USS America (LHA-6) leaves Naval Base San Diego. USNI News Photo
NAVAL BASE SAN DIEGO, Calif. – Nudged by several orange-and-tan tugs, amphibious assault ship USS America (LHA-6) pushed away from Pier 13 and spun into San Diego Bay to start its first operational deployment Friday to the Western Pacific and Middle East regions. Read More
Marines with the 15th Marine Expeditionary Unit Battalion Landing Team 1st Battalion 5th Marine Regiment conduct an amphibious assault onto San Clemente Island during PHIBRON-MEU Integration, April 13, 2017. Gidget Fuentes Photo used with Permission
A previous version of this story had the incorrect hull number for USS America. The correct number is LHA-6 not LHA-8.
CAMP PENDLETON, Calif. – Amphibious transport dock USS San Diego (LPD-22) slid into the thin, offshore fog bank as two waves of amphibious assault vehicles swam toward the sandy bluffs Thursday morning. Within minutes, several dozen combat-equipped Marines rushed from the ramps and made their way into a nearby village. Read More
A Japan Ground Self Defense Force soldier gives orders to bound after exiting an Assault Amphibious Vehicle, during Exercise Iron Fist 2017, aboard Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, Calif., Feb. 25, 2017. US Marine Corps
CAMP PENDLETON, Calif. – While rough seas and queasy stomachs tested some 350 Japanese soldiers and command staffs who took to sea aboard Navy ships for exercise Iron Fist, time might be their greatest obstacle. Read More
Secretary of the Navy Ray Mabus speaks to Marines and Sailors at Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, Calif., Oct. 19, 2016. US Marine Corps Photo
CAMP PENDLETON MARINE CORPS BASE, Calif. — On a self-described “sort of a thank-you tour,” Secretary of the Navy Ray Mabus told a crowd of Marines that changes implemented during his tenure have bettered and strengthened the Marine Corps and is preparing them for the unpredictable future operational environment. Read More
Secretary of the Navy Ray Mabus speaks at a Navy Cross Presentation Ceremony in honor of the late Sgt. Rafael Peralta, at Camp Pendleton, Calif., June 8, 2015. US Marine Corps Photo
CAMP PENDLETON, Calif. – As 1,000 Marines watched and listened attentively, Navy Secretary Ray Mabus told them that, with support from Marine Corps leaders, gender integration “will be pretty seamless.” Read More
Marines with 3d Assault Amphibian Battalion, 1st Marine Division, I Marine Expeditionary Force position amphibious assault vehicles for security during the amphibious landing exercise (PHIBLEX) for Exercise Iron Fist 2016. US Marine Corps Photo
CAMP PENDLETON, Calif. – A dozen amphibious assault vehicles left the USS Somerset (LPD-25) a mile offshore and raced toward the beach Friday in two waves. The night before, a group of Marines and Japanese soldiers rode ashore in combat rubber raiding craft, using speed and surprise to survey and prepare the beachhead in advance of the amphibious landing force. Read More
Japan Ground Self-Defense Force (JGSDF) soldiers measure range distances with their M24 sniper rifles at the unknown distance live-fire event during Exercise Iron Fist 2016 aboard Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, Calif. US Marine Corps Photo
CAMP PENDLETON, Calif. – Just days after the official kick-off to the annual Iron Fist 2016 bilateral exercise, a small, elite group of Japanese Ground Self-Defense Force soldiers dove into training for what they like to do best: Sniping. Read More
Chief Warrant Officer 3 Michael Carmody, top left, the Battalion Gunner for 1st Battalion, 4th Marines, 1st Marine Division, gives a tour of Marine Corps Base Twentynine Palms training grounds to members of the Japan Ground Self-Defense Force (JGSDF) during a site survey as part of Iron Fist mid-planning conference at Twentynine Palms in 2015. US Marine Corps Photo
CAMP PENDLETON, Calif. – Over the next five weeks, a small force of Japanese soldiers is getting down and dirty with U.S. Marines, learning from them what it means to fight from the sea. Read More
A 1st Division Marine was killed and 18 more were injured during a Thursday afternoon vehicle rollover accident, officials at Camp Pendelton said in a statement late yesterday. Read More
A U.S. Marine with Weapons Company, Battalion Landing Team 2nd Battalion, 1st Marines, 11th Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU), watches 81mm illumination mortar rounds fall during a joint mortar range with Royal Saudi Naval Forces Marines. US Marine Corps Photo
CAMP PENDLETON, CALIF. — A small six man U.S. special operations team embedded with the 2,200-member 11th Marine Expeditionary Unit during its recent deployment to the Middle East region to give the MEU a tighter link to the wider special operations community, 11th MEU commander told reporters on Monday. Read More
