ABOARD USS MAKIN ISLAND – The 13th Marine Expeditionary Unit recently fielded the Light Marine Air-Defense Integrated System (LMADIS) and immediately began integrating the system into underway training aboard Wasp-class amphibious assault ship USS Makin Island (LHD 8) off the coast of California. U.S. Marines assigned to the 3rd Low Altitude Air Defense (LAAD) Detachment, Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron (VMM) 364 (Reinforced), 13th MEU, began training with and employing the system to counter unmanned aircraft system (UAS) threats during simulated exercise scenarios.
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CAMP PENDLETON, Calif. – The Navy-Marine Corps team has concluded Quarterly Underway Amphibious Readiness Training (QUART) 26.2, which took place from Jan. 20-30, 2026. The exercise, led by the 13th Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU) and Amphibious Squadron (PHIBRON) 7, featured the Wasp-class amphibious assault ship USS Makin Island (LHD 8), which expanded the training's ability to prepare MEUs and Amphibious Ready Groups (ARGs) for future deployments and operations afloat. Further strengthening international partnerships, Peruvian naval officers were aboard to observe the exercise, fostering shared learning and military cooperation.“Living and working aboard the USS Makin Island has provided an invaluable, firsthand look at how the U.S. Navy
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The 27th iteration of Exercise Valiant Mark came to a close on March 26, 2025, as U.S. Marines and Sailors with the 13th MEU-led Marine Rotational Force-Southeast Asia, I Marine Expeditionary Force, and Singapore Guardsmen with 3rd Battalion Singapore Guards, 7th Singapore Infantry Brigade, culminated the exercise with a field-expedient closing ceremony at SAFTI City training facility, Singapore. The U.S. force included Marines from 1st Battalion, 5th Marine Regiment, attached to MRF-SEA and integrated with the Singapore Guardsmen during the 10 days of training.
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The U.S. Marine Corps' newest rotational force, Marine Rotational Force-Southeast Asia (MRF-SEA), which is led by the 13th Marine Expeditionary Unit, played a key role during Exercise Cobra Gold 2025, which took place in Thailand from Feb. 25 to March 7.
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U.S. Marines with the 1st Light Armored Reconnaissance Battalion, 1st Marine Division, attached to the 13th Marine Expeditionary Unit-led Marine Rotational Force-Southeast Asia, conducted combat marksmanship practice with Royal Thai and Republic of Korea Marines at the Thai Reconnaissance Battalion base in Thailand on Feb. 28, 2025, as part of exercise Cobra Gold.
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After completing the first three exercises of their current rotation in the Indo-Pacific, a group of subject matter experts from the 13th MEU-led Marine Rotational Force - Southeast Asia (MRF-SEA) traveled to Brunei to join the U.S. Navy for its most recent iteration of the Cooperation Afloat Readiness and Training (CARAT) exercise series from Nov. 18 to 25. Hosted by the Royal Brunei Armed Forces (RBAF), MRF-SEA Marines were joined by attached forces from 2nd Battalion, 7th Marines, resulting in a purpose-built U.S. Marine Corps team ready to train and engage with Brunei forces. While the U.S. Navy executed the at-sea phase of CARAT Brunei 2024, Marines trained ashore with the RBAF to build improved relations and bolster bilateral
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Lumut Naval Base in Lumut, Perak, Malaysia, dates back to the creation of the Royal Malaysian Navy, serving as the institution’s headquarters since Sept. 9, 1984. In October, the Royal Malaysian Armed Forces hosted a detachment of personnel from Marine Rotational Force - Southeast Asia (MRF-SEA), which is commanded by the 13th Marine Expeditionary Unit, aboard the installation during the execution of the U.S. Navy-lead exercise Cooperation Afloat Readiness and Training 2024, also called CARAT Malaysia. From Oct. 29 to Nov. 5, U.S. Marines and Sailors joined Royal Malaysian Armed Forces personnel to build relationships, increase interoperability, and ensure regional stability.
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