A Marine Corps F-35B Lightning II has returned to its home air station after undergoing maintenance for more than a month at a civilian airport in southern Japan, the service said.

U.S. Marines and sailors will soon participate in a major land-based exercise in the Philippines alongside forces from the host nation, Japan, South Korea and the United Kingdom.

One of two U.S. Marines who went missing Friday during a mountain hike in northern Japan has died.

Maj. Zachary Sessa’s role in leading the F-35C Lightning II’s first combat sorties as part of the U.S. mission to target Houthi weapons storage facilities in Yemen earned him the Alfred A. Cunningham Award and the title of Marine Aviator of the Year.

The Marine Corps’ barracks improvement effort is being hindered by uncertain congressional funding and the federal hiring freeze as the service has pushed back its completion goal to at least 2037.

The overall decrease was due to a 13% drop in reported sexual assaults across the Army, according to a report released Thursday. Three other services saw increases. The Navy had the largest jump of 4.4%.

Personnel chiefs for each of the military services told a congressional subpanel on Wednesday that they will feel an impact from the Pentagon’s deferred resignation program and early retirement initiative and are analyzing where the effects will be felt most.

Japanese prosecutors have indicted a U.S. Marine on charges of sexually assaulting a Japanese woman and injuring another in a restroom on a Marine Corps base in March.

Col. Trevor J. Felter assumed command Tuesday morning. He replaces Col. Mark Bortnem, who was dismissed April 15, 2025, for “loss of trust and confidence” in his ability to command. Bortnem is remaining in the area. He was reassigned to Marine Corps Recruit Depot Parris Island in Port Royal.

U.S., Filipino and Australian troops dug into beach dunes and unleashed a barrage of firepower — including high-powered rockets — during Balikatan training aimed this week at repelling an amphibious assault.