo-Pacific region. U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Osmar GutierrezU.S. Marine Corps Amphibious Combat Vehicles attached to Alpha Company, Battalion Landing Team 1/5, 15th Marine Expeditionary Unit, conduct an amphibious landing after waterborne operations at White Beach Naval Facility, Okinawa, Japan, June 24, 2024. Harpers Ferry and embarked elements of the 15th MEU are conducting routine operations in the U.S. 7th Fleet area of operations. 7th Fleet is the U.S. Navy’s largest forward-deployed numbered fleet, and routinely interacts and operates with allies and partners in preserving a free and open Indo-Pacific region. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Peyton Kahle)
Air Force
A B-2 Spirit makes a low pass flyover as part of the Warriors over the Wasatch airshow at Hill Air Force Base, Utah, June 29, 2024. The 2024 Warriors over the Wasatch airshow was centered around the “Breaking Barriers Together” theme, celebrating the relationship between Hill AFB and the local community. The B-2, the predecessor to the new B-21 Raider, has been the U.S. Air Force’s premiere stealth bomber for more than 20 years. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Jack Rodgers)Senior Airman Alexandra Banke, a crew chief with the 158th Fighter Wing, Vermont Air National Guard, prepares to taxi an F-35A Lightning II in South Burlington, Vt., July 1, 2024. The VTANG flew in support of Vermont’s Canadian neighbors to the north during their annual Canada Day celebrations. (U.S. Air National Guard photo by Tech. Sgt. Richard Mekkri)
Coast Guard
A 45-foot Response Boat–Medium crew from Coast Guard Station Freeport, surveys a capsized vessel near Galveston, Texas, July 4, 2024. After the crew rescued the people in the water, they transported them to the Galveston Bait Shop. (U.S. Coast Guard photo Courtesy Station Galveston)A Coast Guard Air Station Borinquen MH-60T Jayhawk helicopter aircrew hoisted a 35-year-old woman, who became stranded after falling off the rocks and sustaining and ankle injury on Tórtolos Beach in Culebra, Puerto Rico, July 4, 2024. The woman was transported to the local airport in Culebra, where awaiting emergency medical personnel received and transported her to a local medical facility. (U.S. Coast Guard photo)
Featured image: U.S. Army Sgt. Shelby Lewis, a flight engineer assigned to Company B, 2nd Battalion, 211th Aviation Regiment, 103rd Troop Command, Hawaii Army National Guard (HIARNG), conducts flight operations during a CH-47 Chinook flight for Recruit Sustainment Program (RSP) training at the Regional Training Institute, Waimanalo, Hawaii, March 3, 2024. The HIARNG RSP training primarily focuses on ensuring the RSP warrior is mentally prepared, administratively correct and physically ready to ship and complete basic training. (U.S. Army photo by Sgt. Lianne Hirano)
Army
A group of Green Berets assigned to 10th Special Forces Group (Airborne) return to base after completing their first reconnaissance mission during Cold Weather Training in the mountains of Colorado, Jan. 16, 2024. During their CWT, these Green Berets will complete different missions that test their knowledge on how to complete their normal mission set while being exposed to freezing environments. (U.S. Army photo by Staff Sgt. Luis Solorio)U.S. Special Operations Forces assigned to 10th Special Forces Group (Airborne), participate in a combat marksmanship exercise at Panzer Range, in Boeblingen, Germany, Feb. 15, 2024. Combat marksmanship training increases team lethality, builds cohesion, and provides integrated training to new members of the unit. (U.S. Army photo by Michele Wiencek)Soldiers from across the 3d U.S. Infantry Regiment (The Old Guard) assist in celebrating President George Washington’s Birthday at Mount Vernon, Va. on Feb. 19, 2024. Later that day, the Fife and Drum Corps marched during the 2024 George Washington Birthday Parade in Alexandria, Virginia. (U.S. Army photo by Sgt. Ethan Scofield)
Navy
PHILIPPINE SEA (Feb. 24, 2024) A U.S. Air Force B-52 Stratofortress attached to the 5th Bomb Wing and aircraft attached to Carrier Air Wing (CVW) 11 fly in formation over the Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS Theodore Roosevelt (CVN 71) in the Philippine Sea, Feb. 24, 2024. Theodore Roosevelt, flagship of Carrier Strike Group Nine, is underway conducting routine operations in the U.S. 7th Fleet area of operations. U.S. 7th Fleet is the U.S. Navy’s largest forward-deployed numbered fleet, and routinely interacts and operates with allies and partners in preserving a free and open Indo-Pacific region. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class Thomas Gooley)NORWEGIAN SEA (March 1, 2024) The Whidbey Island-class dock landing ship USS Gunston Hall (LSD 44) passes under the northern lights while transiting the Andfjorden waterways during Steadfast Defender 24, March 1, 2024. Steadfast Defender 2024, NATO’s largest exercise in decades, will demonstrate NATO’s ability to deploy forces rapidly from across the Alliance to reinforce the defense of Europe. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class Danielle Serocki)PHILIPPINE SEA (March 1, 2024) Sailors stand watch on the landing signal officer platform during flight operations aboard the Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS Theodore Roosevelt (CVN 71) in the Philippine Sea, March 1, 2024. Theodore Roosevelt, flagship of Carrier Strike Group Nine, is underway conducting routine operations in the U.S. 7th Fleet area of operations. U.S. 7th Fleet is the U.S. Navy’s largest forward-deployed numbered fleet, and routinely interacts and operates with allies and partners in preserving a free and open Indo-Pacific region. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Adina Phebus)
Marine Corps
U.S. Marine Corps Lance Cpl. Kayden Cardona, aircraft maintenance support equipment electrician with Marine Aviation Logistics Squadron (MALS) 24, Marine Aircraft Group (MAG) 24, 1st Marine Aircraft Wing (MAW) receives an award from Col. William Heiken, commanding officer of MAG-24, 1st MAW at Marine Corps Air Station Kaneohe Bay, Hawaii, March 1, 2024. Cardona was awarded the Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal for lifesaving actions. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Logan Beeney)A U.S. Marine Corps CH-53E Super Stallion crew chief assigned to Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron (VMM) 165 (Reinforced), 15th Marine Expeditionary Unit, prepares for flight operations in support of Exercise Cobra Gold in the Gulf of Thailand Feb. 23, 2024. Cobra Gold demonstrates the U.S. commitment to the region by building interoperability, multilateral cooperative arrangements, advancing common interests, and a commitment to our allies and partners in ensuring a free and open Indo-Pacific region. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Sgt. Patrick Katz)U.S. Marine Corps Cpl. John Gannon, a Pennsylvania native and rifleman with 2d Light Armored Reconnaissance Battalion, 2d Marine Division, conducts reconnaissance as part of a Littoral Exercise I (LEX I), on Camp Lejeune, North Carolina, Mar. 6, 2024. During LEX I, Marines experimented with new tactics and trained in preparation for upcoming deployments. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Oliver Nisbet)
Air Force
U.S. Air Force members assigned to the 82nd Expeditionary Rescue Squadron conduct a tandem High Altitude, Low Opening jump from a U.S. Marine Corps KC-130J Hercules cargo aircraft over East Africa, Feb. 27, 2024. HALO jumps are performed from altitudes where oxygen is limited, requiring members to employ specialized training beyond standard parachute insertions. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Allison Payne)An F-22 Raptor cuts through the sky while participating in the Heritage Flight Training Course at Davis-Monthan Air Force Base, Ariz., March 1, 2024. The F-22 Demonstration Team performs at air shows around the globe, showcasing aerial demonstrations that include the power loop, split, and tail slide, as well as a high-speed pass and a dedication pass. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Jasmyne Bridgers-Matos)Air Force Research Laboratory’s XQ-67A Off Board Sensing Station, designed and built by General Atomics, took its maiden flight Feb. 28, 2024, from Gray Butte Field Airport in Palmdale, Calif. The XQ-67A, first of a second generation of autonomous collaborative platforms, completed several test points and safely recovered on the first of a series of flight tests. (Courtesy photo)
Coast Guard
U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Bertholf (WMSL 750) transits near the Singapore Straits, Feb. 29, 2024. The Bertholf is a 418-foot National Security Cutter currently deployed to the Indo-Pacific region under the tactical control of U.S. 7th Fleet. (U.S. Coast Guard photo by Petty Officer Steve Strohmaier)The sailing vessel Quartz partially submerged in waters southeast of Anegada, British Virgin Islands, after Coast Guard and Virgin Islands Search and Rescue (VISAR) units responded to a Mayday call in which a VISAR marine unit rescued three adult boaters during the early morning hours of March 7, 2024. The boaters were forced to abandon the sailing vessel onto a dinghy, after the catamaran hit the rocks and started taking on water. (Photo courtesy of Virgin Islands Search and Rescue)The USCGC Oliver Henry (WPC 1140) crew take a moment for a photo with members of the Sea Patrol on Feb. 22, 2024, in Majuro, Republic of the Marshall Islands. Underway in support of Operation Blue Pacific, the cutter crew showcased the effectiveness of the U.S. and RMI maritime bilateral agreement, conducting a shared patrol with shipriders emphasizing collaborative efforts in maritime safety, security, and stewardship in terms of resource protection. (U.S. Coast Guard photo)
Marine ‘Mocked’ For Low IQ, Outwits Most College Grads In Intelligence Test
In a fascinating episode from Jubilee Media’s “Ranking” series, a diverse mix of Gen-Z and millennial participants were tasked with assessing each other’s intelligence to establish a ranking within the group. Despite the varied backgrounds, the collective judgment of the group placed a young Marine at the lower end of the spectrum, whereas individuals with college degrees, including some from prestigious Ivy League institutions, were deemed the most intelligent. However, when it came time for the actual IQ test, the Marine outsmarted three college grads.
All participants “mocked and ridiculed the uneducated white Marine,” X user End Wokeness said.
Last Friday, a Marine celebrated his 100th birthday. On December 7, 1941, he was sitting in the “great room” of his fraternity when news of Pearl Harbor arrived in the form of a shout. A fraternity brother was listening to the radio and loudly announced that the Japanese had bombed Pearl. America was at war, and so were each of the “brothers” in the house. Some joined right away. Others waited.
This Marine finished his freshman year and then enlisted. Why the Marines? “Because the Marines are first in the fight,” he said.
So, in 1943, he was shipped to Camp Pendleton in California. He traveled by train and was put in charge of three other recruits, given money by a Marine corporal to make sure they were fed, and he made sure that they were.
At boot camp, he was put in charge of his “platoon” because he had been the first to wake up and dress. When the drill sergeant entered the tent on his first day, he was already up. It was 4:30 AM. That was about the time he would milk the cows on the family farm so, no big deal. He finished boot camp and was assigned to a specialty school called JASCO (Joint Assault Signal Corp). With his JASCO training complete, he was shipped to Hawaii for more training. There he was assigned to the 22nd Marine Regiment.
This Marine and thousands of other Marines trained for combat, and soon they were headed to fight the enemy. It was on the island of Engebi where he saw his first combat. The ramp came down and Marines ran for cover under fire. The man next to him was hit in the chest by a round and he went down. A Corpsman was called. Off to another hole in the sand, next to his Captain. The Captain was shot and killed. No time to grieve — off to another shell hole and thereafter to just do his job.
He participated in four more assault landings in the Pacific and would participate in one of the bloodiest battles of the war – the assault on Sugar Loaf Hill on Okinawa. On Sugar Loaf, he was in a shell hole hunkered down under mortar fire when a shell landed close. Moments later, he was hit in the butt. He thought he had “bought the farm,” but fortunately he had not. What hit him was a water can that was blasted in the air by a mortar round and hit him on his “backside.” No permanent damage, just a massive bruise, and a good laugh.
The year before, he had received his “Dear John letter.” His fiancé had taken the engagement ring back to his parents and called off the wedding. She had met a “flyboy” and fallen in love with a pilot (it’s always a pilot). A world away, an 18-year-old girl was pledged to her sorority and was cleaning the floor of an upper-classman. She wasn’t happy with that “pledge duty” but was doing it anyway. She looked up and saw a handsome man in a frame and asked “Who is that boy?” The sorority sister said: “That’s my brother, he’s in the Pacific, Maybe you should write him.” She did.
The Marine and his new pen pal corresponded for the remainder of the war. The last letter he wrote while overseas was written in Tsing Tao, China while on occupation duty. The Marine returned to the United States in one piece and went home to his family, meeting his mom and dad who cried when they saw him get off the bus in his Marine uniform.
A month later, he asked his pen pal to visit him. She did (after asking her mom for permission, of course). She flew to his hometown and waited at the small airport. While she was waiting, she read the Saturday Evening Post. A man said her name, and she looked up. She said she fell in love with that first in-person look. The Marine said he “had never seen a more beautiful woman.”
They married in 1946. Last year, they celebrated 75 years of marriage. This year that Marine, now slightly less willing to assault the enemy but still a proud Marine, stood and held his salute as uniformed Marines presented him with challenge coins and more. He held his salute in freezing weather and was touched beyond words. He knows that he was one of the lucky Marines to come home. The heroes, he said, never came home.
Donn Thompson receives a letter from Marine Corps Commandant on his 100th Birthday. (Credit: Trevor Thompson)
I tweeted about having difficulty getting the Marine Corps online portal to work. And boy, did I get an awesome response. 1.3 million.
From the DAR, to the Commandant’s office, to fellow Marine Congressman Rich McCormick, to the local Marine Recruiting station, to Marines who traveled 400 miles to salute and shake the hand of a 100-year-old Marine.