Stories

Marines

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KMEP 26.2: U.S., ROK Marines forge readiness across the peninsula

Across the Korean Peninsula, KMEP 26.2 created opportunities to put that readiness under pressure. Participating forces conducted live-fire training, small-unit tactics, aviation operations, logistics, engineering and events incorporating emerging capabilities, with each activity testing a different part of the combined force.

Marine Forces Korea Sergeant Major Awarded Republic of Korea Prime Minister Commendation

ROK Marine Corps Headquarters, Baran, South Korea — In a ceremony reflecting the strength of the ROK–U.S. alliance, a senior U.S. Marine enlisted leader received one of the Republic of Korea government’s highest honors for his sustained contributions to combined readiness and cooperation on the Korean Peninsula.

V16 sharpens skills in South Korea during Unit Deployment Program

U.S. Marines with 1st Battalion, 6th Marines, forward deployed with 4th Marine Regiment, 3rd Marine Division as part of the Unit Deployment Program, honed warfighting skills while training across South Korea, from Nov. 29, 2025 to Jan. 10, 2026.

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Holiday Message from Your Leadership

As we embrace this holiday season, Sergeant Major Bamba and I want to take a moment to offer our deepest gratitude for each and every one of you. This time of year affords us the opportunity to celebrate faith traditions and to appreciate the people that mean the most to us. This season is more than just a celebration; it is a profound opportunity to reflect on our shared journey, the challenges we’ve faced together, and the unbreakable bonds we’ve forged as a community.

Marines in Uniform, Students at Heart: Earning a Degree While Serving

U.S. Marines with United States Marine Corps Forces Korea recently celebrated a major milestone, earning their college degrees while serving in the U.S. Marine Corps, and were recognized at the Joint College Recognition Ceremony at Camp Humphreys, South Korea, Sept. 27. Their journeys reflect discipline, sacrifice, and a shared belief in the power of education to transform lives both inside and outside the military.

75 Years Later: Remembering the Incheon Landing

Bold. Brilliant. Daring. Seemingly impossible. 75 years ago, U.S. Marines, alongside UNC and ROK forces, were defeating the enemy on the same terrain that civilians and service members gathered for the commemoration. All those years later, their indomitable spirit still coursed through the city of Incheon - you saw it in the smiles, heard it in the stories, and felt it in the moment of this weekend’s events. The legacy of Incheon is alive and well, this year, the next, and for another 75.

‘Comms are up!’: MARFORK Marines train in support of Ulchi Freedom Shield 25

A detachment of U.S. Marines with U.S. Marine Corps Forces Korea tested and validated their ability to rapidly establish an expeditionary communication node to communicate with their higher headquarters in support of Ulchi Freedom Shield 25 on the Korean Peninsula, Aug. 19.

ROK and U.S. Marines Train Together During Ulchi Freedom Shield 25

MARINE CORPS BASE CAMP S. D. BUTLER, Okinawa, Japan – United States Marines from III Marine Expeditionary Force (III MEF), 3d Marine Division, and other subordinate units are now deployed in support of combined training with their Republic of Korea (ROK) counterparts for the annual exercise, Ulchi Freedom Shield 25 (UFS 25). As the Marine Corps commemorates 250 years of service, the U.S.-ROK Alliance continues to exemplify the strength of shared sacrifice and the enduring pursuit of peace. UFS 25 is a command post exercise led by United States Forces Korea and the Combined Forces Command based in South Korea. For this exercise, ROK and U.S. Marines integrate to form the Combined Marine Component Command (CMCC), a cohesive command structure designed to defend South Korea should the need arise. Through virtual defensive exercises, the CMCC ensures the alliance remains prepared for any emerging threats in the region. Korea Marine Exercise Program (KMEP) 25.2, semi-annual unit-level training concurrent with UFS 25, consists of live training between ROK and U.S. Marine Corps units. These training events include live-fire ranges, explosive ordinance disposal training, tactical combat casualty care, and a culminating large-scale force-on-force to conclude KMEP 25.2. "III MEF and the ROK Marine Corps stand prepared to respond swiftly to any threat in the region," stated Lt. Gen. Roger Turner, commanding general of III MEF and commander of the Combined Marine Component Command. "These exercises strengthen our partnership and demonstrate our commitment to regional security." “These continuous training initiatives are vital to maintaining the strength and readiness of our combined forces," said Lt. Gen. Ju Il-seok, commandant of the Republic of Korea Marine Corps. "Through these exercises, we ensure our Marines are prepared to defend our shared interests." UFS 25 and KMEP 25.2 serve as powerful demonstrations of the enduring ROK-U.S. military partnership. These virtual and field training events represent the latest advancements in combined training programs and reaffirm the U.S. Marine Corps’ commitment to defense with their ROK counterparts.

MARFORK Change of Command

Maj. Gen. William E. Souza relinquished command of U.S. Marine Corps Forces Korea to Maj. Gen. Valerie A. Jackson at 9 a.m. on June 5, 2025, at Barker Field, Camp Humphreys. The change of command was presided over by Gen. Brunson, Commander of United Nations Command, Combined Forces Command, U.S. Forces Korea. “Today is more than a ceremonial passing of colors, it is a visible reminder that the joint combined initiative in Korea continues,” said Gen. Brunson. Maj. Gen. Souza's tenure as the MARFORK Commander was marked by significant advancements in readiness and cooperation with Allies. Under his leadership, MARFORK set conditions for the successful execution of U.S. Marine Corps forces in numerous bilateral and multilateral exercises throughout the Republic of Korea including Ulchi Freedom Shield, Korean Marine Exchange Program and SSang Yong. These efforts were key in contributing to deterrence efforts and strengthening partnerships through diverse operations and exercises. “This isn’t a steady state mission, it is a forward position of deterrence in the region that is always moving. It demands leaders who can read the terrain anticipate threats and never wait for the ideal conditions to come about,” said Gen. Brunson. “Maj. Gen. Souza has done just that, and Maj. Gen. Jackson is just the right leader to carry it forward.” Maj. Gen. Jackson most recently served as the commanding general of 4th Marine Logistics Group and previously assumed her first general officer position as deputy commander at II Marine Expeditionary Force in March 2022, and deployed to Combined-Joint Task Force Horn of Africa as the Deputy Commanding General in January of 2023. “Our partnership is grounded in strength and is underscored by our commitment to each other, to our shared values and to regional stability,” Maj. Gen. Jackson said. “Together, our shared vision will undoubtedly yield remarkable achievements.” Relinquishing command, Maj. Gen. Souza thanked everyone not only for attending the ceremony but also for the lasting friendships that have been developed through the strength of the ROK-U.S. Alliance. He ended his remarks with the time-tested motto “Katchi Kapshida” and “Semper Fidelis.” U.S. Marine Corps Forces Korea was established in 1995 in Seoul, Republic of Korea, MARFORK serves as the U.S. Marine Corps service component to United States Forces Korea and United Nations Command with the mission of overseeing and ensuring the readiness of Marine Corps forces on the Korean Peninsula, strengthening interoperability with the Republic of Korea Marine Corps and supporting combined and joint exercises.

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U.S. Marine Corps Forces Korea Celebrates 30th Anniversary

U.S. Marine Corps Forces Korea commemorated its 30th anniversary with a colors rededication ceremony held ahead of its official anniversary on June 1, 2025. Established in 1995 in Seoul, Republic of Korea, MARFORK serves as the U.S. Marine Corps service component to United States Forces Korea with the mission of ensuring the readiness of Marine Corps forces on the Korean Peninsula, strengthening interoperability with the Republic of Korea Marine Corps and supporting combined and joint exercises.