Photos

241212MEC9031907 OKINAWA, Japan

(Dec. 12, 2024) A U.S. Marine with Force Reconnaissance Platoon, Maritime Raid Force, 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit, sets security during a visit, board, search and seizure exercise at White Beach Naval Facility, Okinawa, Japan, Dec. 12, 2024. VBSS is part of maritime interception operations that aim to delay, disrupt, or destroy enemy forces or supplies in the maritime domain. The 31st MEU, the Marine Corps’ only continuously forward-deployed MEU, provides a flexible and lethal force ready to perform a wide range of military operations as the premiere crisis response force in the Indo-Pacific region. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Raul SotoVilla) Share

241021NUA4601987 BAY OF BENGAL

(Oct. 21, 2024) U.S. Navy Sailors assigned to the Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Dewey (DDG 105) pilot a rigid-hull inflatable boat while conducting a visit, board, search and seizure drill with the Royal Australian Navy Anzac-class destroyer HMAS Stuart (FFH 153) in the Bay of Bengal, Oct. 21, 2024. Dewey is forward-deployed and assigned to Destroyer Squadron (DESRON) 15, the Navy’s largest DESRON and the U.S. 7th Fleet’s principal surface force. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class Greg Johnson) Share

240918MYF1861888 TSUSHIMA STRAIT

(Sept. 18, 2024) U.S. Marines assigned to Reconnaissance Company, 15th Marine Expeditionary Unit, fast-rope from a U.S. Navy MH-60S Sea Hawk, attached to Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron 23, during a visit, board, search, and seizure mission rehearsal aboard the amphibious assault ship USS Boxer (LHD 4) in the Tsushima Strait, Sept. 18, 2024. USINDOPACOM forces perform operations in and around critical sea passages and trade thoroughfares to deter threats that create regional instability and impinge on the free flow of goods, people, and ideas. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Joseph Helms) Share

240820NUA4601352 PHILIPPINE SEA

(Aug. 20, 2024) Italian Navy Subchief 3rd Class Simone Matteo boards the U.S. Navy Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Dewey (DDG 105) during a visit, board, search and seizure drill in the Philippine Sea, Aug. 20, 2024. Dewey is forward-deployed and assigned to Destroyer Squadron (DESRON) 15, the Navy’s largest DESRON and the U.S. 7th Fleet’s principal surface force. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class Greg Johnson) Share

240730MTU8611026 PHILIPPINE SEA

(July 30, 2024) U.S. Marines with the maritime raid force, 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit, set up security during a visit, board, search, and seizure training aboard USS Miguel Keith (ESB 5), in the Philippine Sea, on July 30, 2024. VBSS is part of maritime interception operations that aim to delay, disrupt, or destroy enemy forces or supplies in the maritime domain. The 31st MEU is operating aboard ships of the USS America Amphibious Ready Group in the 7th Fleet area of operations, the U.S. Navy’s largest forward-deployed numbered fleet, and routinely interacts and operates with allies and partners in preserving a free and open Indo-Pacific region. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Angel Diaz Montes De Oca) Share

NAVAL BASE HERA, Timor Leste

Timor-Leste Fuzilierios prepare to board a simulated enemy vessel during Cooperation Afloat Readiness and Training/Marine Exercise Timor-Leste, Feb, 14. CARAT/MAREX Timor-Leste is a bilateral exercise between Timor-Leste and the United States designed to promote regional security cooperation, maintain and strengthen maritime partnerships, and enhance maritime interoperability. In its 28th year, the CARAT series is comprised of multinational exercises, designed to enhance U.S. and partner forces’ abilities to operate together in response to traditional and non-traditional maritime security challenges in the Indo-Pacific region. Share

HONOLULU, Hawaii

In this file photo, a Republic of Korea Coast Guardsman and a ROK navy sailor question Able Seaman Grahame Kelaher with the Royal Australian Navy about a mock electronic discharge machine they found in a conex container on USNS Henry J. Kaiser (T-AO 187), Aug. 6, during the live exercise at sea for Fortune Guard 2014. Fortune Guard is the region's premier exercise designed to build regional weapons of mass destruction counter-proliferation capacity and long-term commitment to the proliferation security initiative in the Indo-Asia-Pacific Share

Japan

U.S. Marines with Maritime Raid Force, 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU), await the landing of a CH-53E Super Stallion with Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron (VMM) 265 (Reinforced), 31st MEU, aboard the USS Miguel Keith (ESB 5) following a Visit, Board, Search, and Seizure (VBSS) during operation Noble Fusion in the Philippine Sea, Feb. 5, 2022. VBSS training reinforces the Marine Corps’ presence within ocean waters by having a team at the ready to act in a moment’s notice. Noble Fusion demonstrates that Navy and Marine Corps forward-deployed stand-in naval expeditionary forces can rapidly aggregate Marine Expeditionary Unit/Amphibious Ready Group teams at sea, along with a carrier strike group, joint forces and allies in order to conduct lethal sea-denial operations, seize key maritime terrain, guarantee freedom of movement, and create advantage for US, partner and allied forces. Naval Expeditionary forces conduct training throughout the year, in the Indo-Pacific, to maintain readiness. Share

PUERTO PRINCESA, Philippines

U.S. Navy Sailors, Philippine Navy Sailors and U.S. Coast Guardsmen stand on the flight deck of Military Sealift Command's Spearhead-class expeditionary fast transport USNS Millinocket (T-EPF 3) during a visit, board, search and seizure drill as part of Maritime Training Activity (MTA) Sama Sama 2019. Now in its third year, MTA Sama Sama includes forces from Japan, Philippines and the United States, and is designed to promote regional security cooperation, maintain and strengthen maritime partnerships, and enhance maritime interoperability. Share

STRAIT OF MALACCA

U.S. Coast Guard Maritime Enforcement Specialists debrief Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency coast guardsmen after a visit, board, search and seizure training. Share

GULF OF THAILAND

Royal Marine commandos and Royal Navy sailors attached to the Duke-class frigate HMS Montrose (F 236) conduct a visit, board, search and seizure drill aboard the Henry J. Kaiser-class fleet replenishment oiler USNS Guadalupe (T-AO 200). During the drill, commandos and sailors coordinated with Guadalupe crew members to simulate maritime interdiction operations and execute proper VBSS procedures. Guadalupe is conducting operations which provides logistical support to U.S. Navy and allied forces operating in the U.S. 7th Fleet area of responsibility. Share

Guam

Sailors attached to Explosive Ordnance Disposal Mobile Unit (EODMU) 5 fast rope from an MH-60S Sea Hawk helicopter, assigned to the "Island Knights" of Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron (HSC) 25, to the flight deck of aviation logistics support container ship SS Curtiss (T-AVB 4) during a visit, board, search and seizure training exercise off the coast of Guam Sept. 18, 2018 as a part of Valiant Shield 2018. Valiant Shield is a U.S. only, biennial field training exercise (FTX) with a focus on integration of joint training in a blue-water environment among U.S. forces. This training enables real-world proficiency in sustaining joint forces through detecting, locating, tracking, and engaging units at sea, in the air, on land, and in cyberspace in response to a range of mission areas. Share