The 39th Commandant of the Marine Corps, Gen. Eric M. Smith, center, pins new chevrons on a a U.S. Marine with Marine Fighter Attack Squadron (VMFA) 225, U.S. Marine Corps Forces, South, after meritoriously promoting him to the rank of sergeant at Jose Aponte de la Torre Airport in Ceiba, Puerto Rico, Dec. 16, 2025. U.S. military forces are deployed to the Caribbean in support of the U.S. Southern Command mission, Department of War-directed operations, and the president’s priorities to disrupt illicit drug trafficking and protect the homeland. (U.S. Marine Corps photo)
U.S. Marines with Marine Fighter Attack Squadron (VMFA) 225, U.S. Marine Corps Forces South, conduct a hot load of a U.S. Marine Corps F-35B Lightning assigned to VMFA-225 at Jose Aponte de la Torre Airport in Ceiba, Puerto Rico, Oct. 31, 2025. U.S. military forces are deployed to the Caribbean in support of the U.S. Southern Command mission, Department of War-directed operations, and the president’s priorities to disrupt illicit drug trafficking and protect the homeland. (U.S. Marine Corps video)
Leaders from the Chilean marine corps and U.S. Marine Corps Forces, South came together Oct. 22, 2025, for a Staff Planner Working Group hosted at Marine Corps Support Facilities New Orleans.
U.S. Marines and participating multinational forces kick off UNITAS LXVI (66), the world’s longest-running maritime exercise with military forces from 25 partner nations from Europe, the Caribbean, North, Central and South America, along with U.S. Navy and Marine Corps units, to strengthen interoperability, enhance maritime security and foster collaboration in the region.
