Throughout 2025, NIWC Atlantic delivered the MADIS drone-defense system to the Marine Corps. Leveraging lessons from the MRAP era, engineers used rapid prototyping and modular design to integrate advanced weapons and sensors onto JLTVs. This streamlined approach accelerates the fielding of lethal, connected technology to the modern warfighter.
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COLORADO SPRINGS, CO — Two Marines from Marine Corps Forces Space Command (MARFORSPACE) were honored at the U.S. Space Command’s annual Apollo Awards during a ceremony held on February 19, 2026. Maj. Austin J. Oubre and Sgt. James Zsoka were recognized for their contributions to space operations, technology development, and their direct support to U.S. Space Command (USSPACECOM).
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MARINE CORPS BASE CAMP LEJEUNE, N.C. — A U.S. Marine places a broken Mobile User Object System (MOUS) on a shelf, the fiberglass of the MOUS antenna mast brittle and weakened from use and exposure. It sits next to dozens of others, all unusable because of one flaw.
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“For me, it always comes back to discipline and mastering the fundamentals because if we are not consistent in the basics, nothing else we do will hold up under pressure,” said U.S. Marine Corps 1st Sgt. Lonnie D. Stowers, the senior enlisted leader of Charlie Company, 2nd Combat Engineer Battalion, 2nd Marine Division.
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Long before earning the title of United States Marine, Lance Cpl. Juan G. Ipialesparedes served as a special operations Marine in his native country of Ecuador. Today, as a personnel administration specialist with 1st Marine Logistics Group, I Marine Expeditionary Force, he brings a lifetime of military experience and a deep respect for service that transcends nationality to the United States.
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Above the Arctic Circle, winter dominates the landscape. Snow blankets the mountains and subzero winds cut across frozen valleys. For most people, this terrain can feel remote and inhospitable. However, for U.S. Marines alongside NATO Allies and partners, it is a proving ground. In the Arctic, the environment can be as lethal as any adversary. This reality makes joint readiness, training, and the ability to rapidly mobilize equipment and personnel to crisis not optional, but essential to operational success in the event of armed conflict.
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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.Sgt. Maj. Ismael G. Bamba, command senior enlisted leader for U.S. Marine Corps Forces Korea, received the Prime Minister’s Commendation during a ceremony at ROK Marine Corps Headquarters Feb. 4, 2026. The award was presented by Republic of Korea Marine Corps Lt. Gen. Ju Il-Suk, Commandant of the Republic of Korea Marine Corps, in recognition of Sgt. Maj. Bamba’s leadership and continued efforts to strengthen trust, coordination and operational partnership between the two Marine
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The 317th Airlift Wing led the Spring 2026 C-130 Weapon System Council (WSC) at Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, California, coordinating with I Marine Expeditionary Force to further integration of rapid air mobility concepts and strengthen Joint tactical airlift capabilities across the Joint and Total Force, Feb. 4-5, 2026.
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T-minus 3, 2, 1 … We have liftoff! The ground rumbled as the engines roared to life. Smoke and flames erupted out of the bottom as it began to lift into the sky, ascending higher until it was finally out of sight. There are some kids who see a rocket take off and begin to dream of becoming astronauts; there are some kids who make that dream come true.Lt. Col. Katherine Spies graduated from the University of Southern California with a bachelor’s degree in chemical engineering and later earned a master's degree in design engineering from Harvard University. She was sure that she would become an engineer and maybe a pilot in the future. She made that happen one step at a time, accomplishing every goal she set her mind to.Spies joined the
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Project Dynamis, a bold Marine Corps plan to accelerate the delivery of AI-powered decision advantage to the tactical edge, has kicked off its "Dynamis Series," a months-long campaign of iterative agile software development sprints referred to as "Serials."
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The Navy-Marine Corps team has concluded Quarterly Underway Amphibious Readiness Training (QUART) 26.2, which took place from Jan. 20-30, 2026. The exercise, led by the 13th Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU) and Amphibious Squadron (PHIBRON) 7, featured the Wasp-class amphibious assault ship USS Makin Island (LHD 8), which expanded the training's ability to prepare MEUs and Amphibious Ready Groups (ARGs) for future deployments and operations afloat. Further strengthening international partnerships, Peruvian naval officers were aboard to observe the exercise, fostering shared learning and military cooperation.
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Sgt. Henry David Volpe, an automotive maintenance technician with 2nd Marine Logistics Group, has successfully developed HANX, the Marine Corps’ first NDAA-compliant, 3D-printed drone platform. Developed at the II MEF Innovation Campus in just 90 days, the HANX drone represents a major leap in tactical manufacturing by providing a low-cost, modular system that is resilient against adversary software. By utilizing 3D printing and off-the-shelf parts that meet rigorous security standards, Sgt. Volpe and his team have moved drone production from external contractors directly into the hands of Marines. This "by Marines, for Marines" innovation aligns with the Department of War’s "Drone Dominance" initiative, offering a versatile tool for
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Innovation is the process of turning limitations into opportunities. When existing equipment failed to meet operational demands, U.S. Marines with 2nd Marine Logistics Group, II Marine Expeditionary Force, used ingenuity, technical skill, and mission-first thinking to develop a custom StarShield Satellite mount for Joint Light Tactical Vehicles, increasing flexibility and connectivity in austere environments.
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Marines and contractors with 3rd Maintenance Battalion, 3rd Marine Logistics Group, have established yet another example of Marine Corps ingenuity and adaptability, this time in the repair and maintenance of the new Amphibious Combat Vehicles.
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From January 9–11, 2026, U.S. Marines and Sailors assigned to the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU) conducted a battlefield visit to the site of Operation Swift, a pivotal engagement of the Vietnam War, to honor the legacy of those who fought there and to reflect on the enduring bonds between past and present generations of service members.During the Vietnam War, Marine forces conducted amphibious and helicopter-borne operations as part of Special Landing Force Alpha, including during Operation Swift, employing integrated air, ground, and logistics elements in combat that reinforced the MAGTF construct and helped shape the MEU’s role as a forward-deployed, rapid-response force.
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