241015-M-LB897-1190

From left, Philippine Marine Corps Brig. Gen. Vicente Map Blanco III, director, exercise directorate headquarters; Philippine Marine Corps Maj. Gen. Arturo G Rojas, commandant of the Philippine Marine Corps; U.S. Marine Corps Col. Stuart Glenn, commanding officer for Marine Rotational Force-Southeast Asia; and Japan Ground Self-Defense Force Maj. Gen. Hajime Kitajima, commanding general of the JGSDF Amphibious Rapid Deployment Brigade, pose for a photo during a press conference following the opening ceremony for KAMANDAG 8 at Fort Bonifacio, Manila, Philippines, Oct. 15, 2024. KAMANDAG is an annual Philippine Marine Corps and U.S. Marine Corps-led exercise aimed at enhancing the Armed Forces of the Philippines’ defense and humanitarian capabilities by providing valuable training in combined operations with foreign militaries in the advancement of a Free and Open Indo-Pacific. This year marks the eighth iteration of this exercise and includes participants from the French Armed Forces, Royal Thai Marine Corps, and Indonesian Marine Corps; including continued participation from the Australian Defense Force, British Armed Forces, Japan Ground Self-Defense Force, and Republic of Korea Marine Corps. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Tyler Wilson)