U.S. Marines with Battalion Landing Team 3rd Battalion, 1st Marine Regiment, 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit, conduct a live-fire deck shoot with a .50 caliber machine gun and a M240B machine gun aboard the forward-deployed amphibious assault ship USS New Orleans (LPD-18) in the Philippine Sea, Feb. 21, 2026. Marines trained their skills through structured stages and live-fire exercises to improve individual marksmanship and overall unit effectiveness. The 31st MEU is a persistent, combat credible force operating aboard the ships of the Tripoli Amphibious Ready Group in the U.S. 7th Fleet area of operations, routinely interacting and operating with our allies and partners to contribute to deterrence, security, crisis response, and combat...
CAMP HANSEN, Japan ā€“ U.S. Marines and sailors with the 3rd Marine Expeditionary Brigade and the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit joined members of the Japan Ground Self-Defense Force for the opening ceremony of Exercise Iron Fist 26 on Feb. 23, 2026.
