A U.S. Marine with Marine Fighter Attack Squadron (VMFA) 225, U.S. Marine Corps Forces, South, launches a U.S. Marine Corps F-35B Lightning II assigned to VMFA-225 at Jose Aponte de la Torre Airport in Ceiba, Puerto Rico, Oct. 28, 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 by Lance Cpl. Michael Gavin)
U.S. Marines with Marine Fighter Attack Squadron (VMFA) 225, U.S. Marine Corps Forces, South, conduct flight operations at Jose Aponte de la Torre Airport in Ceiba, Puerto Rico, Oct. 28, 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 by Lance Cpl. Michael Gavin)
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.
