Gidget Fuentes

About Gidget Fuentes

Gidget Fuentes is a freelance writer based in San Diego, Calif. She has spent more than 20 years reporting extensively on the Marine Corps and the Navy, including West Coast commands and Pacific regional issues, and most recently was a senior writer and the San Diego bureau chief for Marine Corps Times and Navy Times.

Recent Posts By the Author


Officials: U.S.-Japan Iron Fist Amphib Exercise 'Extremely Important' as China's Navy Expands

Officials: U.S.-Japan Iron Fist Amphib Exercise ‘Extremely Important’ as China’s Navy Expands

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U.S. Marines with 15th Marine Expeditionary Unit and Japan Ground Self-Defense Force soldiers with Amphibious Rapid Deployment Brigade stand in formation during the opening ceremony of Exercise Iron Fist 2020 on Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, California on Jan. 17, 2020. US Marine Corps Photo

CAMP PENDLETON, Calif. – Sailors and Marines kicked off an annual bilateral Iron Fist exercise with Japanese soldiers on Friday that’s designed to help Japan’s fledgling amphibious force become ready to operate. Read More →

Lincoln Strike Group CO: Record Deployment Marks New Uncertainty for Fleet

Lincoln Strike Group CO: Record Deployment Marks New Uncertainty for Fleet

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Sailors render honors as the aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN-72) transits past the USS Arizona Memorial while pulling into Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam for a scheduled port visit on Jan. 8, 2020. US Navy Photo

SAN DIEGO — The 3,000 sailors aboard aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN-72) arrived at their new California homeport this morning having spent more time deployed than any carrier since the mid-1970s – 294 days. Read More →

Boxer ARG, 11th MEU Wrap Up 5th, 7th Fleet Deployment

Boxer ARG, 11th MEU Wrap Up 5th, 7th Fleet Deployment

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Sailors and Marines aboard the amphibious assault ship USS Boxer (LHD-4) secure a CH-53E Super Stallion attached to Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron (VMM) 163 (reinforced) to the portside elevator during Tiger Strike 2019. Oct. 5, 2019. US Navy Photo

After an eight-month deployment to the Middle East and Indo-Pacific, one thing the 11th Marine Expeditionary Unit won’t offload this week is a platoon of M1A1 Abrams main battle tanks. Read More →

Marines At Sea Leaning on 3D Print-to-Order Parts to Stay in the Fight

Marines At Sea Leaning on 3D Print-to-Order Parts to Stay in the Fight

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Marine Corps Staff Sgt. Brandon Ballantyne, the communications maintenance chief with Combat Logistics Battalion 11, 11th Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU), holds some items that he has 3-D printed aboard the San Antonio-class amphibious transport dock ship USS John P. Murtha (LPD-26). US Marine Corps Photo

When a sniper platoon needed a bunch of caps to protect the spotting scopes of their high-dollar, highly-calibrated rifles, a small team of Marines aboard amphibious warship USS John P. Murtha (LPD-26) got to work. Read More →

Earthquakes or No, Navy Expands China Lake With More Land for Future Weapons, Drones

Earthquakes or No, Navy Expands China Lake With More Land for Future Weapons, Drones

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Employees with Naval Facilities Engineering Command (NAVFAC) Southwest, work to offload telephone poles in preparation for replacing damaged poles on July 18, 2019. US Navy Photo

This post has been updated with additional information on repair contracts for damage to China Lake

Even before two major earthquakes struck China Lake Naval Air Weapons Station, Calif., in early July, the Navy was moving ahead with expanding installation boundaries to accommodate new and future weaponry, including unmanned aerial vehicles. Read More →

Fleet Logistics Wing Established as Navy Preps for COD Transition, Second Osprey Squadron

Fleet Logistics Wing Established as Navy Preps for COD Transition, Second Osprey Squadron

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A MV-22B Osprey assigned to the Blue Knights of Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron (VMM) 365 (Reinforced), prepares to land on the flight deck of the amphibious assault ship USS Bataan (LHD 5), Oct. 10, 2019. US Navy photo.

The Navy last week took another step foward in its transition to the next-generation fleet of logistics aircraft to support its carrier strike groups. Read More →

Amphibious Ops, Air Defense Key in Philippines Exercise With U.S., Japanese Forces

Amphibious Ops, Air Defense Key in Philippines Exercise With U.S., Japanese Forces

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Marine Lance Cpl. David Lancheros shares his knowledge about the engagement process of a FIM-92 stinger missile with Philippine Airman 2nd class Sherwin Faoeranga during a subject matter expert exchange as part of exercise KAMANDAG 3 at Colonel Ernesto P. Ravina Air Base, Philippines on Oct. 9, 2019. US Marine Corps Photo

U.S. Marines are sharpening their amphibious skills right alongside amphibious assault vehicle crews of Philippine Marines and Japanese sea soldiers in a series of exercises that aim to tighten cooperation between the three nations. Read More →