Photo By 2nd Lt. John Kim | From left, a Mobile Command Vehicle, a Navy-Marine Expeditionary Ship Interdiction...... read more read more
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SUBIC BAY, Philippines – 3rd Marine Littoral Regiment completed maritime key terrain security operations during Exercise Kaagapay Ng Mga Mandirigma Ng Dagat 10, also known as KAMANDAG 10, across multiple expeditionary sites in the Batanes Islands, Philippines, June 19-29. The training enhanced interoperability with the Philippine Marine Corps and demonstrated partnered littoral mobility, advanced sensing capabilities, simulated maritime fires, and force protection to rapidly secure key maritime terrain in support of a free and open Indo-Pacific.
During the exercise, 3rd MLR and 4th Marine Brigade, Philippine Marine Corps, reinforced the combined ability to transport the Navy-Marine Expeditionary Ship Interdiction System, the Marine Air Defense Integrated System, maritime sensing capabilities, and personnel in a complex littoral environment.
The bilateral force distributed across the Batanes Islands from Northern Luzon, primarily using Philippine surface vessels to transport equipment and personnel. Together, 3rd MLR and 4th Marine Brigade established and sustained expeditionary advanced bases.
“It’s no surprise that moving people and equipment in a littoral environment is a challenge,” said U.S. Marine Corps Maj. Robert Moore, the 3rd MLR logistics officer. “By working with our Philippine partners to use ferries and roll-on, roll-off vessels, we were able to rapidly move NMESIS and MADIS across key maritime terrain.”
In addition to exercising littoral mobility, the training advanced the dispersed deployment of expeditionary sensors that increased 3rd MLR’s understanding of the maritime environment.
“The deployment of our sensors gave us the ability to collect data that directly enhanced the combined common operating picture,” said 1st Lt. David Driscoll, the 3rd MLR intelligence collections officer. “Employing our sensors in deliberate locations allowed us to feed information to decision-makers, ultimately driving the whole operation.”
The NMESIS and MADIS were also deployed and dispersed across sites by surface vessels, highlighting a maturing capability to secure and protect key terrain with modern maritime fires and advanced air defense systems. The forward deployment of anti-ship and anti-drone capabilities alongside Philippine Marine Corps counterparts underscored the shared commitment to defending regional sovereignty.
“The success of this operation is a direct testament to our focus and commitment to enhancing our combined readiness in the Philippine archipelago,” said U.S. Marine Corps Lt. Col. William Jacob, the 3rd MLR operations officer. “Engaging in realistic training with 4th Marine Brigade across a dynamic distributed maritime environment ensures that our forces are postured to respond together in any situation.”
The event served as a comprehensive validation of 3rd MLR’s purpose-built capabilities to conduct distributed maritime operations while working shoulder to shoulder with the Philippine Marine Corps. From temporary expeditionary advanced bases, 3rd MLR and 4th Marine Brigade conducted bilateral training, employed sensors and simulated the delivery of maritime fires in support of the combined force. KAMANDAG 10 actively builds upon shared defense concepts, demonstrating the evolution of Philippine-led archipelago coastal defense exercises.
3rd MLR is a U.S. Marine Corps unit specialized in littoral warfare operations. Based at Marine Corps Base Hawaii, Kaneohe Bay, and operating throughout the Pacific, 3rd MLR routinely integrates with regional allies and partners during multilateral exercises like KAMANDAG 10. KAMANDAG 10 is a multidomain, joint, and combined exercise between the Armed Forces of the Philippines and U.S. military focused on enhancing maritime security, interoperability, contested logistics, and combined readiness throughout the Philippine archipelago.
| Date Taken: | 06.30.2026 |
| Date Posted: | 07.06.2026 16:01 |
| Story ID: | 569230 |
| Location: | PH |
| Web Views: | 17 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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