U.S. Marine Corps Sgt. Francisco Hernandez, left, a surveillance sensor operator, and Sgt. Luis Cortes, a meteorology and oceanology forecaster, both assigned to the 13th Marine Expeditionary Unit, assemble a SIMRAD Halo-24 radar during Exercise Balikatan 23 in Antique, Philippines, April 14, 2023. Balikatan is an annual exercise between the Armed Forces of the Philippines and U.S. Military designed to strengthen bilateral interoperability, capabilities, trust, and cooperation built over decades of shared experiences. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Quince D. Bisard) - U.S. Marine Corps Sgt. Francisco Hernandez, left, a surveillance sensor operator, and Sgt. Luis Cortes, a meteorology and oceanology forecaster, both assigned to the 13th Marine Expeditionary Unit, assemble a SIMRAD Halo-24 radar during Exercise Balikatan 23 in Antique, Philippines, April 14, 2023. Balikatan is an annual exercise between the Armed Forces of the Philippines and U.S. Military designed to strengthen bilateral interoperability, capabilities, trust, and cooperation built over decades of shared experiences. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Quince D. Bisard)

HWAJIN-RI BEACH, Republic of South Korea (March. 29, 2023) –Republic of Korea Marines and U.S. Marines assigned to Battalion Landing Team 2/4, 13th Marine Expeditionary Unit, conduct a simulated amphibious assault during Ssang Young 23. Celebrating the 70th anniversary of the U.S.-ROK Alliance, Ssang Young 2023 strengthens the Alliance through bilateral, joint training, contributing toward the ROK’s combined defense of the Korean Peninsula and increasing the readiness of the U.S.-ROK Alliance. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Sgt. Nicolas Atehortua) - HWAJIN-RI BEACH, Republic of South Korea (March. 29, 2023) –Republic of Korea Marines and U.S. Marines assigned to Battalion Landing Team 2/4, 13th Marine Expeditionary Unit, conduct a simulated amphibious assault during Ssang Young 23. Celebrating the 70th anniversary of the U.S.-ROK Alliance, Ssang Young 2023 strengthens the Alliance through bilateral, joint training, contributing toward the ROK’s combined defense of the Korean Peninsula and increasing the readiness of the U.S.-ROK Alliance. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Sgt. Nicolas Atehortua)

Ships and aircraft from Nimitz Carrier Strike Group (NIMCSG) and Makin Island Amphibious Ready Group (MKI ARG), with embarked 13th Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU), operate in formation in the South China Sea. NIMCSG, MKI ARG and 13th MEU, are conducting combined expeditionary strike force (ESF) operations, demonstrating unique high-end war fighting capability, maritime superiority, power projection and readiness. Operations include integrated training designed to advance interoperability between the two groups while simultaneously demonstrating the U.S. commitment to our alliances and partnerships in the Indo-Pacific region. - 230215-N-ZQ263-1189 SOUTH CHINA SEA (Feb. 15, 2023) Ships and aircraft from Nimitz Carrier Strike Group (NIMCSG) and Makin Island Amphibious Ready Group (MKI ARG), with embarked 13th Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU), operate in formation in the South China Sea. NIMCSG, MKI ARG and 13th MEU, are conducting combined expeditionary strike force (ESF) operations, demonstrating unique high-end war fighting capability, maritime superiority, power projection and readiness. Operations include integrated training designed to advance interoperability between the two groups while simultaneously demonstrating the U.S. commitment to our alliances and partnerships in the Indo-Pacific region. NIMCSG is in U.S. 7th Fleet conducting routine 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. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Kenneth Lagadi)

U.S. Marine Corps MV-22 Ospreys assigned to Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron (Rein.) 362, 13th Marine Expeditionary Unit, fly over multinational forces during an amphibious exercise as part of Exercise Cobra Gold 23 in Chonburi province, Kingdom of Thailand, March 3, 2023. - U.S. Marine Corps MV-22 Ospreys assigned to Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron (Rein.) 362, 13th Marine Expeditionary Unit, fly over multinational forces during an amphibious exercise as part of Exercise Cobra Gold 23 in Chonburi province, Kingdom of Thailand, March 3, 2023. Participating nations conducted operations simultaneously across multiple locations to refine command and control processes while fostering interoperability. Cobra Gold, now in its 42nd year, is a Thai-U.S. co-sponsored training event that builds on the long-standing friendship between the two allied nations and brings together a robust multinational force to promote regional peace and security in support of a free and open Indo-Pacific. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Gunnery Sgt. Chad J. Pulliam)

MULLIKULAM, Sri Lanka - MULLIKULAM, Sri Lanka (Jan. 23, 2023) – U.S. Marine Corps Cpl. Gage Wesley, a water support technician with Combat Logistics Battalion 13, 13th Marine Expeditionary Unit, gives a Sri Lanka Navy medical officer a sample of fresh water from a lightweight water purification system during a Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief exercise, Jan. 23, in Mullikulam. CARAT/MAREX Sri Lanka is a bilateral exercise between Sri Lanka and the United States designed to promote regional security cooperation, practice humanitarian assistance and disaster relief, and strengthen maritime understanding, partnerships, and interoperability. In its 28th year, the CARAT series is comprised of multinational exercises, designed to enhance U.S. and partner forces’ abilities to operate together in response to traditional and non-traditional maritime security challenges in the Indo-Pacific region. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Sgt. Brendan Custer)

Chaplains at work - SOUTH CHINA SEA (Jan. 22, 2023) - U.S. Navy Lt. Cmdr. Austin Grimes, a chaplain with 13th Marine Expeditionary Unit, leads a chapel service aboard the amphibious assault ship USS Makin Island (LHD 8), Jan. 22. The 13th MEU is embarked on the Makin Island Amphibious Ready Group, comprised of the Makin Island and amphibious transport dock ships USS John P. Murtha (LPD 26) and USS Anchorage (LPD 23), and operating 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 Cpl. Carl Matthew Ruppert)

CARAT Singapore - Changi Naval Base (Jan. 9, 2022)- U.S. Marines with 13th Marine Expeditionary Unit meet with the Singaporean Navy to begin Cooperation Afloat Readiness and Training (CARAT)/Marine Exercise (MAREX) Signapore Jan. 9. CARAT/MAREX Singapore is a bilateral exercise between Singapore and the United States designed to promote regional security cooperation, maintain and strengthen maritiime partnerships, and enhance maritime interoperability. 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 Cpl. Marcus E. Melara)

PACIFIC OCEAN (Dec. 18, 2022) – U.S. Marine F-35B Lightning II pilots with Marine Fighter Attack Squadron (VMFA) 122, 13th Marine Expeditionary Unit, fly in formation with a U.S. Navy P-8 Poseidon and Indonesian Air Force F-16s during Cooperation Afloat Readiness and Training/ Marine Exercise (MAREX) Indonesia 2022, Dec. 18. - PACIFIC OCEAN (Dec. 18, 2022) – U.S. Marine F-35B Lightning II pilots with Marine Fighter Attack Squadron (VMFA) 122, 13th Marine Expeditionary Unit, fly in formation with a U.S. Navy P-8 Poseidon and Indonesian Air Force F-16s during Cooperation Afloat Readiness and Training/ Marine Exercise (MAREX) Indonesia 2022, Dec. 18. CARAT/MAREX Indonesia is a bilateral exercise between Indonesia and the United States designed to promote regional security cooperation, maintain and strengthen maritime partnerships, and enhance maritime interoperability. In its 28th year, the CARAT series is comprised of multinational exercises, designed to enhance U.S. and partner navies’ and marine corps abilities to operate together in response to traditional and non-traditional maritime security challenges in the Indo-Pacific region. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Gunnery Sgt. Chad J. Pulliam)

PACIFIC OCEAN (Dec. 5, 2022) -  U.S. Marine Corps MV-22B Osprey pilots with Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron (VMM) 362 (Rein.), 13th Marine Expeditionary Unit, take off from amphibious transport dock USS Anchorage (LPD 23), Dec. 5. A force in readiness, the 13th MEU trains to rapidly to respond to crisis across all domains. The 13th Marine Expeditionary Unit is embarked with the Makin Island Amphibious Ready Group, comprised of amphibious assault ship USS Makin Island (LHD 8) and amphibious transport dock ships USS John P. Murtha (LPD 26) and the Anchorage, and operating in the U.S. 7th Fleet area of operations to enhance interoperability with Allies and partners and serve as a ready-response force to defend peace and maintain stability in the Indo-Pacific region. (U.S. Marine Corps Photo by Sgt. Brendan Custer) - PACIFIC OCEAN (Dec. 5, 2022) -  U.S. Marine Corps MV-22B Osprey pilots with Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron (VMM) 362 (Rein.), 13th Marine Expeditionary Unit, take off from amphibious transport dock USS Anchorage (LPD 23), Dec. 5. A force in readiness, the 13th MEU trains to rapidly to respond to crisis across all domains. The 13th Marine Expeditionary Unit is embarked with the Makin Island Amphibious Ready Group, comprised of amphibious assault ship USS Makin Island (LHD 8) and amphibious transport dock ships USS John P. Murtha (LPD 26) and the Anchorage, and operating in the U.S. 7th Fleet area of operations to enhance interoperability with Allies and partners and serve as a ready-response force to defend peace and maintain stability in the Indo-Pacific region. (U.S. Marine Corps Photo by Sgt. Brendan Custer)

N/A - U.S. Marine Corps Lt. Gen. Steven R. Rudder, Commanding General Fleet Marine Forces Pacific, visits the 13th Marine Expeditionary Unit on Camp Pendleton, Ca., Jan. 11, 2022. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Gunnery Sgt. Chad J. Pulliam)