Shoulder-to-Shoulder During Balikatan & Every Day 🇺🇸🇵🇭
📍 Philippines
From real-world lifesaving response operations in Cagayan to distributed operations across the Philippine archipelago, U.S. and Philippine forces operated shoulder-to-shoulder during Exercise Balikatan 2026.
Across air, land, and sea domains, allied and partner forces executed maritime security operations, airfield seizures, sustainment operations, coastal defense, medical evacuation, and distributed logistics in one of the world’s most complex operating environments.
Balikatan 26 demonstrated the strength of the U.S.-Philippine alliance and the ability of a combined force to respond together whenever and wherever needed.
“This is presence with purpose.” — Col. Robert S. Bunn
Full article 🔗 /news/564740/crisis-response-full-scale-operations-magtf-delivers-during-balikatan-2026
#Balikatan2026 #ShoulderToShoulder #MRFSEA #USMC
All clear🏝️🚁
U.S. Marines with Marine Rotational Force – Darwin 26, a now-certified Special‑Purpose Marine Air‑Ground Task Force assigned to rotational deployments in the South Pacific, participated in a live-fire assault to secure and hold Balabac Airfield in a demonstration of multi-domain interoperability alongside U.S. Soldiers from 25th Infantry Division, Philippine marines and Australian soldiers during Exercise Balikatan 2026, May 3. #balikatan #balikatan2026 #bk26 #FriendsPartnersAllies #mrfd
Training Trifecta
📍Philippines Naval Detachment Oyster Bay, Palawan, Philippines
#Marines with @mrfdarwin conduct Jungle Warfare Training, Tactical Recovery of Aircraft and Personnel exercise and a live fire range May 1-5, 2026.
Balikatan is a longstanding annual exercise between the Armed Forces of the Philippines and U.S. military that represents the strength of our alliance, improves our capable combined force, and demonstrates our commitment to regional peace and prosperity.
@marines 📷 by Cpl. Caleb Goodwin
#IMEF #MRFDARWIN #Alliances
Runway Secured 🛬
U.S. Marines with @mrfdarwin and Australian Defence Force service members conduct an airfield seizure as part of Exercise Balikatan 2026, May 3.
Balikatan is a longstanding annual exercise between the Armed Forces of the Philippines and U.S. military that represents the strength of our alliance, improves our capable combined force, and demonstrates our commitment to regional peace and prosperity.
📍 Balabac Island, Philippines
📸 U.S. Marine Corps Staff Sgt. Bryant Rodriguez and New Zealand Defence Force Cpl. Jalesa Nomani
#Balikatan | #BK26 | #ShoulderToShoulder |#StrongerTogether | #FriendsAlliesPartner
Hand to hand combat 🇺🇸🇵🇭🤝
#PacificMarines @mrfdarwin 26 and @teamafp , conduct a combined martial arts training event as part of #BK26 at Marine Base Camp Rodolfo, Palawan, #Philippines, April 22, 2026.
#Balikatan is a longstanding annual #exercise between the Philippines and U.S. that represents the strength of our alliance, improves our capable combined force, and demonstrates our commitment to regional PeaceAndProsperity.
📸: Cpl. Grant Schirmer | @marines@indopacom
AlliesAndPartners BK
Shot out!🌊💥
U.S. Marines with the Marine Rotational Force — Darwin SPMAGTF 26.3 engaged in a counter-landing live-fire exercise alongside service members from the U.S. Army, Armed Forces of the Philippines, Australia Defence Force, and New Zealand Defence Force in Aporawan, Philippines, April 27, 2026.
📍Aporawan, Philippines
📸 Staff Sgt. Bryant Rodriguez, Cpl. Caleb Goodwin, Cpl. Grant Schirmer
#Balikatan #BK26 #ShoulderToShoulder #FriendsPartnersAllies #StrongerTogether #MRFD
Vital Medical Training 💉
U.S. Sailors with @mrfdarwin and @teamafp conduct blood transfusion training during Exercise Balikatan 2026, April 24.
Balikatan is a longstanding annual exercise between the Armed Forces of the Philippines and U.S. military that represents the strength of our alliance, improves our capable combined force, and demonstrates our commitment to regional peace and prosperity.
📍Palawan, Philippines
📸 U.S. Marine Corps Cpl. Caleb Goodwin
#Balikatan | #BK26 | #ShoulderToShoulder |#StrongerTogether | #FriendsAlliesPartners
A Stand-In Force Legacy 🐊🌏
#PacificMarines with @mrfdarwin 25.3 conducted various operations, exercises, and training events throughout the #indopacific region with joint and multinational forces during a six-month rotation to Darwin, Northern Territory, Australia, from March to Oct. 2025.
#mrfd is an annual six-month rotational deployment to enhance interoperability with @defenceaustralia and provide a forward postured crisis response force in the Indo-Pacific.
🎥: Cpl. Anita Ramos | @marines
#australia #darwin #training #forward #posture #marines #usmc
“I’m most proud of the 2,000+ Marines and Sailors that I get the honor to work with every single day,” @marines Col. Jason Armas, the commanding officer of the MRF-D 25.3 Marine Air-Ground Task Force (MAGTF) joined us for a Fast Five and reflected on this year’s Marine Rotational Force – Darwin deployment.
From the Timor Sea to the Luzon Strait, during the course of 18 Operations, Activities, and Investments, this year’s rotation proved a forward MAGTF can move across nations, integrate with partners at every level, and advance interoperability and interchangeability. MRF-D stood ready to respond to crises in the Indo-Pacific alongside @defenceaustralia , and other regional allies and partners.
“Nothing was coincidence. None of this was random. This was a campaign,” Armas said. “MRF-D put a combat credible presence forward the whole time. We didn’t get to Australia and gather our bearings; we hit the ground running. Our Marines and Sailors used anything and everything and can move, survive, and thrive in contested maritime space.” 🇺🇸🇦🇺 @pacificmarines@mrfdarwin@marines@deptofwar@statedept
📸: @mrfdarwin
MRF-D 25.3: A Stand-In Force Legacy🐊🌏🐍
U.S. Marines with Marine Rotational Force – Darwin 25.3 conducted various operations, exercises, and training events throughout the Indo-Pacific region with joint and multinational forces during a six-month rotation to Darwin, Northern Territory, Australia, from March to Oct., 2025.
MRF-D is an annual six-month rotational deployment to enhance interoperability with the Australian Defence Force and provide a forward postured crisis response force in the Indo-Pacific.
🎥 Cpl. Anita Ramos
(This video contains music from a USMC enterprise licensed asset from Adobe Stock)
#mrfd #Marines #freeandopenindopacific#MAGTF #USMC
Forward, focused, and lethal
#PacificMarines with @mrfdarwin are conducting operations across the #IndoPacific, strengthening interoperability with @defenceaustralia and maintaining a forward-postured crisis response force.
As one of the #Corps’ ground combat element, these #Marines bring the infantry, artillery, and combat power needed to engage and defeat adversaries on land.
🎥: Lance Cpl. Indio Woods | @marines
#mrfd #partnersandallies #operations #HADR #PacificMarines
The most recent appropriations for the Department of War expired at 11:59 p.m.
EST on September 30, 2025. Military personnel will continue in a normal duty status without pay until such time as a continuing resolution or appropriations are passed by Congress and signed into law. Civilian personnel not engaged in excepted activities will be placed in a non-work, non-pay status.
