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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Growing up, David Doyle loved watching movies about the military and popular superheroes. In his mind, joining the service would be the closest thing to living a life like those of his favorite movie characters, “Maybe without the powers or abilities but a hero nonetheless.” Growing up around veterans and a heavy military influence in his family impacted his decision to ultimately walk into a recruiter’s office, with the aspiration to become what he envisioned as a child. The occupation he was assigned was not one he envisioned, but it led him down a path to where he is today as 1st Medical Battalion’s Sailor of the Year, while performing a vital medical role for the 13th Marine Expeditionary Unit and Marine Rotational Force-Southeast Asia.
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In a historic first, six nations converged on Filipino soil in the wake of a super typhoon to train, learn, and strengthen their partnership during KAMANDAG 8, reaffirming the exercise's importance to regional peace and stability in the Indo-Pacific.
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