News Releases

U.S. Marine Corps Staff Sgt. Mark Frick, a native of Baltimore, Maryland and explosive ordnance disposal team leader with the 26th Marine Expeditionary Unit (Special Operations Capable) (26MEU(SOC)), photographs a neutralized simulated improvised explosive device during Exercise Northern Challenge 2023, Keflavik Airport, Iceland, Sept. 22, 2023. Northern Challenge 23 is an Icelandic Coast Guard-led bomb disposal exercise, hosted to train teams from over a dozen nations with response to incidents involving simulated improvised and military explosive devices. The San Antonio-class amphibious transport dock ship USS Mesa Verde (LPD 19), assigned to the Bataan Amphibious Ready Group and embarked 26MEU(SOC), under the command and control of Task Force 61/2, is on a scheduled deployment in the U.S. Naval Forces Europe area of operations, employed by U.S. Sixth Fleet to defend U.S., Allied, and partner interests. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Kyle Jia) - U.S. Marine Corps Staff Sgt. Mark Frick, a native of Baltimore, Maryland and explosive ordnance disposal team leader with the 26th Marine Expeditionary Unit (Special Operations Capable) (26MEU(SOC)), photographs a neutralized simulated improvised explosive device during Exercise Northern Challenge 2023, Keflavik Airport, Iceland, Sept. 22, 2023. Northern Challenge 23 is an Icelandic Coast Guard-led bomb disposal exercise, hosted to train teams from over a dozen nations with response to incidents involving simulated improvised and military explosive devices. The San Antonio-class amphibious transport dock ship USS Mesa Verde (LPD 19), assigned to the Bataan Amphibious Ready Group and embarked 26MEU(SOC), under the command and control of Task Force 61/2, is on a scheduled deployment in the U.S. Naval Forces Europe area of operations, employed by U.S. Sixth Fleet to defend U.S., Allied, and partner interests. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Kyle Jia)

U.S. Marines with II Marine Expeditionary Force conduct a training press conference with Communication Strategy and Operations Marines during Marine Expeditionary Force Exercise-23, Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune, North Carolina, Feb. 16, 2023. MEFEX is an exercise that develops command and control capabilities and warfighting functions of the MEF staff as an operational command in preparation for crisis across the spectrum of conflict. In the scenario, MEF staff developed the ability to coordinate with non-governmental organizations, U. S. Agency for International Development, and other agencies in response to a foreign humanitarian crisis. - U.S. Marines with II Marine Expeditionary Force conduct a training press conference with Communication Strategy and Operations Marines during Marine Expeditionary Force Exercise-23, Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune, North Carolina, Feb. 16, 2023. MEFEX is an exercise that develops command and control capabilities and warfighting functions of the MEF staff as an operational command in preparation for crisis across the spectrum of conflict. In the scenario, MEF staff developed the ability to coordinate with non-governmental organizations, U. S. Agency for International Development, and other agencies in response to a foreign humanitarian crisis.