The “Black Knights” of Marine Fighter Attack Squadron (VMFA) 314 returned to their home base with the 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing at Marine Corps Air Station Miramar following a five-month deployment with Carrier Strike Group (CSG) 3 to the U.S. 7th and 5th Fleet areas of operation, Dec. 14, 2024. Following completion of a four-week composite training unit exercise (COMPTUEX), VMFA-314 deployed with Carrier Air Wing (CVW) 9, July 11, 2024, and embarked aboard the Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN 72).

Britney Moyeda is no stranger to adversity. As she donned her U.S. Marine Corps dress uniform in her recruiting office, she recalled the journey life has brought her thus far.

U.S. Marines from across the Fleet Marine Force (FMF) converged with service members from U.S. Army Pacific (USARPAC) to refine space fires procedures during Marine Forces Space Command’s (MARFORSPACE) Fire Support Rehearsal Exercise (FSRE) hosted at Peterson Space Force Base (PSFB) from Nov. 18-22, 2024. The FSRE served as a critical testbed for space officers and fires practitioners from around the U.S. Armed Forces to integrate space effects with ground schemes of maneuver. The FSRE sought to explore how space effects can complement the timing and tempo of maneuver units to increase their lethality and survivability.

U.S. Marines from 4th Marine Regiment, 3d Marine Division, and three of its subordinate battalions gathered for a reunion of units’ colors, commanders, and staff for the first time in over 45 years, Nov. 21, 2024.

Leaders from the Peruvian marine corps and U.S. Marine Forces, South joined forces Nov. 12-15 as part of a Staff Planner Working Group hosted at the MARFORSOUTH headquarters. The conference’s primary goal was to enhance the partnership between the two organizations and to address future collaborative opportunities. By engaging in open dialogue, both the U.S. and Peruvian Marines were able to communicate and identify mutual objectives and goals and explore opportunities for combined training to improve interoperability.

Since World War II, the U.S. has led the Free World, shaping a Western order based on free trade, democracy, and a fundamental respect for the rule of law. In June 1963—with the Cuban Missile Crisis fresh in humanity’s collective memory– President Kennedy, speaking in West Germany, emphasized global interdependence, noting that Allies share America’s challenges. "For we live in an age of interdependence,” he declared.

The Marine Corps Warfighting Laboratory is at the forefront of shaping future combat capabilities during Keen Sword 2025. Last month this biennial U.S.-Japan exercise provided MCWL a unique opportunity to advance its Campaign of Learning, showcasing cutting-edge technical demonstrations designed to elevate joint readiness, interoperability, and adaptability across coalition forces.

"Would you like to make a difference?" This question could be heard coming from U.S. Marines clad in dress blues amidst a lively display of service members, civilians, and families lining up in multiple stores to prepare for the holidays. As many bought the latest gifts for their families, many more stopped before a single scarlet table labeled "Gifts for Hope" to support a cause helmed by U.S. Marine Corps Forces, Korea, on U.S. Army Garrison Humphreys, South Korea, Nov.29-30, 2024.

MARINE CORPS BASE HAWAII – U.S. Marines with 3d Marine Littoral Regiment, 3d Marine Division, formally received the Navy-Marine Expeditionary Ship Interdiction System – a mountable, ground-based anti-ship missile launcher – on November 26, 2024. In order to commemorate the intra-service hand-off and acknowledge the months of initial operational testing and evaluation that went into fielding the new weapon system, 3d MLR held a receiving ceremony and NMESIS static display at Dewey Square on Marine Corps Base Hawaii and invited distinguished visitors from across both U.S. and partnered militaries to take part.

U.S. Marines and Sailors aboard Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton successfully completed the first iteration of Operation Clean Sweep, a deliberate maintenance stand-down that addressed the backlog of barracks maintenance requests through self-help projects and a surge of contracted labor, from Oct. 16-30, 2024.